Free For Your Love by Candy Caine Page A

had sex in a while, right? She pulled her mind away from those thoughts and watched Richard gracefully slice the water with perfect strokes.
    After about twenty laps, they showered and met at the reception desk.
    “Do you have time for lunch?” Carla asked.
    “Yes,” he said after a quick glance at his watch.
    “Great! I have something to show you.”
    “I love surprises,” he said. “Meet you at the 5 & Diner.”
    After they were seated and placed their order, Carla removed a folder from her tote.
    “What’s that?”
    She pushed it toward Richard and said, “Open it,” in a voice dripping with breathless excitement.
    Realizing what must be in the folder, he smiled. “You’ve finished the story.”
    She nodded. A big grin broke out on her own face.
    “Can I read it?”
    “Of course, silly! That’s why I brought it.”
    It took all of five minutes for Richard to read the picture book entitled, Penelope and the Little Piggy Bed.
    “It’s adorable and your illustrations capture the characters perfectly. I wish I had kids to read it to.”
    “Me, too,” she said in little more than a whisper.
    Picking up on the sadness in her voice, Richard reminded her, “Think of the joy thousands of kids will get when they read it. Doesn’t that make you feel good?” He leaned forward and reached out to cover her hand on the table. Electricity shot up his arm.
    “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Carla barely whispered, her eyes wide. “And you’re getting paid for something you love to do, as well.” Richard felt warmth rise within him. Why did just touching her make his heart beat faster? Abruptly he removed his hand.
    “That, too.” Carla’s hand trembled as she picked up her coffee cup.
    Their waitress shuffled over with their sandwiches and refilled their cups with coffee before disappearing once more into the rapidly filling restaurant.
    “When it’s published, I’d like to give my little niece, Becky, an autographed copy.”
    Smiling, Carla replied, “No problem.”
    Carla wondered again why such a wonderful guy like Richard was single. He never mentioned dating anyone and she found that a little odd.
    “Richard, I just realized that you never really talk about yourself.”
    He finished chewing and swallowed the healthy bite he’d taken of his turkey club. “What do you want to know?”
    “Like why no woman has snatched you up—”
    His palm shot out as if to ward off some impending evil. “Hold it right there. If this is some prelude to setting me up on a date with one of your friends—”
    “No. I was only curious, that’s all. But if dating is a touchy subject…”
    “Look, I don’t want to be rude, but drop the subject.” His words were like ice, removing all the warmth that had surrounded them.
    “Okay. I’m sorry I brought the subject up,” she said shaken by his 180 degree shift in mood. Her appetite had left along with the warmth and she began to pick at her salad, wanting to flee.
    No one said anything for a few minutes. It felt as if an iron curtain had fallen between them and Carla found the silence deafening. Finally, she put her napkin down and began to rise out of her seat.
    Richard looked up. His green eyes were clouded with emotion. “Wait. Please don’t go. Not like this.”
    “I’m really sorry, Richard. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
    “Please sit down, Carla. You did nothing wrong. It’s me…” he began and paused.
    She sat back down and waited for him to speak again.
    “I’m not certain if I’m ready to get involved with another woman just yet.”
    This was the first time that Richard was really opening up to her. Whenever they’d spoken in the past, she’d always felt he’d been holding back. She reached out and placed her hand on his.
    Richard wet his lips and swallowed hard. “I was engaged to marry someone I’d imagined spending the rest of my life with. I’d already decided on having at least three kids and a huge backyard for them to grow up