Love Isn't Blind 2 Read Online Free PDF Page A

about this whole silly situation?" asked Ashley.
    "Nothing left but to talk to him, I'm afraid." Helene turned, using her apron to dry her hands. "I can't promise it will be the easiest conversation you've ever had, but I don't see any alternative. Maybe it's time to put everything on the table once and for all."
    Ashley took Helene's advice to heart, and after mulling it over for an hour or so, she decided she'd talk with Anthony as soon as he woke. She knew his schedule fairly well, and although he often stayed up until ridiculously late hours, it was rare that he'd ever stay in bed past ten o'clock. He was a man of routine, and it was easy enough for her to intercept him on his way to his workout.
    "Hey, sorry to interrupt you, but do you think we could talk for a few minutes?" she asked. She'd stopped him just outside his bedroom.
    "It's important?" He held up his sports towel as if to remind her that he was on his way to the garage.
    "Yeah, I think it's important."
    "Let's go to my office then," he said, stepping past her to open the door. He sat down in one of the two wingback chairs they used during their more casual conversations about work.
    "We need to talk about what's going on between us," said Ashley sitting across from him. "I don't know what you were trying to prove by taking off to Europe last week, but what happened that night meant a lot to me, and I don't want to keep living here if we're going to play games with each other."
    Anthony paused for a long moment before saying, "That night meant a lot to me, too, and I promise that I'm not trying to play games with you. It's just that...” He let the words fall off as he rubbed his jaw.
    "It's just what?" she asked, her words coming out a little more sternly than she'd meant them to sound.
    "You deserve better than someone like me, Ashley. You deserve a man who can do normal things with you, someone who can fully appreciate you. I'm no good at relationships, and I don't want you to have to bear the burden of me." His hand dropped to his lap and his shoulders drooped in resignation. He always maintained such perfect posture; this was the first time she'd seen him slump in his chair like that.
    "Are you trying to say that I deserve someone who isn't blind?"
    Anthony shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "I'm only half a man now. I can't expect someone like you to want to be involved with someone who can't even get around his own house if the furniture is rearranged even slightly. I can barely manage to cook anything, I can't drive a car, and I probably couldn't even protect you if anyone were to try to break in."
    "Those are all nonsense reasons and you know it," she said. Ashley moved from her chair to kneel before him, reaching out to take his hands. "You're the most brilliant, talented writer I know. You're handsome, you're kind, and you're intelligent. Helene loves you like her own son, and even though I've only known her a short time, I hold her opinion in the highest esteem. I don't care if you can't see, Anthony. You see me well enough with your mind, and you have this amazing way of making me feel more beautiful than anyone else ever has."
    "I never want to be a burden to anyone..." he began.
    "Listen to what I'm saying, Anthony. I'm trying to tell you that I love you and that I want you to ignore all the self-doubt in your mind and admit you love me, too."
    "I do love you," he whispered. He spoke quietly, as though the words might sting her if said any louder.
    "Then let's stop worrying about what might go wrong and start enjoying what we have. Do you think you can do that?" She leaned in and pressed her forehead to his.
    "Yes. I know I've been such a child about all this; I just couldn't stand to put my heart out there only to have you tell me you'd never be able to love someone like me."
    "Oh, Anthony," she said with a laugh. "I don't know if I could ever love anyone else after having met you."
Chapter Fifteen
    ASHLEY TOOK HIS HANDS and pressed