Hard Feelings Read Online Free PDF Page A

it on when I left my office. I can’t believe you’re acting this way.”
    Paula started to leave the kitchen, but I stood in front of her, blocking her.
    “Why is your suit wrinkled?” I asked.
    “Will you get out of my way, please?”
    “Were you with Andy Connelly?”
    “What? Are you out of your mind?”
    Paula pushed past me and left the kitchen. I stood there, suddenly feeling like an idiot. I knew Paula hadn’t been with Andy Connelly. It was just the alcohol, making me paranoid. Paula had been in a late meeting and had forgotten to turn on her cell phone. These were both reasonable explanations.
    I went into the dining room to get the bouquet of roses and the card, and then I opened the bedroom door and poked my head inside. Paula was sitting on the foot of the bed, taking off her shoes.
    “I’m sorry,” I said.
    She didn’t answer.
    “I’ve been under a lot of pressure lately,” I went on, “with work and everything. I shouldn’t’ve taken it out on you. I bought you a present.”
    Paula looked over and I came into the room, holding the flowers in front of me. Her face brightened momentarily. She took the flowers, resting them on the bed beside her, and said, “Thank you.” Then she glanced at the card, where I had written, Congratulations on your promotion to Vice President, to a wonderful woman and to my best friend, love always, Richard, and said, “That’s sweet.” She stood up and kissed me quickly, then sat back down and started taking off her other shoe.
    “Don’t get undressed,” I said. “I still want to take you out to dinner.”
    “You just accused me of having an affair.”
    “I said I was sorry. I was just—I’m really sorry.”
    “You were just what?”
    “Nothing.”
    “You were going to say drunk, weren’t you?”
    “No.”
    “ Please. Do you really think I’m that stupid? I can smell the alcohol on your breath from across the room. Why are you doing this? Am I going to have to start drawing lines on the liquor bottles like I—”
    “I only had one—I swear to God.”
    “You said you were going to stop. You promised. ”
    “I did stop. I was just upset, that’s all. So I had a drink— one drink. It wasn’t a big deal.”
    “Do you still think I’m cheating on you?”
    “Will you stop with that already?”
    “I thought that was all over with, but if you’re still—”
    “I’m telling you, it’s work and that’s it. Come on, let’s just go to dinner.”
    I leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.
    “All right,” she said. “Just give me a few minutes to get ready.”
    On the way out of the building, I could tell Paula was still upset, but when we were walking uptown to the restaurant I put my arm around her and she didn’t pull away, so I knew she had forgiven me.
    Even though we were late for our reservation at Maison, we were able to get a table on the sidewalk. Paula had the fluke and I had the monkfish.
    In the middle of the meal I held Paula’s hand and said, “I have an idea—let’s go away this weekend.”
    “You mean tomorrow?”
    “Why not? Let’s go someplace quiet—not the Hamptons with that whole scene there. How about the Berkshires?”
    “You serious?”
    “Why not? We’ll just rent a car and drive up. I don’t know about you, but I really need to get the hell out of the city for a couple of days—clear my head. And it’ll be nice to spend some time alone with no distractions. When was the last time we did that?”
    “I guess we’ve both had difficult weeks,” Paula said.
    We had dessert—splitting a piece of chocolate soufflé cake—then we walked back to our apartment with our arms around each other.
    I took Otis out for a walk while Paula got ready for bed. I came back to the apartment and went into the bedroom, where the lights were out.
    “I’m waiting for you,” Paula said seductively.
    We hadn’t made love in over a week and it was good to get back in the saddle again. Paula was more energetic