French Kiss (Novella) Read Online Free Page A

felt.
    “Then again, on a lonely evening in Rome, just when
I thought I was a goner, you showed up and turned everything on its head ...
was that the work of God or just sheer luck?” Cameron shrugged and looked up at
the sky as if imploring God to give him an answer but the only answer was the
starry night sky, ever-present above them, mysterious as always.
    “Good point, then there’s that huh.” Maria said,
placing a hand on Cameron’s shoulder and patting it gently, having wanted to
touch him but knowing deep down that the circumstances weren’t exactly ideal,
not exactly what she ‘wanted.’ She would settle.
    “Why does God have to be so damn mysterious? Why
can’t he just rule us and instruct us in plain English like say, the President
or a King?” she continued, hoping Cameron would have an answer but knowing he
was probably just as lost as she was.
    “Maria, I guess we just have to accept it and go
about ‘living’ the best we can.”
    “Yeah ...”
    They were silent again for a few moments, both lost
in their thoughts.
    “One thing gets me.” Cameron said, suddenly
disturbing the peace.
    “What’s that?”
    “Well, back when I was contemplating ... ‘you know
what’ I wasn’t afraid of how I would do it, just ...”
    “What would come afterwards, right?” Maria finished
for him, understanding the direction he was going in, having been there many
times herself while laid in the bath or standing on a bridge alone, looking
into the cold, murky waters below.
    Cameron smiled and nudged her shoulder with his own,
pleased that she was in tune with him.
    “Yeah, exactly.”
    Cameron was beginning to relax, enjoying the
conversation with Maria.  Meanwhile, she could tell they had passed whatever
darkness had settled over them in those few moments. That was the difference
between being alone and having someone who not only listened ‘intently’ but
also had similar feelings on the matter. It was something Maria had lacked for
so long.
    Cameron spent the next few minutes pointing out the
landmarks around Paris, all clearly visible from the 320 meter tall structure.
The Arc De Triumphe, the American Library and the various other landmarks that
dotted the landscape. Maria had never seen such beauty before, at least not
manmade… but Cameron was more concerned with the value of the land and the
buildings themselves than the history and culture they were steeped in.
    As they sat and looked out on the world far below,
Cameron told her of how he had plans to become a real estate developer.
    “There is real potential, you know, for a guy in my
position. Hell, I’ll be sat at home, wasting away for the rest of my life if I
don’t do ‘something’ and I figured, I enjoy studying buildings and their
history, why not buy them and sell them on once I’m done making them prettier? 
I’ve learned a lot about how the actual construction and renovation can be done
very cheaply…”
    ‘It sounds like you have been mulling this over for
a while, Cameron. Have you?” Maria asked..
    He nodded, “Yep, you wouldn’t believe how long if I
told you. Just never had the guts to do it, nor the ... confidence, I guess.”
    “I might start with a nightclub and from there, who
knows. The plan isn’t concrete as such, but I’m definitely going ahead with it,
no matter what. I can’t keep living like I have, it’s ... killing me.
    Maria flinched at the mention of ‘killing.’
    “Well, I have plenty of spare time on my hands.
Maybe I could help you?” she said, wanting so much for him to do well and
knowing that it was something that would possibly save his life, a purpose, a
meaning ... if she could also be part of the reason for his newfound confidence
and desire for life, well then, that was the icing on the cake for her.
    Cameron stood up suddenly, his face beaming, and
looked down on her nodding his head animatedly. “You know, that’s the best
thing I have heard all day! Someone actually interested