Chance of a Lifetime (Anderson Brothers) by Marissa Clarke Read Free Book Online Page A

was curious what he looked like and what he was wearing, but thanks to the hands-off rule, she’d probably never know. He had on something with some texture, though, because there was a shooshing sound when he moved. Maybe a windbreaker.
    “What color are you wearing?” she asked, as much from nervous energy as curiosity.
    “Brown jacket and blue jeans. Red-and-black striped sweater.”
    “Earth, eyes, blood, and night.”
    “It used to be ‘sky’ for blue,” he remarked.
    It had been a slip. Sherry had told her he had beautiful blue eyes last night, and it stuck as her color reference. She’d been born blind and had never seen colors, but she liked to associate them with moods and other objects. Color was theoretical in her mind, but it helped to be able to relate to sighted people if she formed concrete associations.
    She felt the heat from him directly behind her, and she fought the urge to lean back. When they were younger, she’d have never thought twice about leaning against him. They had constantly been in contact—not in a sexual way. Just in a familiar way. It had grounded her in strange locations.
    She’d missed him, and even with him this close, loneliness pounded through her like the sounds of the ride overhead.
    “My brother has blue eyes is why I changed it.” She sensed him stiffen at her jab. “Have you done this before? Ridden on the Cyclone?” she asked.
    “Yes. Many times.”
    Only to him, this was probably nothing. He did things that didn’t come with seat belts and safety padding. Things she could hardly imagine having the nerve to do.
    The people on the ride screamed in unison and she shuddered. “What do you see?”
    “The structure is wood painted white,” he said in a soothing tone, “with red and yellow accents. The cars themselves are red and seat eight people in four pairs. There’s lots of padding and a lap restraint. Very safe.”
    “You’ll ride with me, right?” Her voice sounded odd and breathy—needy, which she hated.
    “If you want me to.”
    “Yes,” she answered faster than intended.
    A loud hydraulic hiss and staccato squeals from brakes sounded directly in front of her.
    “We’re up,” he said quietly, lips near enough to her ear for his breath to send chills down her spine. “Do you want me in first or last?”
    “First. I need help. You’ll have to touch me.”
    “An attendant is waiting to help you.”
    “No. You. Only you,” she blurted.

    C hance flinched at her words. Words he’d dreamed at night when his guard was completely down and his heart took over in his sleep. His guard was not down now—just the opposite. Everything in him was on hyperalert as he squeezed her hand and guided her to the landing. Being around her had always had this effect on him. Colors seemed brighter and noises louder, like her mere presence fed his adrenaline addiction. The attendant stood nearby and took the cane when he relieved her of it.
    “I’m right here.” He stepped into the car and grabbed both of her hands, then described the configuration and gently guided her into the seat next to him, careful not to pull or yank her, but to let her use him for balance as she found her own way. The attendant might have rushed her into the car. He’d learned long ago that she became disoriented when pulled or pushed. He’d always admired her for being at her best when taking on new things at her own pace.
    Finally settled, she turned her face to him and grinned, sending all concern and worry he’d had packing.
    “Arms up,” the attendant ordered and they both raised their arms as the lap restraint was engaged. Still, she grinned as the brakes made a hiss and the car lurched forward, then jerked and began rolling for real.
    She clutched the bar in front of her. “This is super hard with no vision. I can’t anticipate anything, so it’s pretty intense.”
    “Well, it’s going to climb for a while, and then the first drop ends in a rise and a sharp left before