Free A Man After Midnight by Beth D. Carter Page A

succinct.”
    Aldy pointed to herself with her thumb. “That’s me, the epitome of succinctness.”
    “But then my anger faded and I felt … nothing.  And for a while now, I’ve decided the only way to live would be to play it safe.  To not fall in love ever again.”
    “That’s unrealistic,” Aldy said.  “It’s who we are as humans, to find and be with others.  Love is natural and wonderful and when it’s right it’s everything those sappy songs say it is.  Believe me, Caro.”
    Caroline looked out the Ferris wheel car at the shopping levels as they rolled by.  “Wren asked me who I was last night.  I didn’t know how to answer him.”
    “What if he asked you to move to Paris to be with him?  Would you go?”
    “No,” Caroline answered immediately. 
    “Why not?”
    “Because he won’t ask.”
    “How do you know he won’t?”
    “Because this is a weekend fling, destined to end tomorrow at four in the evening.”
    “It doesn’t have to end, Caroline.  Granted, if you end up marrying him it’ll be like seeing my parents do the nasty all over again, but I’m willing to live with it if he makes you happy.”
    “Aldy, I don’t love Wren. I can’t love Wren.  He’s the rebound.”
    “What if he’s not?”
    “Well, like you said.  I have to find the perfect man for me.  Besides, he’s never once mentioned wanting more from me.”
    “He might ask,” Aldy persisted.  “About moving to Paris.”
“Don’t hold your breath, my friend.  Now, aren’t you hungry?”  Caroline asked, smiling brightly as she changed the subject.  “I’m starving.”
    “Not very subtle, but yes.”
    “What do you feel like eating?”
    “Perhaps we should go someplace other than Times Square.  I don’t want to pay twenty dollars for another hamburger.”
    “You’re on.”

Chapter Eleven
     
    Caroline walked into the hotel bar, searching in the dimness for Wren.  He had invited her to the mixer that signified the end of Troublemaker’s semi-annual financial and pre-planning meeting.  She saw his tall frame toward the back and started walking. Only as she neared did she see the stunning redhead from the other day standing next to him.  Their bodies were leaning toward each other and Wren had his hand resting on her shoulder.  Ordinarily, such an innocent pose would not knock the breath from her body.  But this did.  There was something very intimate about Wren’s hold, his thumb lightly rubbing the redhead’s skin.
    Jealousy surfaced, and before Caroline could tamp it down, she locked eyes with the woman.  A moment passed, one that didn’t need words because the meaning was clear.  A language only two women after the same man could speak.  The redhead gave a dark, mocking smile before saying something to Wren, who bent his head to hear. 
    Caroline escaped into the bathroom to take a moment to collect herself.  She stood in front of the mirror, seeing not her reflection but an image of Wren and the woman in bed together.  His body thrusting into hers as she clawed his back in equal desire. 
    It shouldn’t have bothered her because she made her peace with her emotions. Or she thought she had.  In any case, she thought she’d come to terms with her temporary position in Wren’s life, but jealousy didn’t respond to common sense.
    The door opened and the redhead walked in, coming to stand beside Caroline and staring into the mirror as she reapplied lipstick.  Caroline’s heart hammered but she refused to stare at the woman.
    “So,” the redhead said by way of greeting.  “You’re the weekend plaything.”
    “Excuse me?”  Caroline snapped, her eyes flashing over to meet the woman’s.
    “I could see it on your face.” The woman sighed as she put her lipstick back in her clutch bag.  “He’s not a faithful type of man.  I should know,” she added, smiling ruefully.  “I was engaged to him.  Being faithful isn’t in his nature.  But then again, is it in any