Forever My Love: A Contenporary Romance (The Armstrongs Book 2) Read Free

tomorrow? But are you ready to see her again?
    “Mr. Armstrong?” came the hesitant voice of the Nisha once again. “If this is a bad time, I could call back…”
    “No, sorry. I was just checking my schedule. How long of an appointment would Mrs. O'Neill need?”
    “Half an hour should be more than enough. She typically just needs you to verify that the piece is indeed yours and provide a few facts about its original cost, etc.”
    “Okay then, what about tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 p.m.? She could either come to my workshop, or I could come to her office.” I would feel more comfortable here in my own space, but I think I would do anything just to see her once again. If it's her.
    There was a pause while her secretary checked Kendra’s schedule and then she replied back happily, "That would be perfect. Many thanks, Mr. Armstrong. Miss O'Neill will be at your office at 1:30 sharp.”
    “I look forward to meeting her. Will she bring this piece of jewelry with her?”
    “Oh, I wouldn’t know about that. I’m honestly not sure if she’d bring the piece with her or just pictures. The more expensive pieces usually don't leave the premises for security reasons. Will that be a problem?”
    “I think I can probably tell if something is mine from pictures. I guess we’ll wait and see what she brings with her tomorrow.”
    “Fine. The meeting should be fairly painless.  She really just needs you to validate that the piece is your workmanship.”
    “Very good.” Painless? If this was the same Kendra O’Neill who had broken his heart so many years ago, seeing her again would be anything but painless.
    “Thank you again for taking time from your schedule to help us out with this.”
    “No problem.”
    “Thanks, again,” Nisha said right before the line went dead.
    Ryan lowered the phone from his ear; his eyes fixed on the electronic device as if it were alive. His heart was still beating faster than normal and his whole body was tense.
    Kendra had been the one and only girl to star in his dreams as a teenager. Until that infamous day when she'd broken his heart. Since that moment in time, he had decided it was far better to not get overly involved with members of the opposite sex. He'd opted rather for non-exclusive relationships with women who were of a like mind. Nothing serious. No commitment beyond the moment they were in. No messy emotions to get bruised or damaged. Just companionship when he wanted it and always on his terms.
    And he’d been fine with that. Until five minutes ago!
    Ryan couldn’t help but call to mind the last time he’d seen her. He wondered how she looked today. She’d been beyond beautiful back then, at least in his eyes. Very tall for a girl and he imagined she still was.
    He remembered her wonderfully thick and shiny auburn hair. It hadn’t been just one color, but had streaks of chestnut and copper running through it. He reveled how soft it had been. And her legs – they had been the stuff teenage boys drooled after. Long. Slender. Strong.
    And her smile. It was everything a man could ask for and more. Gorgeous. Open. Fun. When she noticed, she quickly closed her lips together due to the braces she’d had to wear to straighten her teeth. He remembered how much she’d hated them.
    Then he recalled how the other kids had often picked on her. Not only for her braces, but she’d been like a newborn colt just trying to find its legs. Kendra had been immensely awkward at times, all legs, and very little balance or grace.  She’d been the one kid in school that everyone made the butt of their joke and pranks. Still, to him she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
    He felt ashamed and embarrassed as he recalled having joined in on their taunting a time or two. He’d wanted so much to fit in and be just like everyone else. To belong to the in crowd .  Enough to push aside his sense of right and wrong, all the while secretly admiring her from afar.  That was more than ten years