Never Leave Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

too,” I said, sitting down. “You’re looking younger each time.”
    She laughed. “Same old Brad,” she said. But I know she liked it.
    I noticed there was a place set at the table for a fourth. I looked at Paul questioningly. “Somebody missing?” I asked.
    He started to reply but Edith beat him to it. “No,” she said. “Here she comes now.”
    I saw Paul glance over my shoulder and begin to rise to his feet. Automatically I followed suit. I turned around.
    I think we saw each other at the same moment. A bright glow appeared in her eyes, and then as quickly disappeared. She seemed to hesitate for a moment, then continued on towards the table.
    She held out her hand. “Mr. Rowan,” she said in a politely formal voice. “It’s good to see you again.”
    I took her hand. Her fingers were trembling excitedly in mine. I held her chair while she sat down.
    Edith leaned forward, smiling. “At the last minute Elaine met me for lunch and went shopping with me, Brad. She has such wonderful taste. We bought out half the stores in New York.”
    “I hope you left me with enough money to pay for dinner,” Paul joked.
    Edith said something to him, but I didn’t hear her reply. I couldn’t tell if the building were to collapse around me. I was looking at Elaine and her eyes were a smoky blue and hurt. Her mouth was soft and red and warm. And all I could think about was how wonderful it would be to kiss her.

Chapter Six

    AT eight, while we were dawdling over coffee, the captain came over to the table. “Your car is outside Mr. Rowan,” he informed me.
    “Thanks,” I replied. I had called the garage before I left the office and told them to deliver the car by eight. I looked around the table. “Ready?”
    “Ready,” Paul answered.
    Edith whipped out her compact and put the face through a last-minute fix while I turned to Elaine. “How about joining us for a ride out to the airport?” I asked.
    She shook her head. “I think I’d better turn in. I’m tired. Thank you just the same, Mr. Rowan.” “Oh, Elaine, come on,” Edith said. “Brad will drop you back at the hotel by ten. A little fresh air
    won’t hurt you.”
    Elaine looked at me, hesitating.
    I nodded. “We can be back in town by ten,” I said. “Okay.” She smiled, “I’ll go with you.”
    On the way out, the women sat together in the back while Paul and I sat in the front seat. Every now and then I would look up into the rear-view mirror and she would be watching me. She would turn
    her eyes away quickly, but then when I would look again, her eyes would have returned.
    I told him about the difficulties involved in the steel account and he told me all the latest gossip around Washington. The drive passed quickly and we arrived at the airport at ten minutes to nine. I parked the car and we all walked over to the gate. We exchanged good-byes and I promised to have Marge call Edith to-morrow. Then Paul and Edith walked through the gate and Elaine and I went back to the car.
    We didn’t speak. I held the door open for her silently while she got in, then walked around the other side and got in behind the wheel. I reached forward to turn on the ignition, but her hand stopped me.
    “Wait a minute,” she said. “Till their plane takes off.”
    I leaned back in the seat and looked at her. She was looking through the windshield at the plane.
    There was a lonely look on her face.
    “Is there anything wrong?” I asked quickly.
    She shook her head. “No,” she answered. “I just want to see them off safely.” “You think a lot of them?” I said. It was more a statement than a question.
    She nodded. “I love them,” she said simply. “I don’t know how I would have managed after what happened if it hadn’t been for Edith and Paul.”
    I lit a cigarette just as the plane motors split the night. We were silent until the plane had roared into the darkness. Then she turned to me.
    There was a half smile on her lips. “Okay now.”
    I