Read 2. Come Be My Love for Free Online Page A

footprints he'd seen earlier. "I'm not going to allow anyone to harm you."
    ❧
    She believed him. Here was a man who instinctively made her feel sheltered and protected. He might not be willing to share his innermost feehngs, but he was willing to share his strength. At the moment, that was enough, but Brandi couldn't help wondering how it would feel to have this strong, polished, arrogant man in love with her. Would he allow her to see more than occasional glimpses of those other personalities hidden deep inside?
    Brandi had never had a close relationship with a man in a romantic sense. She'd purposely avoided them because she was afraid. The loss of her father at an early age had been traumatic. Losing her mother while she was still in college hadn't helped her to come to terms with her fear of getting close to someone.
    She had needed to learn how to be independent so that she would never be hurt like that again. Tim had understood her need for independence and had given her plenty of room. She'd never fully appreciated his understanding of her until now.
    Looking at the man seated beside her, sipping his drink and watching her so intently, she knew that for the first time in years she was in danger of allowing someone to get too close to her. For some reason, she didn't find the thought as threatening as she would have in the past. Perhaps her feelings stemmed from the fact that she had finally met someone who was as shy of becoming involved as she was. Brandi felt as though she were coaxing him out of his protective shell, not the other way around.
    "What are you thinking?" he asked, his hand cupping her face in a gentle caress.
    "About you," she admitted in a husky voice.
    "Very dull."
    "Not at all. I was thinking about how little I know about men." She paused, searching for words. "And how much I would like to get to know you better."
    "Really?"
    "Really."
    "That could be dangerous, considering the present situation."
    "What do you mean?"
    "We're alone in rather isolated circumstances."
    She smiled. "I know."
    "And you don't feel threatened?"
    "Not by you. I feel very safe with you."
    "Thank you. I think." He rubbed his thumb softly against her cheek. "I probably represent a father figure to you."
    She burst into laughter. "Hardly."
    "I feel old enough to be your father."
    "I don't see you in that role at all, Greg. I find you very attractive..." She turned her head slightly and kissed his palm, which had been resting along her jawline. "...and very reliable..." She reached up and touched the strand of hair that had fallen across his forehead, "...and very, very sexy..." she whispered, pressing her lips against his.
    She felt him tense at her words. Brandi rested her hand lightly against his sweater-covered chest and felt the heavy rhythm of his heart. Despite his lack of expression, he was not unaffected by her. She slid her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
    Greg clearly understood the dangers of this particular situation. A couple in front of a fireplace, relaxed from a large dinner and a glass of liqueur, miles away from any other human beings. They obviously found each other attractive, available and interested. Mother Nature couldn't have planned it better if she had tried.
    So it was up to him to keep a grip on reality, to set the tone of the evening, to make sure that nothing happened between them because... because...
    Greg's iron will seemed to shatter, and his arms wrapped around Brandi in a strong grip. For the moment, all he could think about was the woman in his arms.
    Brandi quickly discovered that the kiss they had shared earlier in the snow had only been a playful sharing. What she was experiencing now was a man's desire for her, something she'd never known before.
    Greg held her and kissed her as though he were starved for the taste and touch of her, as though he had waited for centuries to hold her close to him, as though he never intended to let her go.
    Brandi reveled in the passionate