Read Online Caitlin's Hero by Donna Gallagher - Free Book Online Page B

Finally, Caitlin managed to croak out the answer he was waiting for.
    “Mia’s would be wonderful.”
    As she sat back into the comfiest car seat ever, Caitlin finally relaxed. She was going to make the most of this night. It wasn’t every day she and Riley got such a treat.
    Brodie pulled the car up outside the familiar door. Caitlin went to jump out when a big hand came down onto her jeans-clad leg.
    “Relax, angel. Let me come around, get the door for you. It’s what a gentleman should do for a beautiful lady, and have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
    She had never felt so special in her life. Riley was already on the kerb and looked confused as he watched Brodie walk around the car and open his sister’s door, then take her arm. Caitlin heard Riley giggle. She didn’t know what was so funny and would be having words with him later about good manners.
    Caitlin didn’t think she walked into the restaurant so much as floated in. Brodie had booked a table by the window. Angelo warmly welcomed and fussed over them.
    “Ah, it is good to see you again, giovane, bella . Welcome—come this way. I have saved the best table for you.”
    Brodie pulled out a chair for her. He then seated himself next to Riley, directly opposite her.
    “It’s so I can gaze into your amazing emerald eyes all night,” he explained, sounding so sincere she couldn’t help the quiver of excitement from racing over her skin.
    Riley made a gagging sound, then giggled. Caitlin sent a frown at him. It wasn’t long before he was lost for words, though, because Brodie threw his arm around her brother’s shoulders, giving him a manly hug and explaining how Riley would understand one day. He finished off the little talk with a ‘mate’ and a wink for good measure.
    Caitlin thought that Riley would just explode, right then and there.
    I bet he wishes some of his mates from school would walk past and see him now . She smiled lovingly at the two males facing her. She could just see Riley holding court at school, telling all his friends about the evening. She had the classic urge to pinch herself to check if this was real.
    Angelo supplied some of his finest meals to their table—the freshest pasta, cooked to perfection and covered with generous helpings of aromatic sauces. She ate so much that she kept glancing at Brodie just to make sure he didn’t think her a glutton, but each and every time she looked up, Brodie was smiling back at her.
    She even enjoyed her first glass of champagne. Brodie had gently insisted she try the bubbly, slightly pink-coloured drink, which was sweet and very enjoyable. Riley had ordered an orange juice rather than his usual choice of Coke, to her surprise and delight. Riley was obviously trying to impress his hero by ordering a healthier alternative .
    Caitlin declined dessert. She just couldn’t fit it in. She sat back, delighted to watch Riley and Brodie enjoying their gelato and talking easily about football, swimming and the like. The conversation had been so easy and natural between the three of them all night.
    It was good for Riley to have another male to talk with. It made Caitlin a little sad that her brother had no one, now his father was gone. It had been a year since her brother had had a father figure in his life. As if sensing her saddening mood, Brodie pushed a spoonful of lemon gelato to her lips, and without thinking Caitlin pulled the spoon into her mouth and sucked.
    “Mmm,” she moaned, “that’s good.” She licked the remnants from the spoon he held out to her.
    To her surprise, Brodie reached right across the table and dragged her forward to meet his lips. There was no gelato left after Brodie had explored every inch of her mouth with his tongue. Just as abruptly, Brodie pulled away, muttering something she couldn’t quite hear.
    One look at Riley, and she burst into a fit of laughter. He was open-mouthed, his spoon dripping melted gelato all down his arm as he watched them, his