Almost Always: A Love Unexpected Novel Read Online Free
Author: Alissa Adams
picked this one. He came back to the green room as I was straightening up. My back was to the door, but I felt his presence even before he spoke.
"Annalise?" My name; his voice. I took a deep breath before I turned around.
"Yes?" I hoped that the effort to infuse that little word with nonchalance worked.
"Let's go have a drink." Not will you have a drink with me? or how about joining me for a drink? He had an odd way of putting things. It was almost a command. Like a rebellious kid, I wanted to say no on principle. But the stronger part of me, the woman in me, wanted very much to have the man to myself for a few moments.
"Sure," I said. "I just need to finish up here." Kason leaned against the doorframe and wordlessly watched me put the mugs back in their place and rinse the coffee pot. My hands trembled a little as I held the jug under the running water knowing that he was standing there, his eyes fixed to my back. I was acutely aware of the intense physical attraction I had felt for him from the first moment he stepped up on the stage. His powerful portrayal of the coach and his personal magnetism had only heightened my curiosity and, I admit, my desire to get closer to him.
When I had locked theater, Kason offered me his arm. "My chariot awaits," he smiled. Other than my beat up old Jeep in the parking lot, the only other car was an exotic looking black convertible, the top already down. It was a subdued version of the Batmobile.
"How about I follow you? We can go to Newly's. It's right near my house."
"I think not." When I didn't immediately loop my hand through the crook of his arm, he put his hand at the small of my back and steered me toward the lot. The firm touch of his hand on the small of my lower back pretty much pushed all other thoughts somewhere far away. He opened the passenger side and I got in automatically—it was expected. "Newly's is for going out with the guys. I have a much better place in mind to take a lady ."
His emphasis on 'lady' gave it a special ring. I looked down at my jeans and wished I had chosen something else to wear. He saw me looking down at my pants and read my mind.
"Not to worry. There's no dress code where we're going." The engine roared to life with a sound that was the mechanical equivalent to Kason's own deep, throaty bass. The leather bucket seat enveloped my five foot four frame in pure luxury. There wasn't a piece of furniture in my family's house that was that comfortable.
I had to ask. I didn't care if I sounded like some rube. I didn't place the crown shaped emblem prominent on the grill of the car I was about to be whisked away in. Given that it would probably be the first and last time I'd ever ride in such a beast, I needed a name for it.
"Maserati," he answered me. "It's a GT—Gran Turismo."
"It's a beautiful car," I told him. "Very classy without being splashy." Just like you . The car was perfect for him.
"Thank you, I'm glad you like it. It just wasn't practical for the city. A car like this is like a thoroughbred horse. You can't just keep it in a barn all the time." He reached over and stroked my thigh with the back of his hand. "Sit back and enjoy the ride. It's a beautiful night." What was beautiful was the way his touch made me feel. The stars seemed to shine brighter; the moon glow was a caress.
We had ridden for about fifteen minutes when Kason pulled off the main road and drove up a tree lined approach that ended at a huge stone mansion that looked very much like a French chateau I had seen on my one summer abroad. I assumed it was one of the many up-scale inns that dot the Berkshires. But it didn't look too busy.
He pulled up right in front and led me up some stone steps to huge double doors that swung open as we approached.
"Good evening, Mr. Kason." A slightly built man with Asian features greeted us.
"Hi, Taishi. My friend and I are going to have drinks on the back porch. Ask Charlotte to rustle up some snacks for us."
"Will do, sir." The
"Annalise?" My name; his voice. I took a deep breath before I turned around.
"Yes?" I hoped that the effort to infuse that little word with nonchalance worked.
"Let's go have a drink." Not will you have a drink with me? or how about joining me for a drink? He had an odd way of putting things. It was almost a command. Like a rebellious kid, I wanted to say no on principle. But the stronger part of me, the woman in me, wanted very much to have the man to myself for a few moments.
"Sure," I said. "I just need to finish up here." Kason leaned against the doorframe and wordlessly watched me put the mugs back in their place and rinse the coffee pot. My hands trembled a little as I held the jug under the running water knowing that he was standing there, his eyes fixed to my back. I was acutely aware of the intense physical attraction I had felt for him from the first moment he stepped up on the stage. His powerful portrayal of the coach and his personal magnetism had only heightened my curiosity and, I admit, my desire to get closer to him.
When I had locked theater, Kason offered me his arm. "My chariot awaits," he smiled. Other than my beat up old Jeep in the parking lot, the only other car was an exotic looking black convertible, the top already down. It was a subdued version of the Batmobile.
"How about I follow you? We can go to Newly's. It's right near my house."
"I think not." When I didn't immediately loop my hand through the crook of his arm, he put his hand at the small of my back and steered me toward the lot. The firm touch of his hand on the small of my lower back pretty much pushed all other thoughts somewhere far away. He opened the passenger side and I got in automatically—it was expected. "Newly's is for going out with the guys. I have a much better place in mind to take a lady ."
His emphasis on 'lady' gave it a special ring. I looked down at my jeans and wished I had chosen something else to wear. He saw me looking down at my pants and read my mind.
"Not to worry. There's no dress code where we're going." The engine roared to life with a sound that was the mechanical equivalent to Kason's own deep, throaty bass. The leather bucket seat enveloped my five foot four frame in pure luxury. There wasn't a piece of furniture in my family's house that was that comfortable.
I had to ask. I didn't care if I sounded like some rube. I didn't place the crown shaped emblem prominent on the grill of the car I was about to be whisked away in. Given that it would probably be the first and last time I'd ever ride in such a beast, I needed a name for it.
"Maserati," he answered me. "It's a GT—Gran Turismo."
"It's a beautiful car," I told him. "Very classy without being splashy." Just like you . The car was perfect for him.
"Thank you, I'm glad you like it. It just wasn't practical for the city. A car like this is like a thoroughbred horse. You can't just keep it in a barn all the time." He reached over and stroked my thigh with the back of his hand. "Sit back and enjoy the ride. It's a beautiful night." What was beautiful was the way his touch made me feel. The stars seemed to shine brighter; the moon glow was a caress.
We had ridden for about fifteen minutes when Kason pulled off the main road and drove up a tree lined approach that ended at a huge stone mansion that looked very much like a French chateau I had seen on my one summer abroad. I assumed it was one of the many up-scale inns that dot the Berkshires. But it didn't look too busy.
He pulled up right in front and led me up some stone steps to huge double doors that swung open as we approached.
"Good evening, Mr. Kason." A slightly built man with Asian features greeted us.
"Hi, Taishi. My friend and I are going to have drinks on the back porch. Ask Charlotte to rustle up some snacks for us."
"Will do, sir." The
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