Speak Now Read Online Free Page A

child on the bed she murmured, “Do you need help with PJ’s or anything?”
    Before Jonathan and Cara could help them out of their clothes, both children curled into fetal position, facing one another on the bed. Jonathan shook his head. “I’ve got it, thanks.”
    He walked her to the door and let himself out behind her. “I’d walk—” Jonathan swallowed the lump that formed in his throat and gave up any attempt to finish what he’d intended to say.
    With their eyes engaged in a more intimate conversation, Jonathan and Cara made plans for dinner the following evening. “I asked Aunt Jeannie, and she said someone would be available to watch the kids anytime.”
    “You could bring them with you, too.”
    “Maybe later in the week.”
    “I’ll see you tomorrow then. Thank you for today, I can’t remember ever having a more wonderful time.”
    His hand moved to cup her cheek, but he pulled back slightly before he reached it. “And if I don’t talk—”
    “I think we communicate beautifully with or without words. I want to spend time with you, Jonathan, not write a dictionary.”
    Ever so lightly, his thumb crossed the final few centimeters of air and lightly trailed across her cheek. “I like thesauruses more. Or should that be thesauri?”
    “Both, I think. Goodnight, Jonathan.”
    “Night, Cara.” He turned to swipe the key card to his door and murmured under his breath, “—mia?”
    One last glance as she walked down the hallway to the elevators made up his mind. He dashed after her. “Cara…”
    She turned abruptly, causing him to slam into her and knocking her into the elevator door. “Well, that’s one way to bowl me over.”
    “I am so sorry! Are you okay?” Concern filled Jonathan’s face and his hands reached for her head, but he couldn’t bring himself to touch her.
    “I didn’t hit that hard. It sounded worse than it is.”
    Taking a breath, he started backing toward his door again, unwilling to be out of earshot of his children. “Lunch—do you get a break?”
    “Yes—at one.” At his inquisitive look, she added, “I take a delayed lunch so that the office manager can eat with the others.”
    “Can I pick you up?”
    “I doubt it, I’m no lightweight, but you can try that tomorrow. Go around behind the building and come in from the south entrance. Less traffic and closer to several restaurants.”
    Choosing to ignore Cara’s dig at the curves he found attractive, Jonathan nodded then raced for his door. His card key slid in and released the lock. He turned the knob and waited with her, forty feet or more away, until the elevator arrived, opened, and then closed, taking her out of sight. Inside his room, he slipped the key into his pocket and sighed. “Jonathan Lyman, this is much too soon and incredibly irresponsible.”
    His voice reached his heart, but his heart laughed and cried, “I don’t care.”

Chapter Three
    Sun glinted against the steel and glass insurance building as Cara strode from the side door. Each step toward the parking lot ignited doubts about her hair, her clothing—even her jewelry. As she walked across the asphalt, her beige silk pants and ivory top suddenly felt too simple, as if she’d gone for the repressed librarian effect.
    Cara shook off her insecurities and smiled as Jonathan stepped from the car and hurried to meet her. The appreciation in his eyes preceded his “Wow!” by mere seconds.
    “Eloquent as ever, Jonathan.”
    He held the car door open for her. Just before he closed it, he leaned in and murmured, “Mmm hmm.”
    She laughed as he jogged around the back of the car and slid behind the wheel. As he backed out of the parking spot, a loop on her purse caught her attention. She flipped the strap back and forth, a frown forming. “I think the leather is cracking,” she murmured to herself.
    “What?”
    Still absorbed in the frustration of a favorite purse wearing out before she’d had it long enough to break it in, Cara