The Color of Love Read Online Free PDF

it easy.
Here.”
    “I’m sorry,” Emily said again, weakly echoing
herself and hating the way her voice quivered. Why wouldn’t her head stop
spinning? She never fainted, never. She couldn’t now, not in front of her. “I’m
sorr—”
    “Stop saying that,” Derian murmured in an
oddly tender tone and drew her down onto one of the molded plastic chairs.
Derian slid an arm around her shoulders. “Lean against me for a second until
you catch your breath.”
    Emily had no intention of leaning against
anyone, especially not Derian Winfield, Henrietta’s niece. With effort, she
stiffened her spine and forced her head to clear. She turned sideways so
Derian’s arm no longer encircled her. “I am so sorry, Ms. Winfield. I hope—”
    Derian laughed, a deep full sound so rich
Emily could almost taste the timbre. “Please. Anything but that. I’m Derian, or
Dere, if you like.”
    “I—I’m Emily May. I work for Henrietta—Ms.
Winfield.”
    “Of course. I remember now.” Derian shook her
head. How could she have not noticed this woman… more was the only word she could come up
with, the first time they’d met? If she were introduced to her now, she’d
certainly not forget. Emily was stunning, the kind of pure unadorned beauty the
masters tried to capture on canvas and only managed to hint at: perfectly
proportioned features, delicate but sure, green eyes the color of the sea
kissing the white sands of some Mediterranean shore, glossy chestnut hair
threaded with gleaming copper strands. Oh yes, Derian remembered meeting her
now, and how little she’d noticed, too absorbed in her own anger. She’d been
introduced to Henrietta’s intern after an annual WE board meeting—the major one
when all the Winfield Enterprise divisions came together to report. She’d
probably only been thinking of how she could escape the formal after-affair
she’d been roped into, and in her defense, Emily May had changed. Her
heart-shaped face had lost some of the youthful softness but had gained the
elegant contours of a woman, and she was all the more striking for the subtle
maturity. She might have passed her over before, thinking her just a
starry-eyed girl, but she wouldn’t make that mistake again. “It’s been a few
years since we’ve met, but I have no excuse. Forgive my rudeness.”
    Emily stared. “Ms. Win—Derian, please. You
have nothing to apologize for, under any circumstances, and certainly not
these.”
    “I don’t agree, but I won’t argue with your
absolution.” Derian sighed. “I just tried to see my aunt and the attendants
tell me I have to wait half an hour until she can have more visitors.
Apparently my father just left.”
    “Yes. You must have missed him by only a
minute or two.”
    “Believe me, that’s not a hardship.” Emily
looked shocked but Derian didn’t bother to explain the last person she wanted
to see was Martin, and he probably reciprocated. She hadn’t told anyone she was
coming other than Aud, who wouldn’t bring it up with Martin or his family
unless she had to. “Do you have any word on Henrietta? How is she?”
    Heat flared in Emily’s eyes and was quickly
extinguished. “No, I asked your father, but…”
    Derian clenched her jaw. “I don’t suppose he
was very forthcoming.”
    Emily managed to look sympathetic. “No, but
I’m sure he is very worried and has a lot on his mind.”
    “And you’re very kind and diplomatic.”
    “I wish I knew more.” Emily glanced down the
hall toward the ICU. “I’ve been trying to get word, but I’m not family and this
is the first time I’ve seen your father. Or…anyone.”
    “She’s been in here for ten hours and he
hasn’t been by?” Fighting off a wave of fury, Derian closed her fist until her
nails bit into her palm and washed away the red haze clouding her thoughts.
“Still the same old bastard, I see.”
    “Oh, I didn’t mean to imply—”
    “Don’t worry. I know how things work. I got
here soon as I could.”