Free Rhapsody by Judith Gould Page A

Taittinger. She brought the bottle over to the
couch and poured a refill into his glass.
    "Thanks," Misha said.
    She refilled her own and sat back down
again.
    "Sounds like she's very good for your
career," Serena said.
    "Yes." He nodded. "She is that."
    Serena looked at him. "What about the rest of
it?" she asked.
    "The rest of it?" Misha said.
    "I think I read somewhere that you have a kid
now," she said. "Ring a bell?"
    Misha laughed. "My God, of course. It has
been a long time, hasn't it? Nicholai. He's three years old now.
And he's wonderful."
    Serena smiled. "I think I detect just a
little pride on your part," she said.
    "Oh, yes," he said, a sheepish grin spreading
across his lips. "He's adorable and brilliant. I don't get to spend
as much time with him as I should. Traveling so much and all. We
have a great time when we're together, but it's not very
often."
    There was a moment of silence as Serena sat,
seemingly somewhere in another world, rubbing a finger around the
rim of her glass, starting to make it chime.
    "What about you, Serena?" he asked.
    "What about me?" she said, looking over at
him.
    "Has there been a man?" he asked. "Anything
...serious?"
    "Ah, you know me. Everywhere I go, I leave a
trail of broken hearts behind." She laughed shortly. "Actually,"
she said with a rueful smile, "there have been men, but ... oh, you
know. Nothing really serious. Just ...men. Just a few little
flings."
    "Your career must make it very difficult,"
Misha said.
    "Yes," she said, nodding. "I'm on the road a
lot, like you, and I've just never met ...you know. The right man."
She shrugged and looked at him. "I haven't really been involved
with anyone. Well, not like I was ...with you."
    As he heard her words, Misha felt a flood of
emotions wash over him—guilt, remorse, self-conscious
embarrassment—but overriding all his other feelings was the
distinct frisson of pleasure he derived from knowing that she
hadn't found anyone in the last five years to replace him in her
affections. It was a guilty pleasure to be sure, but he couldn't
deny it.
    She's still in love with me, he thought. As I
am with her. His heart leapt with joy, and the fear and
self-consciousness he had felt—because he did still love her—
dissipated with this realization.
    After a moment he cleared his throat and then
spoke. "I don't know whether you can believe me, Serena," he said,
looking into her eyes, "but I... I haven't felt what I felt for you
with anyone else, either. I've thought about you every single day
since the last time I saw you. I've wanted you ever since the day
we parted."
    Suddenly a thrill rushed through Serena,
because she knew now that he felt the same way she did. At the same
time new fears and anxieties formed a knot in her stomach, giving
rise to more questions and more puzzlement. Gone now was any effort
at appearing casual about his visit.
    Tears, unbidden, began to fill her eyes. Oh,
God, she thought, he really does mean it, doesn't he? His pride,
she knew, was a significant aspect of his character. Misha always
seemed in control. Yet, underlying his pride was a fragility that
few ever glimpsed. And it was because of this essentially delicate
nature that she didn't believe Misha could possibly admit such
vulnerability unless it were true, unless it was something that he
really felt.
    He still feels the same way, she thought. He
still loves me after all these years.
    Serena looked up at him, into those dark
eyes, a solemn expression on her face. He reached over and brushed
the tears from her eyes with a finger, gently, reverently,
silently.
    She reveled in his nearness to her, the touch
of his finger, his arm around her shoulder, his tender
ministrations. She could feel his breath upon her, could smell his
uniquely masculine and erotic aroma. And she sensed his urgent
desire for her.
    "I love you," he whispered, lightly tracing a
finger upon her exquisite features. "I've never stopped loving you,
Serena."
    She almost gasped aloud at