Oslo Overtures Read Online Free PDF Page B

she should contain it, but maybe it was time for her to rise from the ashes of her past.
     
    ~*~
     
    Kyle sensed he’d gone where this angel feared to tread. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” He shook his head. “I’ve done it again, haven’t I?” He looked down, grabbed his foot and brought it toward his mouth.
    Anjelica giggled as she wiped the corners of her eyes. So he had seen tears glistening. She touched his hand, stopping the shoe from reaching his mouth. “It’s all right. I probably wouldn’t like you as much if you didn’t.”
    She liked him? He’d made the right decision at the bar. Seated on the edge of his chair, Kyle leaned over and cupped her cheek. Her skin was soft as a cloud. Swept up in the moment, he closed his eyes as his lips found hers. She responded to his kiss for one heavenly moment before she pulled away.
    Kyle slipped off his chair and fell to the floor. He rolled onto his back and laughter bubbled up from his belly. He’d known from the moment they’d met that he could fall for this girl—he just never imagined it would be like this.
    His chortles subsiding, Kyle propped himself on his elbows and looked up at Anjelica. A blank stare held her face captive. “Anjelica?”
    No response.
    “Anjelica?” he tried again, leaning forward.
    Nothing but the gentle tracing of her finger across her bottom lip.
    He knelt in front of her. “Angel…”
    She turned slowly until she faced him. Her face gave away no clues as she fixed her gaze on him.
    Kyle had no idea how to react. Was she happy that he’d kissed her? Sad? What if the kiss was bad? Maybe, deep inside, she was angry that she’d kissed him back.
    All of a sudden, she rose. “I—I have to go.” She pushed past him and rushed toward the glass doors leading outside.
     
    ~*~
     
    She’d been ready to bare her soul to Kyle, and then he kissed her, and she kissed him back, and that’s when it all became scary.
    Was she really ready to move on? How do you give up a memory you’ve cherished and clung to for three long years?
    Anjelica shoved her way through the crowded patio, ignoring the wolf-whistles and offers of a drink. Why had she chosen this exit route? Why had she run at all? She’d almost cleared a path through when a hand grabbed her wrist. He’d followed.
    Heart pounding, she swung around. Disappointment crushed the moment’s elation. “Erick.”
    “Are you all right?”
    She shook her head. The tears she’d managed to repress spilled over. Much as she wanted to stop them, she couldn’t. “Let me go.” She yanked her arm out of his grip and pushed free of the throng. She needed to be alone.
     
    ~*~
     
    Kyle flopped back onto the carpet and remained there for a moment. He pinched his eyes shut with his fingers. Should he run after her, or give her the space she seemed to need?
    “Bro? What are you doing down there?” Luke’s face peered down at him. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were stone drunk.” Luke picked up the empty bottle of water. “Fat chance of that happening on this.” He held out a hand to Kyle and yanked him to his feet. “So, what’s shaking, Bro?”
    “You don’t want to know.”
    “Oh, yes, I do.”
    Kyle knew Luke wouldn’t let this rest until he came clean. “I kissed Anjelica.”
    “Blow me down. No way. I’m-sworn-off-women-Kyle did what?” With a rainbow-sized grin, he held up his hand for a high-five.
    Kyle shook his head and declined the celebratory gesture. He wasn’t sure if he should smile with pride or hang his head in shame.
    “So, where’s the lady now? Why isn’t she down there on the carpet with you, Bro?”
    “She ran off. Didn’t you see her fly out the door?”
    “No. But what are you still doing here? Shake a leg. Get out there after her.”
    For once, Luke was right. Kyle grabbed his e-reader and Anjelica’s novel and rushed out the same door she’d exited through.
     
    ~*~
     
    Anjelica hurried down the steps that