Heroes Never Die by Lois Sanders Read Free Book Online Page B

not letting you go until we work this out.”
    Suddenly Stephanie noticed Brian approaching.  He latched onto Kyle’s arm.  “Let her go,” he demanded.
    Kyle looked down at his arm and then he angrily lifted his focus to see the man who had cuffed it.  Stephanie felt Kyle’s grip loosen, and she pulled her arm free.  She backed away until she felt safe beside Brian.  Stunned, she watched as both men stepped up to each other until their faces were nearly touching.  “Guys, don’t!”
    Kyle stepped even closer.  Stephanie overheard his threat.  “We’ll meet again soon, my friend.”
    Brian grinned.  “I’m looking forward to it.”
    Kyle turned to face Stephanie, and then he left abruptly.
    The lead singer, wanting the lively mood to return to the party, dedicated the next song to the guest of honor.  The guests began to relax, and the tense silence lifted.
    Stephanie watched Brian.  His eyes focused on Kyle until he was out of sight.  She didn’t realize that she had been rubbing the soreness in her arm.  “Are you okay?” he asked with concern.
    Stephanie nodded.  “I’m just a little shaken.  That was a brave thing you just did.  Do you have any idea who that was?”
    “Rowdy filled me in on all of the details that you left out,” he playfully scolded.  She was not humored.  “He doesn’t scare me, Stephanie.”
    “Well, he scares me.  I’ve seen what he can do.  And he already knew your name,” she said to prove herself.
    “Come on, Stephanie,” he said to calm her fears.  “You don’t need to be a sleuth to figure out my name.  Anyone here tonight could have told him who I was.”
    “I suppose,” she said, still grappling with the uneasy feeling in her stomach.  “But I have a feeling we haven’t seen the end of this.”
    “He won’t be back.”  Brian was so convincing that Stephanie began to feel safe.  The soreness in her arm began to ease and she lowered the hand she had been using to rub it.  Brian noticed the bruise immediately.  “I see he left his paw prints – nice guy.”
    He wasn’t trying to be funny, but his comment made her laugh.  “I’m okay – really.”  She felt relaxed again.  Her dad was throwing her the biggest party of her life, she was with the man she had been looking forward to spending the evening with, and she wasn’t going to let anyone, not even Kyle, spoil her fun.
    “They’re playing a song for you,” Brian said as he nodded toward the band.  “Feel like dancing?”
    “You bet I do,” she answered as she folded her arms around his shoulders.  She gazed into his eyes, amazed by what she saw.  He was so sensible and so very brave.  No one had ever stood up to Kyle the way Brian had, and she was rightfully impressed.  “Doesn’t anything scare you?”
    “Yeah,” Brian said, suddenly becoming serious.  “You scare me.”
    “I scare you?”  She was surprised.  “I don’t understand.”
    “I could easily fall in love with you, Stephanie, but when, or if, you don’t want to see me anymore, it’s going to hurt.  And that scares me.”
    Stephanie’s insides tingled with warmth.  “I feel the same way, Brian.”
    “Are you sure you’re not on the rebound?” he asked to test her affections.
    “I don’t know,” she honestly replied.  “I’ve never been on the rebound before, but if this is how it feels, I hope it lasts forever.”
    Brian pulled her closer and tenderly kissed her.  Stephanie suddenly remembered something.  “Just one more thing – do you have to make early rounds in the morning, or was that part of your devious plan?”
    “I can dance until the sun comes up,” he gladly admitted.”
    Stephanie laid her head against his chest and allowed her body to gently sway with his.  She looked up to the sky and saw a blanket of stars twinkling with approval.  Her insides swelled with happiness.  I will never forget this night.
     
    Chapter Four:
    Stephanie stood in her driveway and