Page 23

Sam tossed the cell phone onto the kitchen table.

“Still nothing?” Adrianne was curled up in the window seat, a tall glass of lemonade in her hand and Chester beside her. It had been a week since she’d arrived home. They’d eaten, slept, made love, and done it all over again, enjoying simply being together. Other than that, she’d answered her phone long enough to assure the chief she was fine.

Otherwise, they’d have had the police pounding on the door. And she’d kept the appointments with the doctor and physical therapist. Everyone else she’d put off with a promise to call them soon.

They’d finally decided it was time to join the world again. The first order of business was to see if Sam could contact anyone outside Redemption.

“I can’t reach either of my brothers or the office.” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “I was hoping not to be a financial burden.”

It was a steep fall from rich business mogul to almost penniless. He’d discovered the credit card in his wallet had disappeared, leaving less than five hundred dollars in cash to his name. Pride was a powerful thing, but love was greater. “We’re together now. What’s mine is yours. I own the house and land and run a moderately successful business. If the lavender farm isn’t your deal, you’ve got skills. I have no doubt you’ll be wheeling and dealing in town before long.”

He squeezed onto the bench seat next to her. “You really mean that, don’t you?” He plucked her drink from her hand and took a swallow.

“Hey, that’s mine.”

“What happened to what’s yours is mine?”

She grabbed her drink back and raised her nose primly into the air. “It doesn’t include my lemonade.” As she’d hoped, he laughed, diminishing the darkness lurking in his eyes. No matter what he said or believed, this was a huge adjustment for him. He was being humbled in every way possible, from his abilities to his finances.

He tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling. “I feel like I’m missing something.”

Rather than question, she left him in peace to think and went back to staring out the window at the fields. The land had healed her. She had faith it would do the same for him.

“Enough brooding.” He stood and held out his hand. “You up for a short walk?”

She wrapped her fingers around his and slid off the seat. “I’d love to stretch my legs.” She wasn’t used to being inactive but had been forced to give her body the time it needed to heal. Sam had handled the most immediate chores around the farm, but he’d needed the time to recover as well.

He’d finally lost the gaunt look to his face and put back on the weight he’d lost. Whether he’d admit it or not, things were more difficult for him now that he was no longer immortal. “I want to check the workshop and online site. I know you posted a message about me being out of touch due to an accident, but I depend on regular customers.”

“We can walk over now. You can sit on a stool and direct me while I fill orders.”

She laughed and swung their clasped hands. “I like the sound of that, but I can help.”

“The doctor said only limited activity with that arm for another week.”

“The stitches are out and my mobility is coming back.” She’d been doing the exercises the therapist had given her. Basic chores like showering and dressing were getting easier every day, and she’d even managed a handful of sketches. Another week or so and she figured she’d be back to normal. She’d gotten off easy, all things considered, and they both knew it.

“Once the doctor has cleared you.”

Sighing, she nudged him. “You’re going to be difficult about this, aren’t you?”

“You were shot, so yes. Doing too much too soon could set you back. I know resting and limiting your activities is difficult for you, but let me help. Look at it this way: You get to boss me around.”

She laughed. “There is that. We can check the field after. Nothing wrong with my legs,” she added before he could protest. “I’ve been thinking of expanding, planting another variety of lavender. Now that I have help, I may actually do it.”

He sent her a sidelong glance and grabbed the keys off the hook by the door on their way out. They were partway across the yard when the huge crow swooped down to land on a nearby tree.

“Is that—?”

“Yes,” he answered before she finished asking. “That’s Malaki.”

“What does he want?” Fear tightened her throat, and she gripped Sam’s hand tighter. Any message from Sam’s father couldn’t be good. But if he’d planned on taking either one of them, he would have come himself, wouldn’t he?

Caw! Caw! The bird took flight, disappearing as quickly as he’d appeared.

Sam was frowning but didn’t seem overly concerned. It didn’t help the knot in her stomach. “Do you understand crow-speak, do a mind-meld thing, or are you in the dark as much as I am?”

“I understood him, but I don’t understand.”

“Sam?” She was totally confused. “You’re scaring me.”

“I’m not going anywhere. That’s set in stone.”

Relieved, she leaned against him. “Then what is it?”

“My brother Alexiares is in town.”

The love doesn’t end here…