Read Online Fateful 2-Fractured by Cheri Schmidt - Free Book Online Page B

and leaned out to see who
was in the garden.
    He stood below her window, his guitar slung
casually over his shoulder by the strap as he smiled up at her.
    “Ethan, you’re back!” She screamed and
started bouncing cheerfully. The sound didn’t travel very far,
because she’d screamed into Max’s oversized palm. It seemed Ethan
had warned him that she had a tendency to do that when she got
surprised, and they apparently didn’t want to draw the household to
her bedroom.
    Max chuckled.
    Danielle mumbled under his hand, and he
laughed harder, but kept the volume low. His hand remained over her
lips, muffling her.
    “You can remove the gag now, Max,” Ethan
informed him, looking slightly annoyed.
    “Oh, right.” The hand released her.
    Danielle leaned further out the window. “Hi.
So you got back tonight then?”
    He nodded. “I came here directly from the
airport, just to see you.” And then he bowed.
    There’s that Jane Austen hero she was in
love with, and smiled. “Thank you. But why didn’t you come to the
front door? I can’t hug you from here,” she complained, the smile
slipping.
    Ethan ignored her protest, lifted his
guitar and began playing. He brought to life an intricate melody as
he plucked and strummed his fingers over the strings. The serenade
he played was filled with complicated finger work and the tune was
romantic and sweet, like something from The Princess Bride . She couldn’t help but be
moved by it. Danielle rested her chin in her hand until he finished
with the charming number and then began another.
    But while she loved listening to his
talented and touching performance, she really wanted to hug and
kiss him. She was frustrated that he’d returned from his trip, only
to remain just out of reach— She turned to face Max, who looked
slightly startled just before he dropped his eyes to the floor.
“Take me down to him. Please?”
    His lips twisted into a rascally grin. “Yes,
my lady.”
    Max swept her into his arms and bounded from
the high window. Her stomach upturned because it felt like the
quick descent of a rollercoaster. She hadn’t been prepared for
that. He released her as soon as he landed lithely on the ground,
but then had to catch her, before she stumbled to the grass. “Oh,
sorry, was that a bit much for you?” She could hear the laughter in
his husky tone.
    “I’m okay…” It seemed he didn’t
believe her since he kept one hand on her elbow as she regained her
balance. Ethan, who’d stopped playing, swung his guitar behind his
back and tugged her into the circle of his arms. She snuggled into
his embrace and whispered, “Thank you for the roses and the
beautiful music, but it’s you I want, silly.”
    Ethan smiled in reply and took possession of
her mouth with his. When she opened her eyes, and pulled away from
his kiss, she realized they were surrounded by his entourage and
hers, while she stood there in her pajamas—kind of embarrassing.
“Oh, uh,” she muttered as she felt her face heat up.
    “Don’t mind them, Danielle, it’s not like
you’re standing here in your knickers.”
    At least they weren’t meeting her gaze,
knowing their magic was at full intensity, and she focused on Ethan
again. He took her face into his hands and brushed the tip of his
nose across hers. “Danielle,” he whispered affectionately, “I’ve
planned our next day trip for tomorrow. I need you to be ready at
eleven.”
    “Okay.”
    “And wear your white dress. I desire to see
you in that again.”
    “All right,” she said, breathless.
    She drew her fingers through his hair,
noting how the moonlight bounced and danced from the lighter
strands. She was about to go for his lips again, when Max
interrupted. “Whoops!” he snapped, and then yanked her from Ethan,
rolled her into his chest, and sprang back up to her bedroom. The
sensation drained the blood from her head. She couldn’t recall any
amusement park rides that went up so quickly, or at least she’d
never