Trapped in Paradise Read Online Free

a taxi, he placed her in a taxi and paid her fair, then said he would wait for a second taxi. She had insisted he was going overboard, but he wanted her to feel secure. Jeremy a stalker? Humph, if anything, she wanted to stalk him! After such a hiatus from men, it just didn’t seem fair for God to put a man like Jeremy just out of her reach. Out of her reach because he was too good to be true. Just like Nathan had been.
     
As Miranda had said, she was older and wiser now, and she didn’t intend to fall into the same trap. All that glitters isn’t gold. So instead of calling him, as she had promised, she slipped into a sweat suit, grabbed the second romance novel Miranda had given her, and headed for the hotel lobby to sit in one of their big cushy armchairs to relax. Romance books turned out to be enjoyable fast reads.
     
Three chapters in, she found herself comparing the novel’s hero to Nathan and Jeremy. Early in her relationship with Nathan, she would say he gave the novel hero a run for his money, but after they married, he fell short. Way short. And now there was Jeremy.
     
The fictional hero was quite nice, but the real thing was so much better. Jeremy’s smile, his laugh, his easy way of speaking kept her mind whirling. What if she were wrong about contacting him? Could she be passing up on what she wanted out of fear of repeating history? Should she call and let whatever happens happen? Was she ready to step out there and give love a chance?
     
Eyes closed, she held the romance novel close to her heart and made a hard admission. Though she didn’t want to be like the heroines in the novels, she could see herself falling for Jeremy… had all ready fallen for him. No. Love at first sight doesn’t exist in real life. She had thought she had fallen “in love” with Nathan, but looking back, that had been infatuation. Always attracted to older men, when he had returned her attentions, she’d fallen head over heels. Next thing she knew, she was married and he was moving her away from her family and everything she knew.
     
Thoughts of what Nathan had put her through resurfaced with the pain and tried to drown her. She couldn’t go back. Wouldn’t go back. She would never allow anyone to trap her again. Never.
     
“Saundra?”
     
Stuck in the past, she gripped the novel tighter.
     
“It’s all right, baby.”
     
Jeremy’s soft voice brought her back to the present. She opened her eyes and saw him stooped before her.
     
“Jeremy? I mean, Jeremy, what are you doing here?”
     
The concern in his eyes was the only answer she received. He sat on the heavy oak coffee table behind him and continued to watch her.
     
Uneasy under his gaze, she fidgeted in her seat. “You’re making me nervous. Say something.”
     
Elbows rested on his knees, he leaned forward and continued watching her, worry written all over his face.
     
“I don’t usually trip out in hotel lobbies,” she teased. “Umm, what are you doing here anyway?”
     
 “I guess we have the same hotel.”
     
“Amazing.” She strummed her fingernails on the book.
     
“I know we just met, but… but something happened between us today. I believe that something has scared the hell out of you.”
     
“No, it hasn’t.”
     
“Then, why didn’t you call?”
     
Caught, all she could do was smile. “Okay, so you’re right.”
     
“I don’t know who hurt you, but I’m not him.” He stood and pulled her up from the chair.  “Let’s go.”
     
 “Where are we going?”
     
“I’m walking you to your room.”
     
Without argument, she gave him her room number and allowed him to be her escort. He was right, he wasn’t Nathan, but the lessons she had learned from her experience with Nathan overshadowed everything in her life. Alone or lonely. How many times had she told Miranda she was alone, not lonely, as if wanting companionship, wanting to love and be loved, was something to be ashamed of?
     
He pointed at the suite