Mythe: A Fairy Tale Read Online Free Page A

reached out and slipped the receipt from her frozen fingers. He checked the total and then tucked it into his pocket, pulling out his wallet. He counted out enough cash to cover the pizzas, with a large tip thrown in as well, and offered it to the girl. She looked at it blankly for a moment, as if unsure what it was, and then slowly reached out and took it.
    “Thank you,” Richard said. He put his wallet back into his coat pocket, then reached to take the pizzas from Manda.
    “Wait!” the scarlet-faced delivery girl blurted. “Um...can I have your autograph?” She held out one of the bills he’d given her as a tip.
    “Of course,” Richard agreed patiently. He took the proffered bill and pulled a pen from his pocket. He scribbled his name quickly and handed the signed bill back. Then he retrieved the pizzas from an amused Manda, nodding her toward the elevators. He was eager to make his escape before the encounter escalated into something less orderly. She led the way and pushed the button. One set of doors opened immediately and they both stepped in. When the doors slid shut, Richard sighed in relief.
    Manda’s warm, infectious laughter filled the elevator, unrestrained and authentic. “Oh, the trials and tribulations of a rockstar!”
    Richard laughed with her.
     
     

 
    Chapter 2
    Y ou are so lucky, Aunt Manda!” Katie gushed as only a star-struck 13-year-old girl could. “I can’t even believe you had dinner with Joshua and Richard Raines! Are they as gorgeous in person as they are in their pictures?”
    Several patrons of the restaurant where Manda and Katie were having breakfast stared in their direction. Katie hadn’t been as quiet as Manda would have wished. She made a shushing motion toward her and then giggled.
    “Even more gorgeous. And tall! And they’re both really nice.” Then Manda giggled again, doing her best impersonation of a gushing school girl. “They’re dreamy!”
    “Aunt Manda!” Katie hissed, mortified. “You’re embarrassing me!”
    “Sorry!” Manda chuckled. She was embarrassing Katie ! That was rich! Manda had known her niece would flip when she found out Manda was working with Rain , as the duo of Richard and Joshua Raines was known. Katie had all of their CDs and a bedroom plastered with their pictures. Manda had refrained from telling her in advance, not wanting her to be disappointed if the project fell through.
    “When will you see them again?” Katie demanded. “You have to promise to introduce me. And an autograph! You have to get me an autograph!”
    Manda smiled smugly and reached into her purse. ”Oh, you mean something like this?” She held out the autographed pizza menu to Katie, who squealed in delight.
    “Oooh! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
    “Well, read it,” Manda ordered, struggling not to laugh.
    “To Katie, who has the best aunt in the world.” Katie threw an accusing look at Manda and then read on. “We look forward to meeting you. Best regards, Richard Raines and Joshua Raines.” Katie bounced with excitement. “You are going to introduce me to them! You are the best aunt in the world!”
    “I know,” Manda said in a bored voice, almost suppressing her grin. “I knew you’d say so, that’s why I asked Richard to write it.”
    Manda had felt silly asking for an autograph but she’d promised herself that she would do it for Katie. In the elevator, when she and Richard had been laughing about the pizza delivery girl, Manda had gathered all her courage and sheepishly asked him. He’d laughed even harder.
    “It would be my pleasure. If she’s half as charming as you are, I hope we’ll get to meet her.” Manda had blushed furiously then.
    As soon as they got back to the conference room, Richard had put the pizza boxes down on the table and torn off the menu that was taped to the top.
    “What’s her name?” he asked Manda.
    Manda told him, asking him to add the part about the best aunt as well. He’d chuckled to himself and