Face the Fire by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online

stages.
    “I hope you didn’t go to any trouble,” Sam told her. “Nothing more tedious than unexpected guests.”
    “No, there isn’t, is there?” she replied sweetly. “But then again, I’m sure you’re not used to potluck, so we’ll all make do.”
    She swung back into the house, and Sam hissed out a breath. He was sure now. He was getting in, but in painful stages. “This is going well.”
    “Mia means a lot to her. For a lot of reasons.”
    Sam merely nodded, wandered to the rail of the front porch. Lucy, Zack’s black Lab, rolled over to expose her belly for a rub, batting her tail for a bit of charm. Crouching, Sam obliged her.
    He knew the reasons for Nell’s fierce loyalty to Mia. He’d made it his business to know what happened on the island over the years. He knew Nell had been on the run when she’d arrived on Three Sisters, escaping an abusive husband. She had faked her own death—and he had to admire her guts for it—and had changed her name and her appearance as she zigzagged across the country, picking up jobs waitressing, cooking.
    He’d seen the news reports on Evan Remington, who was now serving time in a prison mental facility.
    And he knew that Mia had given Nell a job running the bookstore café, had given her a home. And he suspected, had taught her how to refine the gift.
    He’d recognized Nell as one of the three the minute he saw her.
    “She’s had a rough time, your Nell.”
    “Very rough. She risked her life to save her life. When she got here, Mia gave her a chance to dig in, put down roots. I’ve got to be grateful to Mia for that, too. And more,” he added, waiting until Sam turned back. “You’ve heard about Remington.”
    “Hollywood power broker, wife beater, psychopath.” He straightened. “And I know he took a slice out of you trying to get to Nell.”
    “Yeah.” Absently, Zack rubbed a hand over his shoulder where Remington had stabbed him. “He tracked her here, knocked her around before I got to her, then he took me out. Temporarily. She’d run into the woods, knowing he’d come after her and probably not take the time to finish me off.” His face went grim at the memory. “When I took off after them, Ripley and Mia were here. They knew Nell was in trouble.”
    “Yes, Mia would know.”
    “The son of a bitch had a knife to her throat.” Even now, the memory had rage swimming into him. “He’d have killed her. Maybe I could’ve gotten a shot off, maybe not, but he’d have killed her either way. She’s the one who took him out. She gathered what was inside her, what she is, and with Mia and Ripley, turned what he was back on him.
    “I watched it happen,” Zack murmured. “There in the little wood by the cottage where you’re staying now. A circle of light, out of nowhere. Then Remington was on the ground screaming.”
    “She has courage and faith.”
    “She does,” Zack agreed. “She’s everything.”
    “You’re a lucky man.” Though his own mind took a smart side step at the thought of a woman, any woman, who could be everything to a man. “Her love for you is a tangible thing. Even when she’s pissed,” Sam said with a weak smile, “the way she’s pissed now that you’ve invited Judas to her table.”
    “Why did you do it? Why did you leave?”
    Sam shook his head. “A lot of reasons, some I’m still figuring out. When I have them, all of them, I’ll tell Mia.”
    “You’re expecting an awful lot of her.”
    Sam studied the wine in his glass. “Maybe I always did.”

    Zack worked hard to keep the conversation light and friendly at dinner. By his calculations, he talked more during that hour at the table than he normally did in a week. But every time he sent Nell an imploring look, she ignored it.
    “I can see why the café’s taken a bite out of our lunch trade,” Sam said. “You’re an artist in the kitchen, Mrs. Todd. My biggest regret is that you didn’t walk into the hotel instead of Café Book when you came