Read Online 2. Come Be My Love by Annette Broadrick - Free Book Online

killed."
    "But that's really sick. How could they blame Greg for something over which he had no control?"
    "Who knows, but obviously they did. By the time I managed to locate Greg he'd withdrawn behind a wall so thick I wasn't sure I'd ever get behind there and find the man I knew." He shook his head and sat down at the table once again. "But I couldn't walk away and leave him that way. He was my friend. He'd saved my life. Now it was time for me to do what I could to help him."
    "So what did you do?"
    Tim grinned. "Don't you remember? I ended up enrolling in school myself, moving in with him and spending hours over the following months in long philosophical discussions about the meaning of life and what we hoped to get out of it."
    "It must have worked."
    "Who knows? But we both got through the readjustment of returning to a country that was ashamed of what was happening in Asia and reflected those feelings onto those of us who had taken part in it."
    They were both quiet for a while, thinking about the past. Finally Brandi shook her head. "It must have been terrible for someone as sensitive as Greg is to have to endure such callous treatments."
    Tim glanced at her and smiled. "Does that mean you haven't been put off by his cold and aloof manner, Mouse? That you saw the man that hides behind that shield?"
    "Well, just look at the situation now. He came to Colorado for a few days of peace and quiet. He obviously wanted to be alone, but instead he found me here. Greg could have been angry at my presence and irritated that I continued to stay. Every once in a while I've seen a glimpse of him that's intriguing, but he doesn't give much away about himself."
    "I know."
    "And yet he seems close to you."
    "Because I broke through the barrier. I saw him when he had no defenses left against the world. I've watched as he rebuilt his life, set his goals and pursued them. I'm probably the closest friend he has. And yet we rarely see each other, except for an occasional visit here to ski or if I look him up in Missouri. We both keep heavy schedules, but we both know that we'd go to the wall for each other at any time."
    "I know that feeling. You got me through some really rough periods in my life, Tim, and I'll never forget it. As you can see, you're the first person I turned to when I didn't know what to do."
    He grinned. "I'm always glad to assist a damsel in distress, Mouse. The problem is that I'm not sure how we're going to deal with this situation. But I'll think of something."
    Brandi's thoughts returned to Greg, and she wondered if he would ever allow her to get any closer to him. Their kiss of the night before continued to haunt her. She had been given a glimpse of the man hidden away from most of the world, the man she found so intriguing, the man she wanted to get to know better, to coax into sharing himself with another person— with her.

Chapter 5

    B randi and Tim heard a thump outside and looked around. Greg came in, stamping his feet to make sure he didn't bring in any snow.
    Brandi felt her heart begin to race, and she forced herself to sit there quietly, watching him as he removed his outdoor clothes. The conversation she and Tim had been having seemed to ring in the room, and she was embarrassed at almost being caught discussing him, as though she had been spying.
    Hearing Tim's story made her want to cry for the pain that Greg had endured with a great deal of stoicism for most of his life. He'd been trained from an early age to believe that he didn't deserve to be loved. For Brandi, the man was almost too easy to love. The feelings she was developing toward him were almost frightening in their intensity.
    "Looks like you made it back none too soon." Tim observed, nodding toward the window.
    For the first time, Brandi noticed the heavy flurry of snow swirling outside.
    "I know," Greg said, pulling off his boots. He rubbed his hands together briskly. "I think I'm going to have a hot shower, then find something to