Love Storm Read Online Free PDF Page B

the show, she almost felt comfortable sitting
on the sofa just a few feet away from Ryan Landry, almost .
    “Are you up for another one?” Ryan asked, turning to look at
Brooklyn as the end credits began to scroll along the screen.
    Glancing toward the large wall-clock, Brooklyn saw that it
was still early, just a few minutes past eight-thirty.   “Sure, why not.   But you pick this time.”  
    She wasn’t overly surprised when the first Terminator movie
lit up the screen a few minutes later.   It was another of Wade’s favorites.   Clearly he and Ryan had similar taste in movies.  

 
 
    Nearly two hours later, when Arnold Schwarzenegger had
finally been reduced to a red-eyed pile of scrap metal, Brooklyn was ready to
call it a night.   She’d gotten up extra
early that morning and it was finally catching up with her; she’d been fighting
her droopy eyelids for the past half hour.   “Well, that’s it for me.   I think
I’m going to call it a night,” she said, pulling the warm blanket from her legs
and tossing it over the back of the sofa cushion as she stood up.
    “Yeah, I think I’ll turn in too.”   Ryan pushed the footrest back into the sofa
with his heels and switched the power button off on the remote.   “Oops, sorry,” he said as the room went dark.
Fortunately, the faint glow of the moon’s reflection bouncing off of the
freshly fallen snow, shown through the uncovered two-story windows and cast
enough light into the room for them to be able to see.  
    “That’s alright.   I’ve
got it,” Brooklyn said with a tiny laugh as she moved to the nearby staircase
and flipped on the hallway light.  
    “Thanks,” he said, moving in Brooklyn’s direction.   He stopped just a few feet from where she
stood at the foot of the stairs.   “So are
you going to be okay up there?” he asked politely.   “You can take the master bedroom if you’d
like.   I don’t mind moving my stuff
upstairs.”
    “No, it’s fine really.   I usually stay in one of the upstairs bedrooms anyway.”
    “Okay,” he nodded slightly.   “Well, I guess I’ll see you in the morning then.”
    “Okay.”   She gave him
a slight smile.   “Good night, Ryan.”
    “Good night.”
    She started up the steps as Ryan turned toward the master
bedroom, but on the third step she hesitated.   “Ryan.”
    He turned.
    “Um, I just wanted to say thanks.”
    He cocked his head to the side, eying her curiously.
    “For tonight I mean, for being so nice
about…everything.   And well, you
know….”   She trailed off, assuming he would
know what she meant .   For not bringing up the huge elephant in the
room.   His eyes widened slightly as
he seemed to grasp what she was implying, and for a split second she wanted to
kick herself for saying anything at all.   But then, as she watched, he smiled slightly and his expression grew
warm, almost tender.
    Knowing exactly what she was referring to, Ryan smiled
understandingly and then gave her a playful wink to lighten the moment.
    Brooklyn smiled back shyly, feeling an almost overwhelming
sense of relief flood through her.   Then,
turning away, she continued slowly up the stairs.
    He told himself not to do it, but after hesitating for a few
seconds, he did it anyway.   “Brooklyn.”
    His voice stopped her just a few feet from the upper
landing, and as she glanced over the smooth wooden railing, she saw him still
standing there below, looking up at her.
    “Just so you know,” he began softly, his eyes locked on
hers, “sending you away that night…was one of the toughest things I’ve ever had
to do.”   Then, with a rueful smile, he
turned and slowly walked away.
    She stood there for several seconds after he’d gone, and for
several more seconds after she heard the latch click into place on the master
bedroom door, unable to move, her heart in her throat.   Then, moments later, when she was finally
able to unlock her frozen limbs, she climbed the last