Read Online Highfall by Ani Alexander - Free Book Online Page A

you?” Annika was excited too, but her voice also had a note of surprise in it.
     
    “Are you going to have time to see me?”
     
    “Sure, I’ve already cleared Tuesday since I know that’s when you’re arriving.  I’ll make sure I’m free all day and we can meet up.”
     
    He had wanted to surprise Annika and had told her that he was coming back five days after the real date.  Hence she had no idea that Vasko was already standing just outside.
     
    “What about now?”
     
    “How I wish!”
     
    “Really?”
     
    “Yes.”
     
    “Then would you mind coming to the entrance and seeing me now?”
     
    Only then did Annika realise that she had not looked at the number before answering.  Her heart began to beat faster.  There was not enough oxygen in the air.  She felt faint.
     
    “Hang on.  I'll be right there.”
     
    Annika asked her colleague to hold the fort and ran out.  The entrance was crowded and she could not see him.  She stood there looking around, hoping Vasko would see her soon.
     
    Someone put their hands on her eyes from behind.  She immediately recognized his after-shave and warm hands.  Annika smiled and turned around.  Their eyes met. Two pairs of eyes sparkled.
     
    There was a lot both wanted to tell each other but neither said a word.  Instead, they just looked into each other’s eyes and smiled.  It seemed as though they had been waiting for this meeting for ages.  Annika felt as she had a long time ago, when she was an innocent teenager who had no idea what love was.  The feeling was fresh and calm.  In his eyes Annika forgot everything. Nothing mattered.  She just wanted to keep hold of this moment and her sensations forever.
     
    Annika had to finish her shift, so she took Vasko's hand and led him to the booth where she was working.  He sat there quietly, content to watch her work.  Annika felt his eyes on her and that made her feel nice and cosy.  After some two hours she closed the door, turned the key and, leaving her work behind, they both went up to the old town.  She took him to her favourite restaurant, which was in the garden of an old house.  It was peaceful and warm there in the garden.  It was precisely the kind of place they needed.  They ordered some food and had no idea where to start.
     
    “I missed you,” he said with a shy smile.
     
    “I missed you too.”  She seemed the calmer and more experienced of the two.
     
    They held hands and enjoyed the peace and quiet.  Annika told him all about her town, about the places she adored there, about the very few people she loved and about the patients she missed.
     
    Vasko told her about England, about how much he liked it there, and about the fascinating world of stocks and shares and bonds and other financial instruments.  She didn’t understand too much about the financial part but what she did realise was that it was Vasko's passion.  His eyes lit up when he spoke to her about the stock market and about The City where he had had his internship.
     
    “To be honest, if it weren’t for you, then most probably I’d have preferred to stay there,” Vasko said.
     
    Annika felt rather guilty but happy about it as well.  She knew full well that if there was one thing that could keep Vasko away from his passion, then that could only be an even stronger passion.  Vasko’s statement made Annika realise how much she really meant to him.
     
    Maybe it was his words, maybe it was the long wait, or maybe it was the restaurant and how happy she felt inside but, at that precise moment, Annika raised herself slightly, leaned over the table and kissed Vasko on the lips.
     
    The poor fellow almost went into shock.  It had been so sudden he barely seemed to comprehend what had just happened.  Annika was already sitting back down on her chair and yet Vasko's eyes were still closed.  He was so happy he thought he’d burst into tears.  Thank God, though, he didn’t.
     
    After they’d lingered