Heroes Never Die Read Online Free Page B

her watch.  Not only was dinner ready, but she was anxious to know whether Brian had said anything about her.  She heard the front door open.  Dad was right on time.
    Stephanie hurried to the door to greet him.  “Hi, Dad,” she said, kissing his cheek.  “How was your day?”  Robert exploded with laughter.  His daughter’s behavior was always so easy to predict.  “What’s so funny?” she asked, feeling slightly insulted.
    “I was wondering who you would ask about first – me or Brian?”
    “Well, since you mentioned him – how is Brian?  Did he say anything about me?”
    “I knew that was coming.”
    “Well, did he?”
    Robert rubbed his chin and pretended to be perplexed.  Stephanie knew he was only teasing, but she couldn’t bear to wait another minute.  “Come on, Dad,” she whined.  “I’ve been waiting to hear all day.”
    Robert lifted her chin and lowered his head so that he could look into her eyes.  “Brian’s crazy about you,” he said with a convincing smile.  “He even asked if I had any objections if he dated you.”  Stephanie beamed with delight.  It was exactly what she wanted to hear.  “But of course I told him that I had plenty of objections, and that if he ever hurts you, I’ll order him to Kosovo.”
    Stephanie’s mouth dropped.  Surely he wasn’t serious.  “Oh, Dad! You didn’t?”
    “Well, if he doesn’t call tonight, you’ll know I scared him off.”
    Then the corners of his blue eyes began to wrinkle with orneriness.  Stephanie shook her head at him.  “Sometimes you can be so exasperating.”
    “That’s what dads are for,” he heckled as he kissed her forehead to smooth over his offense.  “I’m going to wash for dinner.  Something in here smells good.”
    “Nice save, Daddy.”  She watched him walk toward the guest bathroom.  “But he had better call me tonight.”
    Robert stopped and looked behind his shoulder at her.  “He’ll call you, sweetheart.  I’m sure of it.”
    His soothing voice reassured her.  “I like Brian a lot,” she called after her dad, raising her voice above the running water.  “I can’t stop thinking about him.  It’s scary feeling this way – waiting – wondering – hoping.  But I don’t suppose you would understand that.”
    “And just why not,” he scolded as he walked back into the room.  “I can still remember falling in love a time or two myself, you know.”
    “Really?  When was that – back when men carried clubs so they could beat their women into submission?”
    “I never leave home without my club,” he boasted.
    Stephanie laughed out loud.  She wasn’t fooled for a minute.  Her dad was one of the most sought-after widowers in the District.  “You don’t need a club to attract women.  You’re the most handsome man in the world.”  She poked his chest to reprimand him.  “And you know it, too.”
    “I guess I do all right for an old man.”
    “And you’re not old, either,” she scolded.
    “I’ll try to remember that the next time I’m at the gym.  Now can we eat?  I’m starving.”  Robert took his usual place at the head of the dining room table and began to carve the roast.  “You outdid yourself, Stephanie.  Everything looks wonderful.”
    Stephanie took her seat next to her dad’s right side, and for a moment she just admired him as he placed a slice of meat on her plate.  Was there anything he couldn’t do?  Was there any problem he couldn’t solve? she wondered.  “Thanks, Dad.  Will you pass the potatoes, please?”
    The meal turned out to be as pleasant as Stephanie had wanted it to be.  Robert helped her clear the table.  When the phone rang, Stephanie’s heart jumped with eagerness.  “That’s probably Brian.  I’m going to take it in my room.”  She darted up the stairs.
    “Don’t worry about me,” Robert called after her.  “I’ll just read the paper.  Or maybe I’ll talk to myself.”
    “I won’t be long,”