Fire and Ash (Immortal Touch) by Allie Gail Read Free Book Online

to have it?” she asked.
    “No…just someplace close to Brightwood. Why don’t we do some research online tonight?” Eva suggested.
    “We do need to get started on this if you’re dead set on doing it so soon.”
    “You know me. I’ve never had a lot of patience.”
    “Mm. Are you sure you’re not doing this because you think you have to?” Abby couldn’t help herself. She wanted to think that her daughter would trust her enough to come to her if she was pregnant, but who knew? It wasn’t as if she’d been acting quite like herself lately.
    “I’m not knocked up, if that’s what you’re asking !”
    “Okay, okay…just checking.” Uncomfortable silence…change the subject, quick. “Are you planning on taking Rio back with you?”
    “Well…yeah, I’d like to. Unless you want to keep him for company.” She glanced at Julian. “Would you mind? He hasn’t been declawed.”
    “I don’t mind at all.” He gave her a covert smile. “You already know that I relate very well to animals.”
    Abby cleared her throat and stared into her tea glass. “Actually it would probably be best if you took him back with you. Grant’s allergic to cats.”
    Eva’s eyebrows shot up. “Mom! What have you been up to while I was gone?”
    “ Oh, nothing much. Working, taking care of things at home, same ol’ same ol’…”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Okay, so I might’ve made time for a few nights out with Dr. Hunky , as you so eloquently dubbed him. And I seem to recall it was your suggestion in the first place.”
    “D o you hear me complaining? I think it’s great! How come you didn’t mention it before?”
    “I don’t know. It didn’t seem all that important compared to your news.”
    “Well, of course it’s important. So how’s it going - are you two hitting it off or what?”
    “I’d say so.” Abby felt her cheeks grow hot. It was far too early in the game to place any bets, but things were going well so far. Very well. She only hoped it didn’t end in disaster. She didn’t want to go through that again.
    “Dr. Reynolds is a pediatrician,” Eva informed Julian. “Mom’s been working with him for…how long’s it been now?”
    “Seven years.” Wow, spoken out loud it sounded like a heck of a long time. Seven years of worshipping the handsome doctor from not-so-afar, when all the while he’d been interested in her as well. Or so he said. When she thought of all the time she’d been robbed of, simply because of her insecurities…
    Damn Edwin. May he develop a n incurable rash on his nether regions.
    “We’ll definitely have to invite him to the wedding,” Eva suggested.
    “That would be nice.” Abby bit her lip, reluctant to bring up the subject of Edwin. “And your father? Were you planning on having him there - provided he’d even come?”
    Her daughter’s eyes got the same troubled look in them they always did when Edwin’s name was brought up. But her answer surprised Abby. “Yes, I think so. If it wouldn’t bother you, that is.”
    “ Doesn’t bother me . I can be civil.” The question is, can he?
    “ I think it’s about time I let go of the past. We’ll invite him and his family. If he wants to show up, fine. If he doesn’t, then at least I can say I tried.”
    Abby nodded. There was little else to be said. Though she wouldn’t have blamed the girl one bit for excluding the man who’d abandoned her so callously. It was scary to know there were men in the world who had so little conscience.
    But seeing the doting way Julian looked at her daughter, she had all the confidence in the world that Eva had found one of the last remaining good guys.
    ~*~*~*~
    If Sami thought she was going to get through her first few weeks without running into Mr. Reid again, she was mistaken.
    He was constantly coming and going. Carrying a set of golf clubs one day, a briefcase the next. One late afternoon he strolled past with a voluptuous woman who looked as if she belonged on a pair of mud