Loving David Read Online Free PDF Page A

sixty’s through the eighty’s – the fun decades,” she winked. “I’m retired now, but keep busy with speaking engagements. Hendra and I have been friends for more than twenty years, and I’m an original member of this wonderful group of ladies. I’m a widow and hate every minute of it, but my ladies here keep things interesting.”
    “You’re from the South then?” David asked.
    Emma smiled. “Dallas, born and bred. Twenty years in New York and twenty-five in L.A. and still can’t shake that Southern twang.”
    “Oh, honey, I’d love to have a Southern twang,” a woman with a distinct Boston accent, short red hair and milk-white skin, shouted from the far end of the table as everyone laughed.
    “Well, I guess it’s your turn, then. And you are…?”
    “Samantha Lerner; senior features writer for ‘ What’s the Score’ magazine. I fall in that ‘divorcee’ category. I’ve been gracing these ladies with my presence for about two years.”
    “ What’s the Score ?’ I read it religiously. Lovely to meet you.”
    David went around the table, querying the women about their stories. They all thrilled at being able to share a little bit of themselves with him and plenty of whoops and hollers went around the room several times. A few were authors, some had written copy for ad agencies or magazines, and others toiled at newspapers. David seemed captivated by the women’s words and asked them numerous questions, an endless well of curiosity. Even Hendra got in on the fun, her earlier animosity towards David melting away as she told tales of her days as literary editor at the Los Angeles Times. The hours tiptoed past the group as they plowed through several bottles of wine and even more stories. The party moved to the kitchen where everyone took turns cleaning up.
    One by one, each of the women said their good nights. Karen stopped by to give Charlotte a quick squeeze on her shoulder and mouthed, “We’ll talk later,” as she gestured to David. At the end, only David, Charlotte, and Emma remained. They finished the last of the wine before Emma stood up and stretched; she looked at David.
    “You wouldn’t mind walking an old woman home would you?”
    David whipped his head around several times and feigned looking under the table. “I don’t see any old women here.”
    She chuckled and shook her finger at him. “You better be careful; I could be dangerous.”
    David took her arm. “So could I,” he said with a wink, which caused Emma to let out a full, throaty laugh. Charlotte had to suppress her own giggles.
    The trio stepped outside into the icy night air. Goosebumps dotted Charlotte’s bare arms, and she folded them across her chest in a feeble effort to shut out the cold. A symphony of crickets surrounded them, and the sky blinked with stars. Emma grasped David’s hand as they headed toward her cabin.
    “You know, you remind me of Newman,” Emma said as she tipped her head back in remembrance. “First time I met him was when I interviewed him for Butch Cassidy .” Emma let out a sigh and shook her head. “Such a charmer. Just like you.”
    “Well, I can think of worse people to be compared to.” David smiled.
    As they arrived at the widow’s cabin, Emma gave David a hug and Charlotte a kiss on the cheek.
    “Good night children,” she said as she gave them a wink and disappeared behind the door.
    To escape the chilly air, David and Charlotte ran back to their cabin. Charlotte continued to rub her arms as she threw on her gray sweater from earlier.
    “Easy to forget how cold it gets in Southern California, eh?” David asked as he buttoned up his flannel.
    “No kidding,” Charlotte said, her teeth chattering. She flicked on the lamp in the living room and noticed David had a huge smile on his face.
    “I take it you enjoyed yourself?”
    David reclined against the green suede couch and chuckled. “I have to say, that was one of the most enjoyable nights I’ve had in quite some