Hearths of Fire Read Online Free PDF Page A

forever.”
    “You’re not going to lose your sister.” It looked as if Neal was going to say more
     but then stopped himself. He gestured behind him. “Let’s go over to the diner and
     grab a bite to eat. You can go into detail about Ashe and his parents.”
    Charlotte nodded somewhat hesitantly and it didn’t take her long to collect her purse.
     She didn’t like this uncertainty she felt around him, particularly since she was such
     a self-assured woman. If only she’d made a better effort to speak with him when he’d
     returned home the first time then maybe this wouldn’t have been so awkward. Then again,
     she never would have thought her little sister would be in this predicament either.
     Maybe talking about what had happened in the past two months would ease this tension
     between them. That is, if there wasn’t one of the cult members in the diner eavesdropping
     on their conversation.
    In under a minute they were across the street and entering Ember Café, the local diner.
     Charlotte should have known their presence would be the topic for tonight’s gossip
     mill. Already the gossipmongers were looking at them like they were shark bait and
     Thelma Till was the worst of them. Damn, Charlotte’s luck was batting a thousand.
     There was also one of those Ashes to Dirt people sitting dead center at the counter.
     She hadn’t realized she was blocking the entrance until she felt Neal’s hand on her
     lower back. Regardless that she was wearing a knit sweater, she swore that she could
     feel the heat of his palm through the thick material.
    “Don’t give them a second thought,” Neal murmured, his deep, rich voice sending shivers
     through her body. After all these years Charlotte would have thought their attraction
     would have diminished. “When the reason I’m here gets out, the ATD will be the topic
     of conversation.”
    Neal’s acronym for the cult was interesting, but she didn’t reply. Charlotte was grateful
     to see that a booth toward the back of the diner was open and although she quickly
     made her way to the empty seats, Neal’s hand continued to stay on her back. She wasn’t
     too sure about the effect he seemed to think would happen at the change in gossip.
     She went to slide in the side facing the door, but the pressure from his other hand
     on her arm had her taking the other seat.
    “Sorry,” Neal said, although he didn’t look apologetic in the least. “Habit. I need
     to see who’s coming and going.”
    In other words he wanted to be aware of his surroundings. Charlotte could understand
     that. What she couldn’t recognize was the darkening of his green eyes when they met
     hers. Was it anger? Was it resentment? She wanted to ask but she couldn’t bring herself
     to talk about the past. Instead she postponed the inevitable.
    “I saw your truck outside,” Charlotte said, placing her purse beside her on the seat
     and wishing the waitress would arrive soon. She looked to her right and saw that Fred
     Lamm was having dinner with another fishing buddy of his, but neither of the older
     gentlemen was talking. More likely they were listening in on every word she and Neal
     had to say. “Was your drive uneventful?”
    “Yes.” Neal leaned back in his seat and she would have given anything to know what
     he was thinking. He did take time to give a nod of acknowledgment to Fred, but immediately
     refocused his attention back on her. She remembered that Neal liked to fish and had
     gone numerous times with Fred. Honestly, there probably wasn’t a person in this town
     that didn’t know them and their past history. “So catch me up on Ashes to Dirt. I’m
     not sure if you know this, but before I left for San Diego I had a run in with the
     leaders. The town council asked that I speak to them after they bought that stretch
     of property you were referring to on Ryder Road. The mayor wanted to be reassured
     that they weren’t here to cause some sort of