Redemption in Love (Hearts on the Line) Read Online Free PDF Page B

better than Gavin did.
    If it wasn’t business… If it was something personal, why hadn’t he said anything?
    Amandine stopped her car in front of the glitzy restaurant, and a uniformed valet opened the door for her. She climbed out and handed him her keys. The soft red silk cocktail dress whispered against her skin, the matching sandals adding almost three inches to her five-foot five. Her stylist had pulled her wheat-colored hair into a chic French twist, something she could never manage on her own. She radiated—or at least she hoped she radiated—a sophistication and elegance that befit the crowd at La Mer.
    The maître d’, clad in a tuxedo that looked like cultured wealth, led her to a table in the most sought-after corner. The walls were made entirely of Plexiglas; behind them was an enormous aquarium full of interesting sea life. Her section boasted orange and yellow coral and tropical fish of various vivid shades. The only ones she recognized was a pair of clownfish, which swished their tails to disappear into their anemone home.
    Amandine sighed. It must be nice to live in a modest home, just them and their spouses, nobody to impress. The fish seemed to be in sync with what they wanted and expected from each other. Maybe it was because a clownfish never married a fish out of its league.
    Like a shark.
    A waiter came by to get her drink order. She requested mineral water and juice, which appeared almost instantly.
    She shouldn’t be ungrateful. She had a generous husband, a lovely home everyone envied, tons of staff to take care of everything.
    So what if she hadn’t been in half the rooms in her house, or if she always had to look the part? She’d known what was expected when she agreed to marry Gavin. He was far wealthier than her uncle’s family, who had taken her family in when her father’s prolonged unemployment had resulted in eviction. And her uncle had been rich. Gavin shouldn’t have to become downwardly mobile just because she was more comfortable in clothes from thrift stores, or a smaller home that she could manage on her own.
    This was their anniversary. Her focus should be on all the lovely things in her life rather than a few minor annoyances.
    Right?
    She sat back in her seat and waited.
    And waited.
    Then waited some more.
    After about half an hour, she gave up and reached for her phone. Maybe Gavin was—
    She started when a chilled bottle of Perrier-Jouët appeared on the table.
    “With my compliments.”
    She looked up and blinked. “Hello, Mark.”
    “Surprised to see you sitting here by yourself.” Mark Pryce took the only empty chair, the one that Gavin was due to sit in when he showed up. The dim interior light darkened Mark’s medium-brown hair so that it almost looked as inky as Gavin’s. He wore a nice dress shirt and dark slacks of European origin. Most likely custom tailored, given the way they fit him.
    Mark was Gavin’s friend and one of the richest men in the state. He invested in many upscale restaurants, including La Mer, and La Mer, which had opened just the week before, was already a smashing success. His mother seemed to disapprove of it. She had definite ideas about how her children ought to live their lives.
    “I have a date,” Amandine began, self-conscious and vaguely embarrassed, “but I think he’s been delayed.”
    “Gavin?”
    “Well, of course. It’s our anniversary.”
    His blue eyes warmed. “Congratulations. I picked the right bottle for the occasion.”
    “I’m not drinking.”
    “Why not?” he said, pausing in the middle of popping the cork. “It’s not like you have to drive. I can call you a limo if you like.”
    “Thanks but…” She hesitated. She didn’t want to tell him about her pregnancy, not when she hadn’t even told Gavin yet. “I’m not feeling too well.”
    “I see. Then I’ll have this bottle saved for you, so you can enjoy it later.”
    “That would be great.”
    “Has he called?”
    “No. I was about to see