Heroes Never Die by Lois Sanders Read Free Book Online

more realistic than Mr. Skeffington.
    Jonathan led Stephanie back inside.  She saw Ted Burnhart and his wife, Jan.  “Jan, Ted,” she cried.  Ted was a surgeon at Walter Reed, and Jan owned an upscale fashion boutique in Georgetown.  Stephanie had always thought of them as her surrogate parents.  “It’s so good to see you again.  It wouldn’t be a coming-home party without you.”
    “And we’re glad you’re finally here to stay,” Jan said.  “The kids haven’t given us a moment’s rest since they found out you were home.”
    “We want you to come to dinner on Wednesday,” Ted invited.  “I’ll throw some steaks on the grill and we’ll catch up.  Your dad already said yes, so don’t say no.”
    “That sounds wonderful.  Does Sarah still have braces?”
    “She had them off two weeks ago,” Jan happily reported.
    “She must be thrilled.  I’ll bring her a bag of sticky gummy bears.  And I’d love to come over early to spend time with the kids if that’s okay?”
    “Are you kidding?”  Jan laughed.  “That would be a godsend.”
    Stephanie moved around the room to visit with all of her guests.  Her best friend, Kaitlyn, her roommate from college, was there, as well as some old friends from high school, including high school teachers.  Stephanie was thrilled.  All of the people she knew and loved had gone out of their way to honor her.
    She rejoined Brian who was laughing with fellow surgeon, Rowdy Daniels.  Rowdy gave her a one-armed hug and kissed her cheek.  “Congratulations, Stephanie,” he said with a Texas drawl.  “You look as beautiful as ever.”
    “Rowdy,” she teased as she kissed his cheek.  “The man who lives up to his name.  It’s good to see your handsome face, too.”  Side by side, Rowdy and Brian were handsome bachelors in their late twenties.  They could almost pass as brothers.  “Have you been corrupting Brian?”
    “I told him everything I know, but he ended up giving me pointers.”
    “He would have found out on his own,” Brian quipped.
    Stephanie shook her head at them.  “Every single woman in Washington should run for their lives if they know what’s good for them.”
    “That will leave nothing but married women,” Rowdy joked.  “I’m okay with that.  How about you, Brian?”
    “Might be fun,” he grinned.
    “You two are despicable,” Stephanie impishly accused.  She wondered if there was a new girl in Rowdy’s life.  “So what’s new with you, Rowdy?  Have you met anyone special?”
    “You will be happy to know that I recently met a lovely gal named Hannah.  Trouble is, she’s trying to drag me down the aisle.”
    “Much to the relief of husbands everywhere, I’m sure.”
    “No one is getting me down the aisle yet – not this Texas boy.  I would like you to meet her when she’s back in town though.  Brian and I were hoping we could double for dinner.”
    “Meet the girl who has you on the run?  I can’t wait!”
    Brian handed her a fresh glass of champagne.  Stephanie reached for the glass and caught a glimpse of Kyle.  She gasped.  What is he doing here?
    Kyle watched her from across the room, his eyes intent on her.  He was the last person Stephanie wanted to see.  Still, he looked so good, so much so, that for a moment it would have been easy to forget he had broken her heart.  She saw him set his drink down and begin to walk over to her.  Her heart began to pound.  Not now, not in front of Brian.
    “Hello, Stephanie,” he said with a smooth Virginian accent.  “Congratulations.”
    “Thank you,” she said, her voice shaking slightly.”
    “Dance with me.”  She thought his request sounded more like a matter-of-fact demand.
    Stephanie hesitated.  She had counted down the days until she graduated so they could be married, but now, just being in the same room with him made her uneasy.  All she wanted was to be left alone so that she could go on with her life.
    Kyle didn’t wait for an