Read Online FascinatingRhythm by Lynne Connolly - Free Book Online

and son at loggerheads, and if she
wasn’t careful, she’d become the bone between them. Dear God, should she just
hide her head under a pillow and hope they all went away?
    Muffled sounds intruded on her consciousness and she looked
around to see people clustered behind a wire fence, waving pieces of paper,
their mouths open, presumably yelling. She couldn’t see what lay beyond the
people, they completely obscured the view.
    When Emmelie had come around the car to join them by the
stage entrance, Sabina signed to both of them, speaking the words to emphasize
her position. “I will make my decision myself. Nothing will alter it.”
    Hunter caught her hands once she’d finished and spoke. “I
don’t want to. I want you to make the decision yourself. You’re strong enough
to do this.”
    She only spoke now, although Emmelie could lip-read well
enough to interpret her words. “Don’t you want me to have the operation?”
    He shook his head. “Only if you think it’s right for you.”
    Her family for, her employer against, and all of them
forgetting that she was making this decision that would affect her life
most. Except Hunter. She had no idea how she would earn a living after the
operation. She’d have to develop a new network of people who wouldn’t object to
a hearing person signing for them. Once she’d recovered, she’d have to work
somehow. No way on earth would she impose herself on her family, or Hunter.
    She’d cope. She needed to stay close to Uppsala for a while
because of the aftercare and therapy, but she’d find something. Hunter remained
with her, waiting for her to enter the building, ignoring the fans. Emmelie
faced the crowd. They’d take photos and identify her.
    How dared she use her son’s night of glory to steal the
publicity that should rightfully be his?
    “How could you let her do this?” she asked him.
    He half turned so his mother couldn’t see his words. “Wait
and see. There’s a man inside I can’t wait for her to meet.” He smiled, then
took Sabina’s hand and led her inside.
    She blinked as she confronted one of the largest men she’d
ever seen. Not fat exactly, simply large. He towered over her and his generous
build gave him a presence nobody could ignore. He smiled down at her and said
something, but she wasn’t attuned to the accent or the way he spoke, and his
dark beard and mustache didn’t help.
    Hunter moved forward enough for her to see him speak.
“Sabina, this is Chick Fontaine, Murder City Ravens’ manager. Chick, meet
Sabina Laugasdottir.”
    Chick enveloped her hand in a large, warm embrace. “Pleased
to meet you.” She saw what he said that time. He opened his mouth more as he
spoke.
    “Pleased to meet you too.”
    He didn’t show any sign of her voice being unusual. She knew
it was, despite her efforts to keep it as normal as possible.
    “I’ll remember to speak clearly and face you. Is that what
you need?”
    Immediately she warmed to him. Chick was a bear of a man.
She suspected he could show the bear’s savage side too if crossed. But she had
no intention of provoking that. “Thank you, yes, at first. But I’ll get used to
your way of speaking.”
    “I told the guys this afternoon,” Hunter said. “If you can’t
understand them, ask them to repeat what they’re saying.”
    “Thank you.”
    She stood aside while Hunter introduced his mother. Emmelie
signed and Hunter interpreted. This time she deigned to lip-read, but only
because Hunter showed signs of wanting to hurry her through. But she would
never speak.
    Hunter glanced at his mother before he kissed Sabina, taking
his time. Despite her uneasiness, he coaxed her into responding, lifting her
hands to rest them on his powerful forearms. He held her tenderly, enclosing
her in his arms and making her feel completely safe. Even though she knew the
sensation was an illusion, she gave herself the minute’s respite in his arms.
    He finished the kiss slowly and then touched his lips