Sweeter Than Wine Read Online Free PDF

eyes. "I'm so sorry. It must be
tragically hard for you to keep going."
    "It has been. But it's been two years, and
it's time I snapped out of it and became a human being again."
    "I'm so sorry for interrupting you…" she
began.
    "Don't be, it made me laugh, it made me see
that despite everything, life goes on." He smiled gently at her.
"And now hearing your story, well, I can relate. And it explains a
lot about you, too."
    She shrugged, "I don't know about me. I mean,
I'd been living in this fog for so long, that I never realized that
I'd been missing life all this time. Until now. Not that I regret a
moment of it. I'm at peace about my mother, I know I did everything
I could for her, but I neglected myself during that time, and now I
have to sort of make up for it."
    He nodded, "Yeah, me too. We're sort of two
peas in a pod, aren't we?"
    She smiled and their eyes connected for a
moment. She saw the raw pain still hiding there, and she saw a kind
and gentle man too.
    Woe, slow down Lacey, you're getting yourself
way too involved.
    The dinner was perfect and after another
glass of wine, and light conversation they both seemed to wonder
what might come next. Lacey needed to leave now, and not make a
nuisance of herself. He'd been so kind, endured her insignificant
revelation about herself, but she needed to leave so he could
continue enjoying his time here.
    "Well, it has been an enjoyable dinner, and I
can't thank you enough. I guess I'll turn in and try to figure out
where I'm going next."
    He studied her for a moment without saying
anything, then cleared his throat, "Lacey, don't get the wrong
idea. We barely know each other, but we do have a little in common.
And I've a proposition for you."
    She waited with baited breath, "Go on."
    "I think you're going at this challenge the
wrong way. You're jumping in with both feet, and trying to do
things you as a person would never do, right?'
    She nodded, "I guess so. I don't know any
other way to accomplish what I want."
    "I think we can help each other."
    "In what way?"
    "I haven't thought this through, but I think
I can show you how to let loose and enjoy life a little, and the
distraction might help me too. And, I need to meet my real family;
it would make it easier if there was someone with me."
    The man was being very nice, but she didn't
know him, she kept telling herself.
    Still there was honesty in his face that
spoke more than his words. Was it wrong to instantly trust
someone?
    "What exactly are you suggesting?"
    "I'm not sure myself, at this moment.
However, it seems you've going too fast, and in the wrong
directions. A person can live a little and without doing things
that go against their nature. Let me think on it overnight, and see
what I come up with." He glanced up at her and got to his feet. "I
don't want to worry about you now that I've gotten to know a little
about you."
    Her face relaxed and she smiled shyly, "I
really don't want to interrupt your vacation any more than I
already have. Are you really a worry-wart?"
    His eyes connected with hers now,
"Unfortunately, yes I am. Nevertheless, maybe by helping you, I can
help myself. And believe me, going with me, will help."
    She stared for a long time, "All right, then
I'll meet you here in the morning for breakfast and we can talk
about it, okay?"
    "Fair enough, let me pay the tab and I'll
walk you to your room," he said and went to pay the tab.
    "All right," she said a little too huskily
and walked behind him.
    After paying the tab, he walked her to her
room which was on the other side of the hall from his.
    She took out her key from her purse and noted
how her fingers shook. She wasn't sure she was doing the right
thing. How could she run around with a man so attractive? She
hadn't had a boy friend in some time and she was sure this man was
way out of her league.
    He took the key, unlocked her door, and then
stared down at her.
    Afraid her emotions were showing she started
to turn away, but he turned her to