The Fifth Season Read Online Free PDF Page A

intruded further.”
    “Apologize for what?” she asked, trying to direct the conversation away from the contents of her box.
    “For laughing at you. It was rude.” Stone backed out of her room and leaned against the jamb. “I didn’t mean anything by it, and I’m sorry I didn’t respect your privacy. We need to learn to live together, and I was wrong. Again, I’m sorry.” As silently as he’d arrived, Stone Connor disappeared.
    “How does he do that?”
    Reaching up and removing the clip from her hair, Emma exhaled a frustrated breath. She snapped the lid closed on the strongbox. One day, she wanted to see these pictures and think of only the happy days. That time wasn’t yet, and if she retained possession of these documents, it might never arrive.
    But the thought of burning the only link to her heritage created a cavern of sadness large enough to swallow her whole. Absently scratching her head, she ran her fingers through her hair, untangling the snagged clumps.
    With a quick glance out the window, she realized the sun no longer burned bright but had faded to a late afternoon pale yellow. Time to shower and change then prepare to face Stone. Emma craved peace, but her current predicament guaranteed the opposite.
     
    ***
     
    Emma lit the last candle and stood back to survey the dinner table. She’d decided on an outdoor meal. The brilliant red of the dying sun burned fiercely in the background casting a soft glow across the backyard. The grill sizzled with seasoned steaks, scalloped potatoes, and thick, marinated asparagus. Her mouth watered at the tantalizing aroma of garlic and onions.
    She heard Stone clear his voice before walking onto the deck. Turning, a polite smile in place, Emma welcomed him to dinner. “I thought that you might like a sampling of River Run hospitality. Most guests prefer to eat here, and I think it would help for you to experience a bit of the atmosphere we provide.” She noted he’d cleaned up still appeared to be a disheveled wreck, with long hair and scraggly beard. His jeans were clean but well-worn with the knees shredded enough to reveal skin. The dark, long-sleeved shirt bore the name of a football team she vaguely recognized. However, it was the edge of muscle beneath the fabric that bothered her in a way she didn’t want to acknowledge.
    “Whatever,” he grunted and slid into one of the wooden deck chairs surrounding the small table.
    Emma shook her head and ignored his bad manners. Consoling herself with the fact that in a few days the place would be bustling with activity, she served the platter of savory meat. Stone dug into his food with the relish of a starved man. He finished his steak, had several helpings of the sliced potatoes and onions and polished off most of the asparagus. Peering at her plate, his eyes sparked when he saw how much meat still remained.
    “Here,” she sighed in exasperation. “Take it.” Pushing the plate toward him, she couldn’t help but laugh in amazement when he scooped up the meat, giving her a cheeky grin, and scarfing it down in several quick bites.
    “Thanks,” he mumbled, still chewing. “I can’t tell you the last time I’ve eaten this well.”
    “You certainly don’t appear to be starving.”
    “I said eaten this well, not eaten. I consume food for energy, but this…” he pointed his knife around the table. “This is heaven.”
    “Thanks, I think,” she said.
    Resting his knife on the edge of the plate, he tossed his napkin on the table and settled back in the chair. Emma started to blush as his eyes raked her from top to bottom, scrutinizing every part of her body. He reached for the red wine and poured himself a liberal helping.
    “We need to set the game rules in place,” he said after savoring the dry, heady Cabernet.
    She gulped down a swallow herself and attempted to look at him with as much brazen audacity as he did her. “Game rules?”
    “Yes. We’ve an entire year to spend beneath this roof and