Read Blind Run for Free Online Page B

Not a remedy for little boys who fall from trees and break their necks.”
    Silence filled the room, except the Chopin, which wound its way between them, tantalizing and frenzied as the piece neared its finale.
    Charles reached over and shut off the stereo. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that about Nicky.”
    She lifted her chin, not yet ready to forgive him.
    “It’s just . . .” He backed away, straightening and smoothing his tie. “I understand what it is to lose someone you love, and I worry about you.”
    The anger left her in a rush. He always seemed to know just the right thing to say to make amends. Several years ago, he’d lost his brother. It had been before she’d met him, but she knew Charles had taken it hard. “I know you do,” she said, feeling guilty for forgetting she wasn’t the only one who’d lost someone they loved. “But please try to understand how important this project is to me. We’re so close.”
    When he didn’t respond, she closed the distance between them and pressed a light kiss to his lips. “Please, Charles. It won’t be much longer. I promise.” She saw the doubt in his eyes and maybe even a bit of jealousy.
    “Marry me, Sydney, and I’ll give you more children.”
    Surprised, she took an involuntary step back. It wasn’t the first time he’d asked, nor the first time she’d put him off. It
was
, however, the first time he’d mentioned having children. “Charles—”
    “Don’t.” He grabbed her hand before she could say more. “Don’t answer me now. Just think about it. Please.”
    She blinked, then nodded, though there really was nothing to think about. She thought he knew that. There would be no more children. Not for her. Not ever. Her one and only child had died three years ago, and she’d never risk caring that much again.
    “Okay then, you relax,” he said, smiling a bit too brightly as he went into the den and came back out with his suit jacket. “By the way, I was expecting a call so I checked your phone messages for you.”
    She bit back another rush of annoyance. “And?”
    “Just a couple of hang ups.” He slipped on his jacket.
    She nodded, exhausted and not wanting to argue further.
    “Have a bath,” he said, kissing her on the cheek before heading toward the door. “I’ll be back with your dinner.”
    With arms wrapped tightly around her middle, she watched him go. He meant well, worrying about her long hours and handling things for her, like dinner and phone messages. It wasn’t his fault she preferred doing things for herself. In time they’d reach an understanding, a compromise between his desire to take care of her and her need for independence.
    What really concerned her, however, was his claim that she wasn’t getting on with her life. Maybe she wasn’t ready to jump into another marriage, nor would she ever be ready for another child, but hadn’t she gotten on with her life? Hadn’t that been what she’d been doing these last few years, learning to live without Nicky? Without Ethan?
    She walked slowly to the bedroom, pulled off her jacket, and dropped it on the bed. It had been an uphill struggle, but she’d survived. At first she hadn’t wanted to. It had been an effort just to get out of bed in the morning and face another day. She’d often wondered if it had been her anger at Ethan that had pulled her through, pushed her on until she’d begun to heal.
    Giving up her pediatric practice had been the first step in the process. Unable to face the string of children who paraded through her office day after day, she’d taken a research job and discovered an affinity for the laboratory that she hadn’t known she possessed. But mainly, working gave her a reason to get up in the morning, something to do. Then one night she’d realized she’d gone an entire day without once thinking about her son or ex-husband, and she knew she’d found a new reason for living.
    Braydon Labs had saved her life.
    Some time later