Waiting for Lila Read Online Free

was Delilah who had held his attention then, as she did now. And he had been thanking whatever guardian angel had been responsible for putting her in the same hotel with him, just as he was thanking it now.
    "I apologize for staring. I'm Bill Shelley. And you're"—he smiled slowly, with real pleasure— "Delilah."
    "How did you—oh, yes, the banner." Laughing, she extended her hand. "Delilah Jones."
    He wiped his right hand on his khaki shorts and, in what seemed like slow motion, took hers. A remnant of sanity told him that shaking hands was an ordinary social ritual, but the remnant faded completely as the extraordinary pleasure of touching her took over. It required a genuine effort on his part to release her hand.
    With a slightly puzzled expression she returned his stare, then said, "Did your chain slip off?"
    "I wouldn't be surprised," he said. Then, "Oh, you mean the bicycle. It's Luis's bike and his chain." He grinned. "He seemed to think I could fix it."
    "Luis?"
    "A young friend I've just met. I sent him to get a pair of pliers."
    "That's not necessary. Let me show you." She squatted beside the bicycle, then glanced up at him. "You're obviously not a plumber."
    Bill laughed and stooped beside her, more fascinated than ever. "It's not how people usually start conversations with me, but I guess it's as good as anything else. Why can't I be a plumber?"
    "I don't want to hurt your feelings, but you have no mechanical aptitude."
    "I see what you mean. That's too bad. I hear plumbers make good money."
    She reached across the bike to lift the chain. "Jazz musicians don't do so badly either, if they're good, that is."
    "I suppose you're right." Bill had no idea what she was talking about, but it didn't bother him. She could recite Jabberwocky backward for all he cared, just as long as she kept talking, just as long as she stayed near.
    "Are you good?"
    With some women Bill would have taken the question as a not-too-subtle come-on, but not with this woman. There was genuine curiosity in the appraising look she gave him.
    "Define 'good,' " he said cautiously.
    "Do you play a musical instrument well enough to give others pleasure?"
    "No, I'm afraid not," he admitted.
    'Then maybe you should consider changing your profession," she suggested kindly.
    "Believe me, I've considered it . . . often. But I can't. It has me hooked."
    She nodded in sympathy. "I know exactly what you mean. Here, hold the bike up a little while I turn the pedal," she said, then glanced up as Luis returned with the pliers.
    "The bicycle is mended?" the boy asked.
    "Not yet, but now I have expert help." He saw the boy look longingly toward the beach and said, "Go ahead, play with your friends. I'll call you when Lila and I are through."
    "Gracias, Bill. . . Lila," he said even as he turned toward the beach.
    When Bill turned back to the woman beside him, he was struck by a strange expression on her beautiful face. Hers was an almost painfully wistful look, and it disturbed him deeply.
    "What is it?" he said sharply.
    "You called me Lila."
    He frowned. "I'm sorry. It seemed to fit." The truth was, Lila sounded more intimate than
    Delilah, and above.all else Bill wanted to be on an intimate level with this woman. "Would you rather I didn't?"
    "I don't know. No one except—no one calls me Lila now." She shook her head. "No, I don't mind." She sounded surprised, then almost relieved as she smiled at him. "I don't mind at all."
    "Delilah!"
    They both glanced up at the sound of her shouted name, then watched as two men approached. Bill recognized the slender man with Oriental features as Jack. The other was a stranger, a tall, angular man who looked confused and uncomfortable, as though he didn't quite know what he was doing there.
    When the men reached them, Delilah rose slowly to her feet. "Bill, this is Jack Takara and ..."
    "And this is Frank Devlyn," Jack said, his voice hearty and portentous.
    "Nice to meet you both." Bill reached out to shake hands with