Read Stealing Gold (The Logan Series Book 4) Online
Authors: Sally Clements
The
shocked collective intake of breath from the audience was audible.
“I
was shown these pictures as evidence that Adam cheated during our marriage, but
recently I’ve obtained these pictures which were taken at the same time.”
Two
more pictures flashed on screen. In them, the man had turned to fully face the
camera. His similarity to Adam was striking, but he clearly was a different
person.
“I’ve
spoken to the man in these pictures. He’s a model who was asked to pose for
them, he thought for an advertising campaign. He had no idea what they would be
actually used for.” She stared into the camera. “Now everyone knows the truth,
I ask that they stop appearing in the press.”
Jay
nodded. “So what projects are you working on now, Stacy?” His smile was
genuine. “I’m afraid I have to hurry you, we only have a couple of minutes
left.”
“I’m
working on a fabulous animated movie in Ireland, I can’t say much about it, but
I can say that the team producing it is incredibly talented, and I’m loving
being the voice of their main character.”
“Well,
we wish you all the best with that.”
The
audience applauded, and Jay walked around the desk, and shook her hand. “That
was perfect,” he whispered. “The end credits are running, and we’ll be off air
soon. Just keep smiling.”
Stacy
discovered that even though the show was live in the States, it was syndicated
to Ireland, and wouldn’t air until the next evening. So he wouldn’t have seen it.
She was so exhausted—both physically and mentally—that she made her way back to
the airport and onto the plane on autopilot. It was good to have Apollo block
people from her; to look out for her. She’d dealt with her past. Tomorrow she
would deal with her future.
She
slept on the plane. On the ride back to Cole’s house, she turned to Apollo. “Thanks
for being there for me today. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
Apollo
shot her a glance, then concentrated on the road ahead again. “You would have
managed. You did good tonight. They were hard questions, but you didn’t flinch.”
He patted her knee. “Good work.”
“I
want to call Adam.” Her voice broke with fatigue. “But right now, I’m so tired.”
“Tomorrow
is soon enough.” He checked his mirror and changed lanes. “We’ll be home in a
couple of minutes. Cole gave me a key in case he’s gone to bed.”
Security
at the gate let them in. Apollo opened the door. A light was on in the hallway,
and a soft light from the subdued lighting was visible through the partially
open door to the living room, but the house was silent.
While
she took off her coat, Apollo checked. “Hi.”
Cole
must still be up.
“Are
you coming in for some tea or something?”
Apollo
shook his head with a smile. “I’m beat. I’m going to bed. I’ll drop your bag in
your room on the way past.”
“Okay.”
She hugged the giant man. “See you in the morning.”
She
pushed open the door, hoping Cole would understand if she couldn’t stay awake
for more than a brief recap of the evening.
When
she saw the man walking toward her from the sunken seating area, her first
thought was that she was hallucinating. She stopped dead. Her mouth opened, but
she had no words.
“Hi,
Stacy.” Adam crossed the room, touched the side of her face, and kissed her.
If
this was a dream, she was all in. But the touch of his lips was no dream. Her
arms wrapped around his neck, and the kiss deepened as their bodies melded
together.
After
what seemed an age, she managed to pull away a little, enough to make eye
contact. “You’re here.”
No shit, Sherlock
. Apparently her wits had
deserted her.
“I’m
here. I arrived a couple of hours after you left.” He grasped her hand and took
her to the sofa. Sat, and pulled her onto his lap. “You were fantastic on the
show.” He nuzzled her neck, almost distracting her from the questions buzzing
inside like a swarm of angry bees.
“Why
didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
His
eyebrows rose. “Would you have taken my call?”
She
grimaced. “I know it looks bad—that I’ve been ignoring your calls. I didn’t
want to lean on you, I wanted to be strong. There was so much stuff going on, I
needed to deal with it myself.”
His
arms tightened around her. “Don’t you get it yet?” His voice was soft, full of
caring. “I love you. Any problems you have, I have. We’re in this together.”
Her
mind was stuck on
I love you
. They’d agreed to have a fling, not to fall
back into love, and even though she’d been unable to think of anyone but him
since the day she saw him waiting for her at the airport, she hadn’t dared to
hope he felt the same.
“I
love you,” he said again.
“I
don’t see how you can.”
He
nipped her neck with his teeth. “I was hoping for a different response.” She
flattened her palm against the side of his face. “Stop. I can’t think while you’re
doing that.”
He
stared into her eyes. His expression was somber.
“I
love you, Adam Logan. I always have, and I always will.”
A
slow, perfect smile spread across his face until she angled his face to hers
and kissed it away.
*****
They
crept through the silent house to her bedroom like teenagers. She walked ahead
up the cantilever staircase. His hands curled around her hips. He breathed in
the lemon scent of her hair with every step.
She
turned in his arms when they entered her darkened room. “Let me turn on a
light.” Her voice was husky, aroused.
“No.”
The lack of one of his senses amplified the others. He stripped off her clothes
then his own, returned to her naked in the darkness, and let his hands explore
her dips and curves. He nuzzled her neck, feeling the soft brush of her hair
against his face. The taste of her skin, warm and salty, was so delicious he
pressed an open mouthed kiss against the corded muscles of her neck. His hands
cupped her breasts, and her back arched.
He
had no idea where the bed was, and didn’t care. Didn’t need it.
His
lips trailed down her body, tasting wherever it touched. His tongue flicked
against her hard nipples, and she gripped his head with desperate fingers,
moaning aloud.
“I
need to lie down.”
He
dropped to his knees and kissed her stomach. “Not yet.”
A
few moments later, after he’d investigated her body thoroughly, her legs were
trembling. Maybe she hadn’t been kidding about needing to lie down.
He
stood up. “Take me to bed.”
She
went to hold his hand, and collided with another part of his anatomy instead.
“Oops!”
She giggled.
He
located his jeans, found a condom, and sheathed himself. Then he grasped her
hand, and together they carefully navigated the room until she located the bed.
“I’m
yours.” Her legs opened and wound around his waist.
“I’m
yours.” Her back arched to press her core against him.
“I’m
always yours.” The warm heat of her welcomed him, and her inner muscles
clenched, gripping him tight.
Maybe
he murmured: “Right back at ya.” He was too carried away in the sensations
racing through his body to fully register what his mouth was doing.
The
bed springs creaked loudly with every thrust, rising to a crescendo when he
rubbed his thumb over her sensitive spot and increased the tempo.
This
time, it’s forever.
A simple, final thought as they crested the wave together.
*****
When
Stacy woke the following morning, the bed next to her was empty, but the pillow
still held the indent of Adam’s head. She flattened her palm into it, feeling
no residual warmth, then stared at the ceiling.
He
loved her.
And
she’d told him she’d be his forever.
A
satisfied smile curved her lips. The future held many unknowns, but one thing
was certain. They’d live it together.
The
door opened, and Adam strode in, carrying a tray. “Breakfast in bed.” He waited
for her to sit before placing it on her lap.
“You’re
dressed.”
“You’re
not.” He was looking at her exposed breasts with interest. “It’s a good look on
you.”
She
lifted the sheet to cover her nakedness. “If I don’t get eye candy, you don’t
either.” She reached for a cup of coffee and drank.
He
sat on the edge of the bed, leaned close and kissed her. “Eat up, and get
dressed.” He caressed her right hand, and kissed her fingertips. Then he rubbed
his fingers over her engagement ring. “I brought you something.”
“I
noticed.” She waved at the tray. “I love croissants.”
“Something
else.” He reached into the pocket of his jeans and retrieved a small, gold
ring. Two hands holding a heart. “I want you to marry me again.”
Her
heart was thudding so hard she could barely speak. “Aren’t you supposed to get
down on one knee?”
He
shook his head. “I’ve done that already. I want everything to be different this
time. New proposal. New ring. New marriage.”
“I’d
love to marry you again.” Her heart was so full of love, it overflowed.
He
grinned. “This is the ring my grandfather gave to my grandmother. She left it
to my mother in her will, and I asked my mother for it before I left Ireland.
They were married for sixty years, I reckon it has good mojo.” He slipped it
onto her ring finger.
She
stretched her hand out to admire the simple gold ring. “Gold heart.” She placed
a hand over her heart. “You own Gold’s heart.”
“I
lost it once and had to steal it back. This time there’s no escaping.”
“Move
the tray. Breakfast can wait.”
Stacy
clutched Apollo’s arm tightly. The soft strains of organ music started up.
“Ready?”
he asked.
She
breathed in deep. “Ready.”
Stepping
as they’d practiced, she and the man she’d asked to give her away walked down
the aisle of the tiny Irish church. Pink and white garlands of flowers were
tied to the end of the pews, and a collective sigh could be heard as the
congregation turned in their seats to catch the first sight of the bride.
How
was it possible that every single one of her dreams had come true? Her part in
Bibi’s
Big Adverture
was recorded, Cole had signed her to his record label to
record her own songs, and today—today was the best day of her life.
The
church was full of smiling Logans.
Ellie
and Dermot were in the front pew, Ellie already tearing up. Next, sat Matthew,
Nick and Finn, three brothers so good looking it was a miracle the congregation
was looking at her, rather than ogling them.
Adam
stood at the altar with Cole by his side. He wasn’t smiling, but love was raw,
naked, there for everyone to see in his intense expression.
When
she reached him, they clasped hands.
The
music faded, and her bridesmaids, the Logan women who had become friends in the
past two months that she’d been in Ireland: April, Val, Summer and Amy, fanned
to their positions at the side.
“Ready
to marry me again?” Adam whispered.
“It
feels like I’ve been ready forever,” she whispered back.
Then,
as one, they looked ahead, to the man in black before them, and a limitless
future.
Thanks
so much for reading Stealing Gold—I hope you enjoyed it!
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Stealing
Gold is book 4 in the Logan Series, if you haven’t already read them, you can
catch up with books 1-3 at the links below, or buy the box set, which
represents a saving.
Runaway Groom (The Logan Series, Book 1)
Three Minutes to Happiness
(The Logan Series, Book 2)
Snowbound Summer (The Logan Series,
Book 3)
The Logan Series Box Set (Books
1-3).
There’s
one more Logan book to come, which is Amy’s story.
Other
Books by Sally Clements
Blaze (A Minxes of Romance anthology)