Tomorrow Will Be Too Late Read Online Free PDF Page A

women almost from day one of their failed marriage.
    ‘ How about we go on a proper date instead?’ h e was asking now, surprising her again. She thought he would press the issue, her eagerness from moments ago invitation enough to let him hope she’d agree. Instead , he lifted her chin with his fingers, their eyes meeting.
    ‘I would hate to give you the wrong impression , Muriel ,’ h e said, suddenly serious. ‘I might want you and be sexually frustrated, but I want more than a quick shag in the dark. I ’ m not afraid to admit that ever since I saw you in here, I had this insane feeling that we shouldn’t be allow ed to pass each other. I still do . ’
    He let his fingers travel down her cheek, slowly and almost wonderingly.
    ‘ Would you like to c ome for a ride with me ?’ he asked, his voice warm. ‘I swear you can leave the info about it with the bartender if you ’re worr ied , Muriel. I understand . I came here by cab , and it would take me just a moment to get us another one. See, I just thought I’d rather get into a car where I can’t really do anything improper. The temptation here is kind of testing my willpower.’ He smiled crookedly, his expression already familiar. ‘ We could have a chat and maybe agree on the next place to meet? I hope , at least , that you will say yes even after I tell you a few things about myself first. I’ve always believed in starting everything with honesty. ’ He waited for her to say something, his gentle fingers smoothing out the wrinkles on her silk top . ‘ You see, I am going through a divorce right now.’ He waited for her reaction , and she nodded, completely shocked. She didn’t expect him to bring it up, not after the image of a cheating Don Juan that she had gotten from Vic.
    He must have misunderstood her silence as disapproval, because he nodded, his eyes imploring.
    ‘I know, it sounds horrible.’ He sighed, his eyes dark with some emotion she couldn’t quite read. ‘ But you can believe me that it’s only a matter of time until all the proceedings will be finalized. And for all it’s worth , I didn’t come here searching for some distraction , if that’s what you think, Muriel. It’s rather like I ’ ve been hit on the head with your presence here, my sweet. That’s why it’s so important for me not to mess it up.’ He kissed her lightly before letting go . ‘ Can we still go out , or did I put you out too much? My offer of a ride with no strings attached still stands. There is a lovely little teahouse at the end of it that I thought we could both enjoy . ’ H e looked at her expectantly, his phone in his hand. She nodded , and he smiled at her, dialing the cab company’s number and ordering a pickup for them with just a few swift words.
    That was it, her freedom. She could almost see the light at the end of the tunnel, she thought as she nodded, afraid of speaking. What if she burst into tears, giving him the impression that she was totally mental? Because he had no clue why she was sad, did he? He couldn’t know that he had messed it all up, her carefully put together plan of doing something good and useful even if not entirely right. He destroyed it with his kiss and smile and honest words, the true nature of what she was about to do completely exposed in its ugliness. In the end , she wasn’t anything better than a real hooker, or maybe even worse. At least they were honest, working for their money and not pretending to be anything else. She , on the other hand , had stooped as low as it got, making her feel dirty and horrible.
    She had to save it somehow, she thought as she watched him pay for their meal and later help her put on her coat. She buttoned up quickly, eager to look more like herself again. The show was over , and the lure had worked better than expected. Now, with her beige coat wrapped against her and secured with the belt, she felt less exposed and vulnerable.
    ‘I will risk your anger and guess that this is