Page 89 of Try Easy

Paul pulled Lou against his chest and kissed her with a passion she didn’t know he had in him. His fingers shifted up her arm to the nape of her neck, and he tugged the back of her hair hard so that her head fell back. His tongue tasted of cigarettes and brandy.

Lou clutched Paul’s shoulders for balance as his mouth devoured hers. Paul usually kissed her with expert precision, but this kiss was different. It was raw and messy and full of emotion.

Paul released her mouth and trailed kisses over Lou’s cheek.

“I can’t lose you,” he said in her ear, his voice breaking.

Guilt wrapped around Lou like a soggy blanket. She choked back tears and clutched Paul to her chest. She couldn’t promise Paul that she would go back to the way things had been, but neither did she want to give up on her future.

“I’ll try,” she said, pulling back to look at him.

Paul nodded and held Lou close for another moment.

“I’ll try, too,” he promised. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” he said.

“Okay.”

“Let’s go back inside and finish dinner,” Paul said.

Lou let him lead her back inside where their food was waiting for them.

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