Free Almost Always: A Love Unexpected Novel by Alissa Adams

'sensitive' as women seem to demand today."
    "Well you don't have to worry about Kason being sensitive or overly expressive. He's much more what I think your generation defined as 'a man's man'."
    "Your father's a 'man's man' and he's been the best husband a woman could ask for," Mom said with a touch of defensiveness.
    "Don't go off, Mom. Daddy hung the moon for me and you know it. Maybe that's part of what attracted me to Kason in the first place. He is utterly masculine."
    "Well he shares that with your father, along with breath-taking good looks and a fortune bigger than many small countries."
    We both laughed over that. My father is a craggy man who'd never win a beauty contest and whatever material worth he has was hard won, inch by inch.
    "Is it okay if we explore the hotel? It looks like there's a lot more here than there was twenty years ago. I think it's been that long since I was inside the Plaza."
    "Sure, let's take the tour."
     
    ***
     
    Mom and I walked the entire huge first floor of The Plaza. There was a gourmet food court that sucked us in right away, even though we had just finished a huge lunch. The shops were elegant and the décor everywhere was stunning. Taishi kept a low profile but was never far. If Mom noticed him, she never mentioned it. I wasn't sure whether it made me feel safe or creeped me out to have him shadow us like that.
    Around three-thirty, Mom wanted to go back to the room and phone Dad before she took a little rest. As soon as we got into the room, her cell phone rang. She fished it out of the suitcase she calls a purse and answered.
    "Why, hello Kason!"
    I still had a dead phone, so it was logical for him to call Mom. My body instantly reacted to knowing he was on the end of that connection. All my nerves stood at attention and I could almost imagine an order for "increase blood supply to sex organs!" going out from the command center in my brain.
    "That's very kind of you, but I am really quite exhausted. I have my eye on that marvelous deep tub in the master bath. Really, this suite is fit for royalty." He said something that made my mother giggle like a sixteen year old. "Well, you're sweet to say that."
    "Of course, I'll be fine. My daughter probably deserves a break from me, anyway." Mom looked over at me and smiled. "You best make it pizza or burgers, though. That child's brought nothing to wear but her usual uniform."
    At that, I scowled at her and held my hand out for the phone. "Here's Annalise, then. Nice talking with you, too."
    "Hi Kason."
    "Hi Annalise. I wanted to take you and your mother to dinner tonight, but she . . . well, you heard."
    "She's been good all day, but I know the worry and the stress has to be catching up with her."
    "I understand. Would you be comfortable leaving her at the hotel and having dinner with me? I'm sure she'll be quite safe."
    "I'd love to. She's right about the jeans and T-shirt, though. We'll have to make it casual."
    "The only casual I like is what I do at home. There are too many great restaurants around The Plaza to miss the opportunity for a spectacular meal. I'll cook you the best pizza you ever ate in my clay oven when we get back to the hills."
    I reluctantly offered to grab something to wear at Bloomingdale's or Macy's but my heart sunk at the prospect of what it was going to cost me. I should have known better.
    "Nonsense. You're only a couple blocks from Bergdoff's. Taishi will take you there and take care of anything you need. I've never seen you dressed up. Surprise me."
    "But . . . "
    "You have plenty of time and they're sure to have something you'll like."
    "But . . . "
    "Annalise, you're repeating yourself. Is it so much to ask that you have a proper dinner with me? Humor me."
    I felt guilty and ungrateful then. "Of course, Kason. What time?"
    "I'll come for you at seven-thirty. I'd like to say hello to your mother before we go out."
    "She'd like that."
    "Try to enjoy the shopping. Many women would love to have carte blanche