Read Online The Defender (The Carrier Series Book 2) by Diana Ryan - Free Book Online
Authors: Diana Ryan
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the beach each summer. “They even employ
a few seasonal lifeguards, and there is an old red brick bathhouse behind the
beach.”
“That antique stone on the building is so beautiful—reminds me of
home.” He took a deep breath, staring out over the pool and bathhouse. “Do you
like swimming?” he said without looking back toward me.
“Love it! I was on the Dells Dolphin swim team when I was a little
girl.”
“Really? A little fishy, huh?” Adam played the part of big
brother, playfully teasing his little sister. I liked it.
“How about you?”
“I love it as well. Just don’t get to do it that often. Greenwich
is right on the River Thames, but you won’t catch anyone swimming in there. All
that passes by these days is rubbish barges and empty lager bottles. But, ah,
the Thames is part of my home.”
“Do you miss it? I mean, being at home?”
For the first time I saw a little distance in his eyes. He turned
to me and said very sincerely. “I do. I miss my family and mates. But I’ve had
so many wonderful experiences here and I’ve grown so much in only the short
time I’ve lived in the US. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
“I’ve always wanted to visit Britain. Tell me about London.”
It took us almost forty minutes to finish the walk and he spoke of
home the entire time. He told me about his family’s cottage just outside of
Loughton, northeast of the heart of London, about his brother and sister, and
his favorite travels. It was all very interesting and I loved hearing about a
different culture.
We finally arrived back at the parking lot. “So, Ava. Do you
remember every single one of those blasted notecards from yesterday?”
“Oh gosh. I haven’t thought about those all day. I hope I remember
them.”
“You’d better, after all the time I invested in you!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll study again later today and a bit tomorrow
before class.”
He leaned his backside on the hood of the car while I took a seat
nearby on a bench at the edge of the parking lot. “So, Miss Ava, what are your
plans for the rest of today?”
I cautiously answered, “Well…” Oh no. Is he going to make me
study for hours again? “Not too much,” I said hesitantly.
“Brilliant! Then you’re spending the day with me!” He reached into
his pocket and pulled out his car keys. I heard the locks click open.
“Oh really?” Excitement stirred in my stomach. I tried to hide it,
not wanting to look too eager. “Well, okay then. What are we going to do?”
“Just get inside, little lady!”
I curiously walked around to the passenger’s side door and slid
into the seat of the car. I was immediately impressed. I didn’t know a thing
about cars, but this one looked like it had all the extras. The interior was
sleek beige leather and the dash was basically a fancy computer. Adam put the
keys in the console between us and then pressed a button on the dash to start
the engine.
“Where did you get this car?” I reached out and ran my fingers
over the temperature controls by my side. It put the tape player in my Olds to
shame.
“Well, there’s something about me you don’t know.” He started the
ignition, but then stared out the windshield and said nothing.
The silence ate at my patience. Come on! Say something! My heart began to race, and an anxious feeling
snuck into my stomach. Was getting in a car with this man completely unsafe?
He had successfully backed up the sophisticated car, using the
rear camera display in the dash, and then said, “I’m royalty.
My jaw dropped.
“What do you mean, ‘royalty’? Like a prince?” He didn’t seem handsome
enough to be a prince.
Suddenly Adam burst into wild laughter. “Oh good God! To see your
face! That was hilarious!” He put the car in drive and headed up the hill,
continuing to laugh as I felt my face turn red with embarrassment. “No, I’m not
royalty!”
“That is not funny.” I told him, half laughing, half serious, but
he
a few seasonal lifeguards, and there is an old red brick bathhouse behind the
beach.”
“That antique stone on the building is so beautiful—reminds me of
home.” He took a deep breath, staring out over the pool and bathhouse. “Do you
like swimming?” he said without looking back toward me.
“Love it! I was on the Dells Dolphin swim team when I was a little
girl.”
“Really? A little fishy, huh?” Adam played the part of big
brother, playfully teasing his little sister. I liked it.
“How about you?”
“I love it as well. Just don’t get to do it that often. Greenwich
is right on the River Thames, but you won’t catch anyone swimming in there. All
that passes by these days is rubbish barges and empty lager bottles. But, ah,
the Thames is part of my home.”
“Do you miss it? I mean, being at home?”
For the first time I saw a little distance in his eyes. He turned
to me and said very sincerely. “I do. I miss my family and mates. But I’ve had
so many wonderful experiences here and I’ve grown so much in only the short
time I’ve lived in the US. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
“I’ve always wanted to visit Britain. Tell me about London.”
It took us almost forty minutes to finish the walk and he spoke of
home the entire time. He told me about his family’s cottage just outside of
Loughton, northeast of the heart of London, about his brother and sister, and
his favorite travels. It was all very interesting and I loved hearing about a
different culture.
We finally arrived back at the parking lot. “So, Ava. Do you
remember every single one of those blasted notecards from yesterday?”
“Oh gosh. I haven’t thought about those all day. I hope I remember
them.”
“You’d better, after all the time I invested in you!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll study again later today and a bit tomorrow
before class.”
He leaned his backside on the hood of the car while I took a seat
nearby on a bench at the edge of the parking lot. “So, Miss Ava, what are your
plans for the rest of today?”
I cautiously answered, “Well…” Oh no. Is he going to make me
study for hours again? “Not too much,” I said hesitantly.
“Brilliant! Then you’re spending the day with me!” He reached into
his pocket and pulled out his car keys. I heard the locks click open.
“Oh really?” Excitement stirred in my stomach. I tried to hide it,
not wanting to look too eager. “Well, okay then. What are we going to do?”
“Just get inside, little lady!”
I curiously walked around to the passenger’s side door and slid
into the seat of the car. I was immediately impressed. I didn’t know a thing
about cars, but this one looked like it had all the extras. The interior was
sleek beige leather and the dash was basically a fancy computer. Adam put the
keys in the console between us and then pressed a button on the dash to start
the engine.
“Where did you get this car?” I reached out and ran my fingers
over the temperature controls by my side. It put the tape player in my Olds to
shame.
“Well, there’s something about me you don’t know.” He started the
ignition, but then stared out the windshield and said nothing.
The silence ate at my patience. Come on! Say something! My heart began to race, and an anxious feeling
snuck into my stomach. Was getting in a car with this man completely unsafe?
He had successfully backed up the sophisticated car, using the
rear camera display in the dash, and then said, “I’m royalty.
My jaw dropped.
“What do you mean, ‘royalty’? Like a prince?” He didn’t seem handsome
enough to be a prince.
Suddenly Adam burst into wild laughter. “Oh good God! To see your
face! That was hilarious!” He put the car in drive and headed up the hill,
continuing to laugh as I felt my face turn red with embarrassment. “No, I’m not
royalty!”
“That is not funny.” I told him, half laughing, half serious, but
he
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