Be My Hero Read Online Free PDF Page A

near the water’s edge and watched the boats glide up and down the river. In the winter, they’d sat inside near the inglenook fireplace, where the logs had crackled and popped as the flames flickered up the chimney and the horse brasses had twinkled in the firelight.
    She sighed, knowing her perception of The Lion being special was hers alone. She doubted it had any such connotations for Evan.
    ****
    Evan watched the range of emotions play across her face. He’d suggested The Lion because it was familiar, and all his memories of time spent there were pleasant. When he thought about it, most of his time spent there had been with Nathalie.
    â€œFor a minute back there, I thought your dad was about to give us a curfew,” he joked.
    Nathalie grinned. “Me too. I think they forget sometimes that I’m not a teenager anymore.”
    â€œI take it you don’t live at home?”
    â€œNo, I moved out a while ago, when my business took off and Nate moved out. I live nearer to town, as it’s handy for the shop. None of us live there anymore, although Jerome often calls around.”
    Evan swung the car into the narrow country lane that led to the pub. “This place doesn’t look as if it’s changed much,” he remarked as they pulled in to the car park. Yellow-tinted floodlights illuminated the white walls of the building, and a wisp of smoke curled from the chimney into the evening sky. He jumped out of his seat and went to open the door for Nathalie.
    â€œIt seems quiet here tonight.” She looked around the almost deserted car park.
    â€œI expect it’ll get busy later.” Evan reached for her hand as she climbed out of the car. She ignored the gesture and instead turned to lead the way through the small side gate to the entrance of the pub. He followed behind her, disappointed that she had snubbed him and surprised by how much it stung.
    The lounge was quiet. Another couple sat at a corner table, sipping their drinks. An elderly man stood at the bar, deep in conversation with the landlord.
    â€œWhat would you like to drink?” Evan asked. In the past, Nathalie had always ordered soft drinks.
    â€œOrange juice, please. I had wine at lunch, and I need to drive home from Mum’s later.”
    Evan smiled as he collected the drinks and took a seat opposite her by the fireplace. Maybe some things didn’t change. Nathalie had taken off her jacket and hung it on the corner coat stand. In the soft light from the fire, her face appeared shadowed, almost mysterious. A frisson of electricity ran through his body. She was a beautiful woman.
    â€œI’m glad you agreed to come out with me.” He had thought that she would refuse. In truth, he wouldn’t have blamed her if she hadn’t wanted to see him again. He owed her an apology — one that was long overdue.
    â€œI guess I’m either a sucker for punishment, or I want an explanation.” Her voice sounded brittle and her eyes were downcast, as if the wood grain of the table held some secret meaning.
    Evan sighed. He felt like a heel. “I never intended to hurt you, Tali.”
    Her eyes snapped up to meet his. “I never thought you did.” He wished he could believe her words, but the pain on her face told a different story.
    â€œI’d received a letter from Laurel that morning when I last saw you. I’d seen her a few times when I was in London. I broke up with her a couple of months before you and I, you know, started to see each other as a couple.” He took a long pull of his beer. “She said she was pregnant.”
    â€œI knew you’d seen someone before we started to date, so why didn’t you tell me?”
    Evan raked his hand through his hair. “I didn’t know if she was telling the truth, or what her plans were. I had to go and see her.” He struggled to find the words to explain his emotions from that fateful summer. How much he’d