For Your Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

about being with this total stranger.
    And yet, there was something about Richard that put her at ease giving the impression she’d known him a long time. It was like finding a favorite old worn pair of jeans tucked away in a dresser drawer. And she rather liked that feeling.
    After they’d gotten past the fact that she wrote children’s books and how her friend, Lynne, had set up an exercise program with Joey, the conversation took a more serious turn.
    “So Carla Millhouse, why are you so angry?” Richard asked.
    She couldn’t believe it. There she was, the same person who refused to try on clothes in a communal dressing room with other women, telling a complete stranger the sad story of her marital discontent.
    Richard was a good listener asking questions only when necessary to clarify something she’d said. It would seem that all that was missing was a couch. At the moment that was a good thing. The vibes she was getting from this guy made her think of other uses for the couch. Perhaps she missed sex more than she thought and blamed her wayward thoughts on that.
    “Just because you may have put on some weight is no excuse for Martin to cheat,” Richard said.
    Carla bit her bottom lip. “I know, but I shouldn’t have let myself go.”
    “What’s he? Some kind of perfectionist?” Richard asked. He could already tell Martin needed an arm broken.
    “I guess you can say that. He’s in great shape and quite handsome. I’ve seen other women turn their heads to look at him.”
    Richard frowned. Maybe he should throw in a kneecap for good measure. “Sounds like he might be to o full of himself or maybe he’s going through some kind of mid-life crisis. You did say he was going to be 38.”
    “With Martin, I guess anything is possible. It just gets so lonely sometimes even with Blondie, our yellow Lab,” Carla said.
    “I take it you have no kids.”
    Shaking her head, “Not a one.”
    “It sounds,” Richard said mildly, “like you’d want to have children.”
    “More than anything, but Martin’s not ready. I fear that by the time he is, it’ll be too late.”
    Richard put a comforting hand on hers. “That’s too bad. I think you’d make a terrific mom and can picture you romping in the park with a couple of kids.”
    Carla’s face lit momentarily. “Yeah, I’d probably be a great mom.” She sighed. “Maybe in my next life.”
    “Have you spoken to Martin recently about starting a family?” Richard asked, still touching her hand. “No. I gave up trying to reason with him,” Carla answered. The quiver in her voice was quite evident.
    God, what a jerk! “Richard patted her hand. “It appears you truly haven’t closed the chapter on having a baby.”
    Carla smiled at him ruefully. “Truthfully, I’ve always wanted to have kids, but like I said, perhaps in my next life. This one’s done for.”
    Richard’s bottle-green eyes looked directly into hers and said, “Never say never.”
    She glanced at the time and realized she’d been out longer than she’d planned. She should be heading home to finish the story she’d promised her agent. Besides, poor Blondie, her mush of a yellow Lab, must be crossing her legs by now.
    Richard noticed her looking at her watch. “Gotta go?”
    She nodded. “Thanks for the shoulder.”
    “My pleasure. I enjoyed the company.”
    “Just don’t send me a bill.”
    He laughed. “I look forward to running into you again at the gym,” he said taking her hand in his.
    She noticed how warm his hand felt and yet she felt goose bumps race up her arm. She gave him a smile and nodded. Yes, seeing him again would be very nice.
    As Carla drove home, she realized she couldn’t wait to start working with Joey. She wanted to lose the weight as quickly as possible. She might not be able to control everything in her life, but she sure as hell could do something about her appearance. Perhaps she’d see Richard at the gym the next time she went. She held on to that