Page 141 of The Man Next Door
LOUISE DID, INDEED,get dinner out of the deal. But she found herself too nervous to eat. What had she been thinking? Martin was her friend. Kissing him would feel like kissing her brother.
“Louise, I’m wondering why all of a sudden you’re proposing dinners out and parking on Mulholland Drive.”
“Well, why not?” she said.
He leaned on the table and considered her. “What’s this about? Really?”
She squirmed in her seat, fiddled with her wineglass. “I don’t know, Martin. Maybe I’m coming to see you in a new light.”
“All because I jumped into a pool like an idiot?”
She smiled at the memory of him helping Alec separate Zona from Alec’s demented stepsister. “All because you were willing to do something. I never realized what a man of action you are.”
“I’m not, really. I’m a peaceable man, a logical man. I’m not Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone, and I have no intention of becoming an old gym rat, trying to look like them.” She started to pout and he held up a hand to stop her from saying anything. “That’s not to say that if you asked me to go on a diet and do some push-ups that I won’t do it to please you. But in the end, I’m not... exciting or glamorous. I am who I am.”
“And I’m coming to realize how much I appreciate who you are,” she said. “I’m not suggesting we jump into bed.”
“Although I wouldn’t object to that,” he said, a sly smile on his face. He reached across the table and ran his fingers up her hand. “You’re a smart woman, Louise. I know I don’t have to tell you how crazy I am about you, but let me. You’re the first thing I think of when I get up in the morning and the last thing I think of before I go to sleep. I lived most of my life not knowing you, but I don’t think I could live the rest of it without you. Even if this night doesn’t work out the way I hope it will, I want you to know I’ll always be there for you. As long as I have breath in my body, I’ll be yours to command.”
Louise blinked back sudden tears. Her own husband, whom she’d loved dearly, had never offered her such a speech. Martin, her kindhearted buddy, not only had a heart of gold, he had the soul of a poet.
“Oh, Martin, you amaze me,” she said.
He smiled. “Let’s take a drive and see if I can amaze you some more.”
They did and he did.
It was funny, how much stronger Martin’s arms were when they were around her than she’d realized. And good heavens, he knew just what to do with that smiley mouth of his.
“Martin,” she said breathlessly, “you are...”
“Something?” he supplied. “My wife always said I was a good kisser.”
“Your wife was right,” she said, and went back for more.
ZONA GOT HOMEfrom her shift as a HopIn driver before Louise. It looked like the date her mother had planned for Martin and herself had gone well. Either that or they’d gone off the road somewhere and were lying in a ditch.
Lovely thought, Zona, she scolded herself. She was now an Eeyore, determined to see the worst possible scenario for everything and anything.
Hardly surprising because life was just one big bundle of worst possible scenarios.
Darling was delighted to see her, and although he remembered his manners and didn’t jump on her, there was much tail-wagging and excited barking.
“I know. You need to go for a walk,” she said. “Let’s get your leash.”
The night was beautiful, the sky filled with glittering stars. A night for lovers. She looked wistfully at the house next door. Alec’s truck sat in the driveway, but the porch light was off and no glimmer of light shined out from behind the living room curtains. What was he doing in there? Was he in bed? Was he thinking about her as much as she’d been thinking about him?
Didn’t matter. Darling was ready to trot on over and say hi. She gave his leash a little tug. “No, Darling. We’re not going that way,” she said, and started them in the opposite direction.
Chapter30
ZONA USED UP THE LAST OFAugust avoiding Alec. He respected her decision, to both her relief and dismay, and didn’t try to contact her. The red PT Cruiser was no longer anywhere to be seen. Alec’s truck stayed parked in his driveway most evenings, except for the occasional weekday night. When he was probably out with his buddies, who were probably commiserating with him and telling him how unworthy Zona was of him. She’d left him. Just like his wife.
She finally ran into him at Vons, when she turned into the frozen pizza aisle, looking for an easy meal. He stopped his cart and stared at her like a thirsty man looking at a mirage.
Then he gave her a sad smile and nodded. “Zona.” It came out wrapped in yearning.
“Alec,” she said and could hear the same yearning in her own voice. “Well, now that we’ve proved we know each other’s names.” It was a lame joke. She stood there with her cart of lettuce and cheese and avocados, her brain as frozen as the pizza in the glass case beside her.
