Earth Enchanted Read Online Free PDF Page B

bag and purse.
    Jack took the bag from her. “I’ll give you a lift.”
    “I’m sure you have things to see to. It’s no problem to call a taxi.”
    “Yeah, sure, except it’s always a problem to call a cab. I’ve kept you, and it’s the least I can do.”
    * * * *
    Jack’s Camaro roared its way up the drive as he admired her brother’s choice of living space. Roses climbing up the side trellis were a nice touch. He reached the front doorstep, pulled up to the curb, and cut off the engine.
    “Thanks for the ride, Jack, and the coffee.” She gathered her purse and bags, while he walked around the car and opened her door.
    “This was fun, Olivia. We should do it again before you go back to Ireland.” He held his breath. It was a big step for him. One he hadn’t taken before, and wasn’t sure if he was ready to chance now. “I know you’re visiting your brother and probably don’t have a lot of time, but if you could free up an evening, I’d like to take you to dinner.”
    She didn’t let him wonder for long. “I’ve no plans for tomorrow evening. What time should I be ready?” Liv gave him another sunny smile.
    “Seven,” he said, and took her free hand in his. Still not being entirely sure of himself, but not ready to slip away, he brushed a kiss across her knuckles. The familiar nature of the kiss, one he might have given a grandmother, shouldn’t have disturbed him, but he found himself wanting to run. Toward her or away? He couldn’t be sure.
    “I’ll see you then.” He didn't drive away until she was safely inside.
    * * * *
    Liv stepped inside the house, closed the door, and then leaned against it until her heart leveled out. She walked into the kitchen, still rubbing her fingers where he’d kissed them. Ryan was already there, trying to act like he’d been cooking, but he’d been watching her and Jack through the kitchen window. The room gave off an aura—or was that smoke from burning meat?—of black and brown she didn’t think she’d seen before. Chicken? Well, it smelled like chicken anyway. Maybe it should be buried.
    “Ryan, what are you torturing in that skillet? Here.”
    He took the book she shoved at him, forcing a grin, but she wasn’t fooled and set that aside for later.
    “A cookbook? ‘One Hundred and One Almost Gourmet Meals for Dummies.’ Very funny.” At least it brought a smile to his face. “That bad, huh?”
    “I went shopping at the bookstore and that was the first to catch my eye. You study, boy-o. I’ll cook.” The time spent with Jack had put her in a good mood, so she really wasn’t trying to pry, much. It was hard, when she could see could see how worried he was.
    She dumped the chicken he’d been cooking, got out fresh, and started over. Maybe it didn’t have anything to do with his job. Perhaps a woman was causing him sleepless nights? Nah, she didn’t think so. She hadn’t seen signs of that anywhere. Yes, she’d looked. Was he still pining over Kate? That had been years before, but she could see that having a lot to do with it. So she was curious, it wasn’t a crime. Still, she couldn’t shake the thought that he was in real trouble, and didn’t want to involve her. Too bad, she was already involved. I’m family, am I not? We stick, and I’ll not go back until this is settled.
    “Where have you gone to, Livvy?”
    She fumbled for an excuse. “Just nowhere at all. I was thinking about a conversation I had with another author I met today.”
    * * * *
    So Mr. Macho in the muscle car was a writer. His attention caught, Ryan glared at her with slit eyes. “What? I thought you went shopping.”
    “I did, and they were having a book signing. Don’t you pay attention to what’s going on around you? Anyway, as I was late getting there and me being a writer as well, he asked me to go for coffee. So we went.”
    He stood so quickly that the chair flew backward and fell over. The abrupt movement caused Liv to jump back in defense and lose