Free Stealing Gold (The Logan Series Book 4) by Sally Clements Page A

T-shirt. “I’m damned
disappointed not to be alone with you, though.”
    Her skin tingled where he
touched, and the urge to climb back into the car with him and check into the
nearest hotel was almost overpowering. “I wish that too.”
    Ellie turned at the doorway
with a smile so wide she was almost flashing wisdom teeth. “Come on, you two! I
want to hear all the news!”
    Force of nature was a good way
to describe Ellie Logan. She bustled into the kitchen, flicked on the kettle,
and took an apple pie from the oven. The entire house smelled of cinnamon. “Tea?
Pie?” She glanced at her husband. “Grab the cream from the fridge, would you,
Dermot?” She’d taken over, and Adam seemed content enough to let her.
    “Could you carry the tray into
the sitting room, Adam?”
    “Sure.” He took the tray,
jerked his head to Stacy to follow, and left the room.
    “She’s just…”
    “She’s at home here.” Adam
threw a piece of turf onto the fire someone had lit in the grate. “This was her
mother’s house. It’s now mine, but this is her first visit, so I guess that
hasn’t sunk in yet. Ma’s not great with boundaries, anyway. She says exactly
what comes into her head, without filtering it first. She’ll probably ask you
all sorts of questions you really don’t want to answer, so if that happens,
just change the subject. She’ll get the hint.”
    The door pushed open, and Adam’s
dad walked in, carrying the pie and cream. “I told her we should have waited.
Or at least let you know we were coming. But you know your mother.”
    “I know,” Adam said.
    “When she spoke to you during
the week, and you said you couldn’t come visit at the weekend, she started
fretting. She just couldn’t wait to see you any longer.” Dermot cast an
apologetic glance at Stacy. “And you’ve only just arrived—you must be
exhausted.”
    “I got a good night’s sleep
last night.”
    “We’re only staying the night.
If that’s okay with you, Adam.” Dermot
placed the pie on the coffee table. “I’ll drag her away in the morning.”
    “There’s
no need to rush off. Why don’t we get lunch in the pub tomorrow, then you can
drive back in daylight, and stop off somewhere on the way for coffee. It’s a
long enough drive.”
    The
door opened again, and Ellie came in with the teapot. “So, what are we talking
about?”
    “Plans
for tomorrow.” Dermot filled her in.
    “I’m
sorry for visiting without warning.” Ellie’s gaze connected with Stacy’s and
held. “But I just couldn’t bear not seeing Adam for another week. He’s been in
the country for weeks now, and hasn’t made it home. And after he’s spent all
those years in America, I was desperate.”
    “It’s
okay, Ma.” Adam poured tea. “Cut the pie.” A corner of his mouth pulled into a
half smile. “Stacy, you’ll never have tasted such good pie, it’s Ma’s
specialty.”
    “Ah,
now,” Ellie chided. “I’m sure Stacy’s mother makes pie every bit as good.”
    “Uh…”
    Adam
jumped in before she could continue. “Stacy’s parents are dead. She has no
other family.”
    Ellie
let out a shocked gasp. “I’m so sorry, dear, I had no idea.”
    “She
wasn’t one for making pie.” With a tight smile, Stacy tried to lighten the
situation. “What’s in it? Apple?”
    “Apple
and blackberry, they’re in season at the moment.” Ellie took Stacy’s lead, and
shifted away from the sensitive subject.
    Adam
passed her a plate and spoon, and settled next to her on the sofa. His thigh
brushed against hers, and he rested his arm on the back of the sofa behind her.
“So what’s new with everyone?”
    She
knew what he was doing. His body heat diffused the inches between them and his
whole manner was protective and supportive. Adam had always been like that.
Always been there for her. She wanted nothing more than to lean into him, to
feel his fingers curve around her shoulder and be held close.
    But
they weren’t alone, and giving in to