Love Will Find a Way by Barri Bryan Page B

sleep.” She opened her bag and retrieved her key. “Good night, Robert."
    He took her arm. “I'll see you to your room."
    "That's not necessary.” But she didn't try to pull away from him.
    "I happen to think it is.” He guided her toward her door.
    Emily was too tired to argue. “Do you think Larry is going to be all right?"
    "I'm sure of it.” Robert took the card from her and inserted it in the slot. “I'm not so sure about you.” The door opened with a little click. He ushered her inside. “Sit down. I'll get your overnight bag."
    When Robert returned, Emily was sitting on the bed with pillows propped behind her back. She had kicked off her shoes and let her hair down. “Put the bag on the dresser. I'll rest for a moment and then get to bed."
    Robert stood in the middle of the room, staring at her. “You've lost weight."
    She was surprised that he noticed. “Not too much, I hope."
    "No. You look ... no. Not at all.” Uninvited, he sat in a chair. “Your hair is longer, too. Why did you decide to let it grow?"
    She combed her fingers through her thick tresses. “A desire for change, I suppose."
    "It looks very nice.” He let his eyes slide over her slim figure. “You look nice."
    His unexpected compliment caught her off guard. Robert Franklin was not a man given to flowery speeches or pretty words. “I'm glad you approve.” For the briefest moment their eyes met and then Emily looked away. “I hope Larry doesn't get too homesick."
    Robert's voice was gruff. “Larry will be making new friends and meeting challenging demands. He will soon adjust to his new routine."
    "I'm going to miss him,” Emily said. “I'm so used to having him underfoot. Home won't be the same without him around."
    Robert settled back in his chair. “I hate to think about you rattling around in that big old house all alone."
    "I won't be for long.” Should she tell him she was going to sell the house?
    Under his tan Robert turned a pasty white. “What does that mean?"
    He would probably disapprove. So what? “It means I'm not going to be living alone in that big house much longer."
    "Don't tell me the elusive Thaddius Thackery has popped the question."
    It took awhile for his words to sink in. “Thad? Get married?” Emily had to laugh, “When donkeys fly."
    "So you're going to live with him without benefit of matrimony?” Robert's brows met in a scurrilous frown. “I would have thought better of you."
    Surprise tilted her voice. “I'm not going to live with Thad, period.” She swung her feet to the floor. “Not that it would be any of your business if I did."
    "Do you know the kind of reputation Thad Thackery has? Damn it, Emily, you're not the only woman the man is seeing."
    Sudden anger took her. “The last time we were alone in a motel room, you told me you were seeing another woman. Did you come in here tonight to tell me the same about Thad?” Before the words were out of her mouth, she repented of having said them. She put her hand to her forehead. “That was uncalled for."
    His mouth thinned. “I asked for it."
    "I was being petty and malicious.” How many times had she promised herself that this was the one thing she would not do? “Why don't we forget Thad and talk about something else?"
    Robert offered an apology, of sorts. “I didn't mean to be offensive, but when you said you weren't going to be living alone, I assumed you would be living with Thad."
    "I'm not going to be living with anyone, except Boo.” Emily took a deep breath. “I've listed the house. I'm going to sell it and buy a smaller place."
    Robert leaned forward in his chair and gasped. “You're going to sell our home?"
    " Our home, Robert?"
    Robert cleared his throat. “Your home, I know how much you love that house. You always said it was perfect."
    "It was when I had a family. I'm alone now.” When would he realize that she was capable of making her own decisions?
    Cryptically he ventured, “Maybe you won't always be