Hope Flames: Hope Book 1 by Jaci Burton Read Free Book Online

women I see. And so do they.”
    “Yeah, well, eventually you’re going to run out of women to have meaningless sex with. Hope isn’t that big a town. Then what are you going to do?”
    “What do you do? You live out here like a goddamned monk.”
    Logan laughed. “I do just fine. And we aren’t talking about me today, little brother. This is your dog-and-pony show.”
    This was not helping him at all. He’d come to Logan for some clarity, and now he was more confused than ever.

    But Logan was right about one thing. He’d screwed things up with Emma, and he needed to figure out how to make it right.
    Maybe he wasn’t in the market for a happily-ever-after, but he wasn’t an asshole, either. He needed to fix things.
    “I KNOW I’VE been out of touch, Em, and I’m so sorry. I’ve been really busy. I moved again.”
    Emma rolled her eyes as she cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder and listened to her sister, Molly, recount her latest adventure. “Didn’t you move three months ago?”
    “Yes. But that didn’t work out. It turns out Memphis wasn’t really where I wanted to be.”
    So not surprising. “Where are you now, Molly?”
    “Little Rock. It’s so charming here. I really like it. This could end up being the place I call home. I already have a job. It’s kismet.”
    Emma had heard this same song and dance from her sister several times a year. There was no “home” for Molly, because Molly was a runner. She always had been and always would be. Her sister couldn’t settle on one city, on one job, for longer than a few months before she’d get restless and take off again. She’d long ago stopped trying to figure out why.
    “I hope it works out for you this time, Mol.”
    “Me, too. I really love the little apartment I got. It’s so cute. I’ll text you pictures as soon as I get everything in place.”
    “You do that.” Emma sighed and put her feet up on her open file drawer, taking a breather. It was Saturday night, the office was closed, and she was catching up on paperwork, enjoying the quiet atmosphere. Daisy was running around the clinic chasing after Annie.
    “Tell me about the clinic, Em. How’s it going?”
    Emma smiled. “It’s amazing. I love it so much. Many of Dr. Weston’s old clients are returning.”
    “So business is good?”

    “So far. I’d like to get more clients in. Mom wants me to do some advertising.”
    “It’s not a bad idea. More business is a good thing.”
    “That’s true, but you know how she gets.”
    “Do I ever. But she does have really good ideas. You might want to at least hear her out.”
    “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who has to put up with her.”
    Molly laughed. “So true. Maybe you could hire a marketing genius.”
    “No can do. My budget is stretched tight as it is. I can’t hire anyone right now. Unless you want to come home and be my marketing genius.”
    Molly laughed. “Yeah, sorry, sis. I love you, but there’s no coming home for me. You know how it is. Home gives me hives.”
    “I had to try.”
    “You always do.”
    Emma heard a crash, then several loud barks.
    She rolled her eyes. “Uh, oh, Mol. Sounds like the dogs have gotten into something they shouldn’t have. Gotta run.”
    “Okay. I’ll call you in a few days. Love you.”
    “Love you, too. Bye.”
    She clicked off the phone and slid it into her pocket, then opened the door to her office. “Okay, what are you guys into?”
    She froze at the sound of breaking glass. More barking, then Daisy came running toward her.
    Heat and panic filled her. Daisy barked frantically. Something was wrong.
    “Shh.” She grabbed Daisy by the collar, but she had no idea where the pup was. Then she heard sounds coming from one of the back rooms.
    She listened carefully at the door, trying to pinpoint the location of the sound. It was quiet for a few seconds, then she heard the crunch of glass.
    The pharmacy room.
    Oh, God. Someone had broken in. She lifted her