Road to Reason Read Online Free PDF Page B

eyebrow.  “I know when someone isn’t telling me the truth.”
    Thankfully he was polite enough to not call her an outright liar.  “I didn’t realize it was so late.” There, that was partly the truth. She had lost track of time.
    Ryan looked at his watch briefly. “Oh, sorry, did you have somewhere you needed to be?” he asked, standing up.
    “No, no. Just didn’t realize how late it was,” she replied lamely, hoping her hands weren’t shaking.
    He frowned, trying not to get annoyed, but she saw it on his face. A surge of relief rushed through her when he didn’t press her for the truth again. “I’ll walk you out then.  The building is already locked up, right? You just need to shut the lights and lock the door behind us?” he asked.
    She cleared her throat. Trapped, that was all she could think of. She didn’t want to tell him she was afraid to drive home. It was just a little snow. She grew up in this weather. She knew it wasn’t bad. Only she couldn’t convince herself of that no matter how hard she tried. “I have a few more things to do here. You go ahead. But thanks,” she said, hoping he would just leave.
    No such luck. “I’ll wait for you. I don’t want you to stay in the building alone.  Or walk to your car alone.”
    Great, now what? She could just tell him the truth…and look like a fool in his eyes.  Or she could try to lie to him, though that didn’t sit well with her either.  Unfortunately she was saved from making another comment when the wind blew hard against the windows and the power flickered, causing her to let out a very undignified yelp.
    “It’s just the wind.” He chuckled at her.  “I’m sure the power will be fine. Let’s get out of here though, just in case.”
    She stood up to leave and found she was frozen in place. Knowing it was ridiculous didn’t make her feet move though.
    The thought of getting behind the wheel right now terrified her.  Too many years in Manhattan and crazy taxi drivers had scared her enough that she usually didn’t leave the house if the weather was that bad. The subway was the only form of transportation she would take on those days, if she had to leave her home at all.
    “Really, Katie, what’s wrong? I know terror when I see it and right now you look scared to death. Was it something I did or said?” he asked.
    “Kaitlin,” she corrected him.
    “Huh?” he responded, confused. “Sorry, it’s hard. You’ve always been Katie to me. Though you don’t look like the Katie I remember.  Kaitlin, what’s wrong?” he asked softly. “Maybe I can help.”
    She really wanted to tell him. He was being nice to her. Maybe he wouldn’t laugh.  Though her brothers always laughed at her when she said she was afraid of something. That was really all she had to go on.
    Watching her look out the window at the falling snow again, she suspected he figured it out by his next words. “Is it the snow?” he asked, hedging.
    She nodded.
    “You don’t like snow?”
    “I don’t mind snow.” That part was true. She didn’t mind snow—when she was inside looking out at it. Or playing in it as a kid. She didn’t like snow when she was behind the wheel, though.
    He sighed with what looked like relief. “Okay, well let’s get your jacket and go.  Where are your keys? I’ll go clean your car off for you if you want.”
    She squeaked, mortification creeping in over the sound.
    “You don’t want to drive in the snow?” he asked with a raise of his eyebrow.
    She shook her head.
    “That’s it? That’s the problem?”
    “Yes,” she said, holding his stare for a moment. Those blue eyes of his were only looking back curiously, no humor at all. “How come you aren’t laughing at me?”
    “Should I be?”
    “My brothers would be.”
    He smiled warmly. “I’m not one of your brothers. Come on, I’ll give you a ride home.”             
    “Really?” she asked hopefully.
    “Sure. It’s not a big deal. Lots of