Never to Love Read Online Free Page A

Liverpool Flemings and I model for a living, not a hobby,” Andrea said coolly. She had taken an immediate dislike to Mrs. Cassell.
    “Oh ... Liverpool?” The inflection suggested that Liverpool was something one did not refer to in public.
    “Well, I must fly back to my party. Lovely to see you again, Justin darling. You must dine with us soon. Goodbye, Miss Fleming.”
    With an arch glance at Justin and an artificial smile for Andrea she disappeared into the crush.
    “Let me assure you that Mrs. Cassell is not typical of my friends,” Justin said sardonically when she was out of earshot. “As a matter of fact I only know her through her brother, who belongs to my club, but I suppose she wanted to find out who you were.”
    “So I gathered,” Andrea said dryly, trying to dismiss the encounter with the casualness it deserved. But women of that type—archsnobs who spent their lives retailing snippets of malicious gossip to each other—always infuriated her.
    At that point the bell rang and they returned to their seats f or the third act.
    As they left the theater, Justin asked her if she would like to end the evening at a nightclub.
    “I would love to, but I have a very busy day tomorrow. I t hink I ought to go home, ” she said reluctantly.
    He did not try to persuade her to change her mind and they drove back to the apartment. Andrea was surprised to find how much she had enjoyed herself, for while she had anticipated that the dinner and the play would be excellent, she had not expected to find Justin such a companionable escort.
    “I have enjoyed myself. Thank you very much,” she said as the car slid gently to the curbside outside her door.
    He switched off the engine and she tensed, wondering if he would try to kiss her. But instead he got out and came around to open the door for her.
    “May I take you to the theater again next week?” he asked as they crossed the sidewalk. “The show at the Coliseum is supposed to be very amusing, if you haven’t seen it already?”
    “No, I would like to.”
    “On Monday at the same time, then?”
    “That would be lovely.”
    He held out his hand. “Good night, Andrea.”
    “Good night, Justin.”
    Jill was sitting up in bed trimming a hat when she came i n.
    “Did the champagne flow? Where did you have dinner? What was the play like?” she demanded eagerly, tossing the hat aside.
    Andrea laughed. “No champagne, but some wonderful wines. The Jersey Club. Marvelous,” she said, shrugging off her coat.
    “So you enjoyed it?”
    “Yes. More than I expected.”
    “What about driving home? Did he pounce?”
    “I don’t think I ought to satisfy your morbid curiosity,” Andrea said solemnly. Then, because Jill looked so comically disappointed, she said, “No, my poppet, he behaved with the utmost propriety. ”
    “Honestly?” Jill asked in astonishment. “Well, one can’t judge by appearances, but he always strikes me as being a terrific wolf.”
    “He seems to have a horrid fascination for you,” Andrea said teasingly.
    “Yes, I suppose he has. I mean, one can’t help wondering what it would be like to have a man like that making violent love to one.”
    “Probably very dull.” Andrea took off her dress and hung it in the wardrobe.
    “Oh, no, I’m sure it would be tremendously thrilling in a rather frightening way. He looks as if he might be quite savage.”
    “You mean he’s the kind of man who locks the door on you and snarls, ‘C o me here, wench’?” Andrea suggested, managing to keep her voice steady.
    “Yes, I think he is,” Jill said seriously.
    “Oh, Jilly, you romantic little idiot!” Andrea sat down on the bed and laughed until her eyes began to water.
    “What’s so funny?” Jill asked huffily.
    “You are. You see too many movies, my girl. People just don’t behave like that in real life, not even men like Justin who may look that part. ”
    “You’re always laughing at me. Anyone would think you were old enough to be my