The Survivors (Book 2): Autumn Read Free

roof.
    I glanced back over my shoulder and watched him pick his way cautiously across the slanted tiles towards toward me.  “Yeah, I didn’t feel like sleeping in today.”
    He sat down beside me, then jerked in surprise when he suddenly discovered that the roof was wet .  I hid a smile behind my hand and struggled not to laugh.
    “Ah, damn – these jeans were clean.” He shot me a mock glare, but I could see in his eyes that there was no real anger behind it.  “You could have warned me.”
    “Oh, it’s just a little water .  They’re still technically clean.”
    He smiled at my joke, even if it wasn’t really a very good one .  My gaze lingered on him, studying the contours of his profile in light of dawn.  I’d heard that sunrise was referred to as the photographer’s golden hour, and I could see why.  The gentle light softened the hard angles of his face and made him look almost angelic.  Emotion surged up within my chest, an overwhelming wave of affection towards the man that had worked so hard to save both my life, and my humanity.
    “Michael,” I whispered his name and reached over to take his hand.
    His gaze shifted to me, a faint smile on his lips and a quizzical look in his eyes.  “Yes?”
    Ah, he was such a good man .  Such a sweet, kind, wonderful man.  What on earth had I done to deserve someone like him? I snuggled against him and reached up to trail my fingers along his jaw.  For once, there was no stubble there; he must have shaved just before he came looking for me.  I found myself just the tiniest bit disappointed.  I had grown fond of him with a touch of scruff.  I’d grown fond of him in a lot of ways, really.
    He watched me with those dark eyes of his, as if he was trying to figure out what I was about .  I smiled cryptically up at him, and his brow furrowed.  “Are you feeling okay, Sandy?”
    I couldn’t help but giggle .  I was feeling a little giddy, actually.  A little girlish.  A little silly.  I hadn’t felt that way about someone in a very long time.
    “I feel a bit peculiar, actually,” I said, then quickly finished my sentence before he started worrying about me .  “Like maybe I might be in love.  I think I am, actually.  I think I’m in love with you, Michael Chan.  I’m not sure if I should offer you congratulations or condolences.”
    He stared back at me while my words sank in, so many different emotions flickering across his face that I couldn’t keep track of them all .  Finally, just when I was about to start getting concerned, the tiniest, sweetest little smile crept across his face, and he hugged me tight.
    “Congratulations, definitely.” His voice was even huskier than usual and hardly more than a whisper.  One gentle hand caressed my jawline, and then he planted a tender kiss on my lips.  It lingered for just a moment before he drew back to speak again.  “I love you, too.  And… thank you.”
    “Eh? For what?” This time he had me confused.
    “Well.” Suddenly, he seemed very interested in looking anywhere but at me.  “When I told you how I felt last week, and you didn’t say it back… I was worried.  I thought perhaps I’d misunderstood your intentions, and that I was the only one who felt like that.  I thought that maybe you didn’t…”
    He trailed off, and my heart just about broke looking up at him .  In a sudden flash of overwhelming emotion, I threw my arms around his broad shoulders and hugged him as tight as I could.
    “Oh, no.” I squeezed his firm body with every ounce of my strength.  “No, no, no.  I just needed time.  You know how I am.”
    He laughed and squeezed me back; the sound of his laughter made me feel a surge of happiness that I hadn’t experienced since before Skylar’s illness .  With it, came a feeling of hope.  With Michael at my side, it felt like somehow everything had to work out in the end.
    ***
    After we finished our sappy moment, Michael volunteered to help with my