Learning Curves - By Elyse Mady Page 0,77
stand.”
Leanne gasped in relief. “Brandon, that’s…that’s fantastic!”
He grinned and kissed her fiercely. “You’re fantastic. I’m just the guy who was lucky enough to love you.”
A gentle hand on her shoulder captured her attention and she turned to find her mother and father had followed them outside.
“I wanted to apologize,” her mother said. “I was wrong about Gillian. I was wrong about Brandon. I think I was wrong about just about everything and I don’t think you’ll ever forgive me. But you have to believe, I only wanted you to be happy.”
The long pause was excruciating and finally her mom’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “Well, I’ll let you two get going. If you feel like stopping by sometime, you’re…you’re always welcome,” she finished, her voice cracking a little. Leanne couldn’t let her continue. It was too painful to both of them.
Taking her mother’s hands in her own, she said, “I want you to know that I’m happy, Mom.” She took a deep breath and then continued. “I know we haven’t always agreed. We have different ways of looking at things but I will always love you. Even if you drive me crazy sometimes.”
Mom laughed shakily. “I may not understand all of the things you do, Lee-Lee,” she said, reverting to her childhood nickname, “but I do understand what it means to be in love with someone. After all, I’ve loved your father since the moment I first clapped eyes on him.” She turned a fierce gaze on Brandon, skewering him with her best mother look. “As for you,” she chided, “make my daughter happy or you’ll have me to answer to, you understand?”
Brandon nodded, but when she followed up her threat by standing and embracing him, he was clearly startled. Hesitantly, he returned the gesture. She released him. Drying her tears discreetly, she said, “At least I’ll finally have someone in the family who appreciates the arts like I do. What are you doing next Thursday? I’ve got tickets to a Russian ballet.”
Leanne and Brandon both laughed.
“I’ll have to get back to you, Mrs. Galloway.” He flung a strong arm around Leanne’s shoulders, pulling her into him for a loving hug. “But I’ll definitely let you know.”
“You ready to go?”
She smiled, loving the passionate light in his eyes. She’d never tire of looking at him. Even when his body grew older and his hair was gray he’d still be the man she loved. That was something that time would never dim.
“Always.”
He bent his head, brushing his lips against hers in a soft caress that promised so much.
“Always,” he agreed, leading her toward her car. “But only if you promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?” she challenged.
“That you’ll dance for me often.”
Leanne laughed suggestively. “My technique needs a lot of work, I’m afraid.
“Are you willing to put in the rehearsal time?”
“As long as it takes,” she promised. “As long as it takes.”
About the Author
An enthusiastic and voracious reader from a young age of everything from obscure eighteenth-century novels to misplaced cereal boxes, Elyse has worked as a freelance writer for the past several years for many of the leading sewing and craft magazines in North America.
Her first work of historical fiction, The Debutante’s Dilemma, was published by Carina Press in the fall of 2010. Her first work of contemporary romance, Learning Curves, will be published in June 2011.
In addition to her writing commitments, Elyse also teaches film and literature at a local college. In her free time she enjoys (well, enjoys might be too strong a word—perhaps pursues with dogged determination would be better) never-ending renovations on the century home she shares with her intrepid husband and two boys in Hamilton, Ontario.
With her excellent writerly imagination, she one day dreams of topping the New York Times bestseller list and reclaiming her pre-kid body without the bother of either sit-ups or the denunciation of ice cream.
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ISBN: 978-1-4268-9177-9
Copyright © 2011 by Claire Meldrum
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
About the Author