Diamonds Are Truly Forever: An Agent Ex Novel 2 by Gina Robinson Read Free Book Online

series of door-shaking knocks to his unmusical repertoire. She froze.
    Burglars!
    What a crappy day. First being shot at and now this. Daytime burglars used this tactic to make sure no one was home before they broke in. She had to defend her territory and herself. Besides, she wanted her half of that monster TV in the living room. Between the pounding and her panic, she couldn’t think straight. How to stop them?
    Yell at them to go away? Throw her sharp, heeled shoes at the door? Bash them with her belt buckle if they broke through? How many was she up against?
    Drew would know what to do. Why wasn’t he here!
    She tiptoed to the door, and peeked out the peephole while deciding her next course of action just as the urban assault on her door stopped.
    Her stepdad stood on the stoop, holding a box of some kind. He was just turning to leave.
    Staci let out a heavy breath and frowned, trying to calm her nerves. It was only Sam. Without thinking, she threw open the door to stop him. “Sam?”
    He froze, looking confused, going pale as recognition crossed his face. “Staci? What are you doing here?”
    “I could ask the same of you!” She was stunned to see him. He’d never just dropped by before. “What are you doing here, hammering our doorbell like a madman?” She studied him. “I must’ve really startled you. You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
    “Just embarrassed by my bad behavior.” Sam grinned sheepishly. “ Your doorbell? I thought this was Drew’s place and you were at the house?”
    She didn’t reply.
    He held the box out toward her. “Sorry to scare you. I thought Drew was ignoring me on purpose to get me to go away.”
    He cleared his throat and looked apologetic. “Your mom’s been at me to return this stuff to him. Says I’ve had it way too long. Now that Drew’s no longer going to be part of the family…”
    Staci stared at the box. She recognized some of Drew’s tools and a couple of movies and video games.
    Sam was a notorious borrower. And totally irresponsible about returning things.
    Her next awful thought stopped her cold. Was she the last to know about Drew’s condo? She frowned. “How did you know he’s moved back and lives here?”
    “I just found out.” Sam looked sheepish. “Mind if I come in and set this down?”
    She moved out of the way to let him in and pointed to the kitchen table. “Go ahead and set it there.”
    He nodded. “I stopped by Drew’s parents’ house first. I thought that’s where you said he was staying. His mom pointed me this way.
    “She barely had time to talk to me, too busy packing. His folks are heading out on a Caribbean cruise tomorrow. Nothing stops those two from their vacations. They’ll be gone several weeks.”
    That sounded exactly like Drew’s parents. Staci nodded, looking at her silver-haired stepfather. She guessed you could call Sam good looking for an older man, or maybe distinguished. Tall, slender, and well groomed, he’d stayed in decent shape. But Staci always found him a bit too slick for her tastes, and way too much of an engineer. He was dressed casually in dark jeans, a polo shirt, and black tennis shoes.
    “Shouldn’t you be at work?” she asked.
    “Taking a long, late lunch today to run some errands. Been putting in a lot of extra hours lately.” Sam set the box down and surveyed the surroundings.
    She felt her face go warm. “Excuse the mess! I just got here and was about to change and start cleaning up. Drew isn’t much of a bachelor.”
    Sam cocked his head and studied her. “Just got here? Cleaning up after him? What’s this all about? Do you mean to say you’re back with him?”
    She froze. “Yes. Just.”
    Her face became so warm she was sure she was blushing for real now. Lying always did that to her.
    “But why aren’t you at the house?” He looked rightfully confused.
    She gulped. “We … we…” She bit her lip. Her mind went blank. Why hadn’t Drew told her what to say rather than