In His Shadow (Tangled Ivy Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

himself to dinner so I just made the best of it.” He eyed me. “Don’t tell me you liked him? He didn’t seem your type.”
    “Of course not!” I denied a little too quickly. “Just thought, like you did, that it was weird, especially when you hadn’t mentioned him joining us when we were on the phone.”
    Our conversation was interrupted by the telephone, and Logan reached behind the couch to pick up the cordless off the table. He glanced at the caller ID.
    “Hey, Grams,” he answered.
    I looked up at this, what we’d always called my grandma, even Logan. My grandma adored him and I rolled my eyes as Logan chatted with her for several minutes. Finally, he handed the phone to me.
    “Hello, sweetheart!” she said. “How are you doing?”
    “I’m doing great,” I replied. “How’re you and Grandpa?” It didn’t matter if I was doing well or not, I always said I was great. My grandparents had raised me from the time I was thirteen and had dealt with enough pain and heartache for a lifetime. I’d vowed a long time ago to never cause them more.
    Grams told me how Grandpa had sprained his wrist, and I got after her for not letting the hired hands do the work on the farm, though we both knew that Grandpa was too restless to just sit inside and let others do it. Finally, after a few more stories about one of the barn cats having kittens and a neighbor whose oldest son had just gotten remarried, she said, “So honey, I wanted to remind you, Jace is up for parole next week. Remember?”
    I stiffened at the mention of my stepbrother. I hadn’t seen him in ten years and I’d just as soon never see him again.
    “Yeah, I remember,” I said.
    “I know you worry, Ivy, but even if he did get out, he doesn’t know where you are,” she said, trying to comfort me. “Me and your grandpa aren’t going to tell him anything either.”
    “I don’t want him anywhere near you guys,” I said. “If he comes, you call the police.”
    “Your grandpa has a shotgun, honey, and he knows how to use it. We’ll be fine.”
    Like that was supposed to make me feel better, my seventy-year-old grandpa toting a shotgun.
    “How’s Taffy doing?” I asked, changing the subject. I missed my little cocker spaniel, but Logan’s apartment manager was quite clear that no pets were allowed.
    “Oh, she’s fine. She still wanders back into your bedroom though, like she’s looking for you.”
    She talked some more about Taffy and when we ended our conversation, Grams promised to call and let me know as soon as she heard how Jace’s parole hearing went. Logan was watching me when I hung up, the earlier mischievous look on his face replaced by one of concern.
    “Was that about Jace?” he asked.
    I nodded, setting aside my empty coffee mug. “Parole hearing this week,” I said.
    “He’s had them before,” Logan said, “and didn’t get out. There’s no reason to think this time will be any different.”
    “I know.” But I also knew the twisting nausea in the pit of my stomach wouldn’t go away until I’d heard from Grams. Logan must have sensed my unease, for he reached out and grasped my hand, slotting his fingers with mine.
    “Did you ever tell them?” he asked, his voice quiet.
    My gaze met his in surprise. Logan and I never talked about what had happened with Jace. Ever. “Of course not,” I said. “With my mom and everything, they had enough to cope with. They didn’t need to know that, too. And besides, it didn’t matter. He was already going to prison.”
    “Yeah, but Ives,” he said gently, “they love you.”
    “It would only hurt them,” I insisted. “No one needs to know. Not now. It’s in the past.”
    “Is it?” Logan asked a little sadly. “Or is that why you’re not interested in anyone I introduce you to?”
    “Don’t go there,” I admonished him. “I am not one of those women forever scarred by the traumatic events of my past.” Logan looked skeptical and as though he were going to