In Love with a Gentleman Read Online Free PDF Page A

up on the spot. “No,” he says, “let’s just leave it at that. You’re my guest. It was a really nice evening, and thank you for sharing it with me.”
    Embarrassed, I protest, “But that’s not right. That wasn’t our deal.”
    “It’s okay,” Jens says. He offers me the crook of his arm and asks, “May I escort Cinderella to her carriage?”
    “With pleasure,” I say. “Let’s hope it hasn’t turned into a pumpkin.”
    As we walk out of the restaurant into the cool autumn night, I think how strange life is. If someone had told me yesterday that I’d go out to an Italian restaurant with a chauffeur in a white stretch limo—and barefoot, too—I would have never believed them. How wonderful that life sometimes presents such funny twists and surprises. I chuckle lightly to myself.
    Jens glances at me. “You see?” he says. “You’re doing it again. You laugh because you have such a zest for life. I bet people are very envious of you.”
    We arrive at the car, and I look at him. “But there’s no reason everyone can’t be like me. You can’t deny that.”
    Jens opens the passenger door for me. “I don’t think most people have it in them. I don’t know—maybe people have just forgotten how to live?”
    I consider this. Yes, maybe that’s right. I find his thoughts on the subject kind of touching. I don’t think I know many young men who would concern themselves with such things. Without heels, I’m just about as tall as he is. I lean toward him and place a gentle kiss on his cheek. It’s a bit prickly. It’s probably been a while since he last shaved.
    “Thank you for saving my life, and thank you for the lovely meal,” I say. I sit down in the passenger seat and buckle up.
    Jens just smiles. He hurries around to the other side of the car, opens the door, and strips off the gray sweater. It has a warm, pleasant, manly fragrance. He slips into his suit jacket, puts the cap back on his head, and gets behind the wheel.
    “Home, James—and a shilling extra if you make it in ten minutes,” I joke.
    “Very funny,” says Jens, but he doesn’t sound the least bit perturbed.
    On the ride back to the casino, we’re both quiet. Maybe it’s because we want to enjoy the calm before the storm. Soon the clucking hens and their proud rooster will take over the limousine again.
    Just before we reach the casino, Jens pulls over to the curb. He turns to me and says, “I would like to see you again, Lea.”
    “Then it has to be within the next week, because it won’t work after that,” I say.
    He frowns. “Why? Are you really Cinderella? Are you going back to doing chores for your wicked stepmother?”
    I smile. “No. It’s not that bad. I’m leaving town next weekend.”
    His face brightens. “That’s no problem. We can get together after that.”
    I shake my head. “You’d have to be very patient.”
    “Why?” he asks.
    “I’m going to England next weekend. I won’t be back for a year.”
    Jens doesn’t act like his sisters; he doesn’t scream bloody murder, and he doesn’t turn red, but he looks sad and disappointed.
    “Crap!” he says. “I finally meet a really amazing girl, and then this! I’m cursed.”
    Silently, he puts the car in gear and drives the last few yards to the casino. He hasn’t even turned off the engine when his cell phone rings. It’s Tom, calling to let him know that he’s ready to go.
    “You’re at least going to give me your number, right?” Jens asks.
    “It doesn’t make sense, I’ll have a different number in England,” I say. “I think we should leave it at this. Long-distance relationships aren’t my thing. They’re doomed from the outset. I think we should go our separate ways. It was a lovely evening, and I’ll think of it often. Hopefully you will, too. Thank you for everything.”
    Even if Jens had responded, I wouldn’t have been able to hear him, because just then the girls tear open the doors and tumble into the car. They reek