A Special Man by Billie Green Read Free Book Online Page A

as though he could absorb what she was saying rather than hear it.
    These times with Danny were the only times Amanda felt she could truly be herself, no pretenses, no excuses. There were invisible threads of understanding between them, threads that wound tighter and tighter each day.
    The; silence between them drew out and suddenly she stiffened, instantly alert. Something was wrong. She glanced up, her body tense, her breath held. Her gaze met green fire. She felt the power of it, pulling her in, taking away her will. It was inside her, around her, filling every corner of her mind and her body.
    He knew, she thought dazedly. She read knowledge in that green gaze.
    Moving closer, he knelt beside her. She held herself still as he reached out to gently stroke her face. "Like Nidhug curled up at the root of Yggdrasil," he murmured, his voice deep and husky.
    Amanda felt dizzy. The words echoed in her brain, growing louder and louder. Rising to her knees, she grasped his shoulders tightly. "What did you say?" she rasped out. "Tell me again."
    He shook his head as though coming out of a trance. Slowly, he smiled. "I don't remember." He sat down and glanced at her from the corners of his gray eyes. "Was it rude? You look funny."
    She reached up to touch his face, her hand shaking. "Try to remember, Danny. I think it's important."
    "Danny!"
    At the shout, they both turned and watched Tom Dicks approaching. "You two look cozy," he said, smiling.
    Amanda didn't like him. She hadn't thought of him, one way or another until that moment, but now she knew she didn't like him. There was a look on his face that was just a shade too avid as he watched them. She stood and dusted her pants. "Did you want something?"
    "It's time for Danny's appointment with Dr. Nabors." His gaze drifted slowly over her body. "He'll have to cut his playtime short today." He didn't move, but simply stood staring at her.
    "Was there something else you wanted, Tom?" she asked sharply.
    He smiled and shook his head slowly. "Not a thing.. .how about you? Was there something else you wanted?"
    When she glanced away from the malicious humor in his eyes, he laughed aloud. "Come on, Danny boy. Time to go."
    Amanda turned to Danny, her features softening. "I'll see you tomorrow, Danny."
    He nodded, giving Amanda a look that was so wistful, it broke her heart. But without protest, he turned and began to walk away with Tom.
    When they were out of sight, Amanda leaned against the tree, feeling curiously weak. Something was happening to her, she thought shakily. Something that she had never felt before. And suddenly she was scared. She felt drained and weak, powerless to stop the future.
    It was much later when she asked herself why she should want the future stopped at all.

Chapter Four
    "God, give me strength."
    The groaned words brought Amanda's head up sharply. Ginny was closing the door with one ample hip. Today the nurse looked even more frazzled than usual. Her pale hair was pulled loose from the ponytail in places, and there was a wide run in her green stockings.
    She set one of the two cups of coffee she carried on the desk in front of Amanda. The other she cradled between the fingers of both hands as she sat on the couch.
    Amanda didn't even try to hide her smile. "Has Mr. Avery been getting frisky again?"
    "Among others." Ginny sighed heavily and leaned back. "Virgie just tried to get a game of strip poker going in the old-timers' wing."
    Choking on the coffee, Amanda raised one slender brow in startled inquiry. "She must have put up quite a fight. You look terrible."
    "Virgie? No, she went back to her room like a lamb. It was the old people who did this. They rioted when I told them there would be no party today." She rested her chin on her fist. "Why don't we get any nice, normal old people? If you've ever wanted to know where old perverts go, you can stop wondering. They all come here."
    Amanda laughed. "You know you would hate working with ordinary people.