Abby sat across from Gage at breakfast the following morning. Like the rest of the apartment, the kitchen was flooded with sunlight. White cabinets hung above caramel granite countertops, and a leafy philodendron on an ornate plant stand stood in the corner. A round antique table and chairs sat in front of tall paned windows.
They were both sipping coffee, getting ready to go over the list she’d made last night, when the doorbell buzzed downstairs.
Gage rose and hit the intercom button.
“It’s Kade. I had business in the city. I was hoping you’d spring for a cup of coffee.”
Gage smiled. “Come on up.” He rose from his chair. “My brother,” he said to her.
“The rancher or the soldier?”
“The rancher. But you won’t need your gun, I promise. He’s even more harmless than I am.”
Abby bit back a smile as Gage walked over and buzzed the downstairs door open. Dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt that showed off a pair of spectacular biceps, his dark hair still damp from the shower and curling at the nape of his neck, the man looked like sin personified.Harmlesswasn’t the word she would use for Gage Logan.
Nor for his equally handsome brother, when the two men walked back into the kitchen.
“Kade, this is Abby. We’re partnering for an upcoming expedition.”
Kade smiled at Abby. He was almost as tall as Gage, with a lean, V-shaped body beneath a white western shirt closed by a row of pearl snaps.
“Good to meet you,” Kade said. “My brother’s been needing something to do. That caged-animal look in his eyes has been getting worse by the day.”
“I promise he’ll be breathing fresh country air very soon,” Abby said.
Kade smiled. Taking off his dark brown Stetson, he smoothed the creases from his golden brown hair. “Ellie sends her love,” he said to Gage.
“His beautiful bride,” Gage explained. “How is she?”
“Feisty as ever.”
“No surprise there. What about Edge? Have you seen him lately?”
“He came out to the ranch, rode up in the hills for a couple of days. He’s decided to go to work for Nighthawk Security. At least for a while. I think he’s gonna be okay.”
“He’s always been a step ahead of us. He’ll be fine.”
Kade walked over and poured himself a cup of coffee. For the first time, it seemed to dawn on him that it was very early and Abby was sitting at Gage’s breakfast table. At least she was dressed and not still wearing her robe.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt,” Kade said, sipping his coffee as he eyed his brother, clearly intrigued.
“Abby came to me with information that may turn out to be valuable. Unfortunately, someone else thinks so too. She was attacked on one occasion, her apartment ransacked on another. She’s staying here until we’re ready to head out.”
Kade sobered. “If you two need a safe place to stay, you’re welcome at the ranch.”
“Thanks for the offer, but we should be all right here. And we have plenty of work to do.”
“Which I’m obviously keeping you from doing.” Kade finished the last of his coffee and set the empty mug down in the sink. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“Will do.” Gage walked him to the door, then reset the alarm after Kade had exited the building.
“You mentioned your brother Edge,” Abby said. “Are the three of you close?”
Gage refilled his mug. “As we grew older we drifted apart for a while. Kade’s wife, Ellie, brought us back together. I don’t think any of us will let that happen again.”
“You’re lucky to have a family. King was all I had, and now he’s gone.” Emotion rolled through her, made her eyes burn. King hadn’t been around a lot, but he was always there when she needed him.
Gage set a big hand over hers where it rested on the table. “You’ll always have your memories. With any luck, we’ll find the Devil’s Gold, and you’ll have even more reasons to remember him.”
