A Rocky Path Read Online Free PDF

been doing today?
Working, playing, daydreaming?” he teased.
    Emily blushed again. “I’ve been working quite
hard today, thank you. But I have been a bit antsy. I guess I just
needed some fresh air.”
    “This is the perfect place to get it. I was
hoping you would come down here again this evening. I was thinking
that maybe you could stay later this time and we could watch the
sunset. It is really beautiful.”
    Her heart started beating a little faster. He
actually wanted to spend time with her! She had thought that
perhaps she had been a nuisance to him yesterday and was just being
nice.
    “Y-yes, of course I’ll stay. I’m flattered
that you want to watch the sunset with me. I didn’t want to be a
pain, and I was afraid I had invaded your privacy yesterday.”
    “Nonsense. I enjoyed your company. I’m mostly
a loner, but I do enjoy being around certain people. So far, you
are the only one whose company I have enjoyed since I moved
here.”
    They talked about a lot of different things,
but it seemed like he still was unwilling to reveal very much
information about himself.
    “Please tell me more about you,” Emily
pleaded. “All we do is talk about me or about trivial things. I
still know next to nothing about you!”
    “There is so little to tell. I’m an artist
from Connecticut and I have a lot of money. I’m just a very boring
person.”
    “What about your love life. Do you have a
girlfriend anywhere? Did you have one before you came here? Have
you ever been married?”
    A sad look came over his face. “I was engaged
once.”
    “What happened?” she asked, knowing she
should mind her own business.
    “I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s just be
quiet for a little while. The sun is about to set. Look over there,
isn’t it beautiful?”
    They watched the sunset together, not
talking, just enjoying the view and each other’s company. Emily was
finding it hard to breathe every time she looked over at Patrick.
He was so beautiful. It was hard to describe him as handsome, and
certainly not cute. Beautiful was the word that seemed to fit. He
wouldn’t look at her, and she felt like she had overstepped some
boundary when she asked him about his engagement. Maybe when they
got to know each other better, he would open up to her a little
more. Right now, she just had to be content to be with him.
    When it started getting dark, he turned to
her and said, “Do you want to go back to the house, or do you want
to stay with me a little longer?”
    “Do you want me to stay?” she asked
shakily.
    “Yes, I would like that. Let’s not talk,
though. Let’s just be here.”
    He took her hand and leaned back on the rock.
She leaned back beside him, thrilled just to be touching him. They
stayed like that for about an hour. Soon her back was hurting and
she had to sit up straight.
    “I’m sorry, but I was getting very
uncomfortable sitting against the rock.”
    He let go of her hand then. “No, it is I who
am sorry. I should have realized that you would be
uncomfortable.”
    “Aren’t you a little stiff and sore from
sitting here?”
    He smiled a little. “No, I don’t feel pain
the same way that others feel it.”
    “What does that mean?” she asked,
puzzled.
    “It’s a long story. Maybe I will tell you
someday. Now it’s time for you to go back up to the house and for
me to go home.”
    “I enjoyed spending time with you today,”
Emily said shyly.
    “I enjoyed it as well. Thank you for a
pleasant evening. I look forward to seeing you again.”
    He took her hand and gently kissed it,
smiling at her as his lips touched her skin. Then he let go of her
hand, turned around and walked away. She admired the way he looked,
walking confidently down the beach.
    Emily walked back up the rocks to the path
leading to the house. She felt like she was walking on air. Her
stomach was all tied up in knots from being with him and holding
his hand. And she could still feel his lips on her hand where he
had kissed