Read Inherited: Instant Family for Free Online Page B

to save either one of them.”
    “And I believe you would.” Then he said, “Eat your dinner.”
    “The hamburgers are good here.”
    Brad agreed, then said, “I guess we could’ve gone out for a good steak.”
    She shook her head. “I like it here.”
    A few minutes later, Brad offered some dessert.
    Sarah had relaxed after the movie, but she raised her eyebrows at his suggestion.
    “No, I don’t think so. Of course, if you want some, go ahead, but I think I’m full.”
    “They’ve got a chocolate brownie sundae. We could share it.”
    The waiter smiled. “A lot of people share one of those. I can bring two spoons.”
    “Great. Let’s do that.”
    After the waiter left the table, Sarah leaned toward Brad. “I don’t think I can eat any of it, Brad. I’m really full.”
    “You can eat just a little, can’t you?” Before she could reply, he added, “Abby said to call home tonight. We should call now before the kids go to bed.” He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number at home. After he talked for a minute, he passed the phone to Sarah.
    She was relieved when Anna told her she’d had a good day. Davy didn’t have a lot to say, because he and Robbie were playing a video game. Abby assured her all was going well. She found herself smiling when she hung up the phone.
    “Everything’s all right, I take it,” Brad said.
    “Yes.” After a minute she said, “I really want to thank you, Brad. You’ve been terrific to me. I know you may have preferred the hostess sharing your evening, but I appreciate your sacrificing yourself.”
    “It’s no sacrifice, Sarah, believe me. I’ve enjoyed myself tonight.” Then he handed her a spoon as the dessert came. “Come on, take a bite. I can’t eat all this by myself.”
    Distracted, Sarah did so. Her mind was on what he’d said. “I don’t think—
Oh, this is good,” she said after a bite.
    “Eat up. You’re too skinny.”
    “Skinny? I don’t think—Do you think so?”
    He laughed. “Honey, you could put on twenty pounds and still be beautiful.”
    “Twenty pounds? I couldn’t do that.”
    “Okay, maybe ten pounds.”
    She ate another couple of bites, but then she put the spoon down.
    “Take one more bite for Davy. You know he’d love this dessert.”
    “Yes, he would. I don’t think he’s much bothered about what’s going on. Anna is a little more concerned.”
    “I know they miss their mom.”
    “I guess so. She’d—she’d changed a lot. When Ellis got her started drinking, she’d become a different person. Argumentative and aggressive at some times, negligent and apathetic at others.”
    “I know you’re doing the right thing.”
    “I’m trying, thanks to you and your family.” She meant that compliment. She owed a lot to the Logans for giving her a place to stay, and even more to Brad for finding her and taking her in.
    And for tonight.
    This had been one of the best nights in recent memory. Dinner and a movie with a charming, handsome man seemed so out ofplace, given her circumstances, but Brad had helped her forget her troubles, at least in his presence.
    After they finished their dessert, he drove them back to their motel and walked her to her room. “Will you be able to sleep tonight?” he asked.
    She said, “Yes,” but truthfully she wondered if she could. Not when visions of one particular good-looking cowboy danced through her head.
    Brad had a lot to think about. If that had been a regular date, he’d have collected a good-night kiss, at the least.
    And he’d wanted that kiss.
    But his brother and Mike had told him to take it easy with Sarah. She had a lot to deal with.
    He’d enjoyed their evening. When Sarah relaxed, she was a joy. He smiled as he thought about the evening. It had been a pleasure to feed Sarah. She looked like a strong wind would blow her away.
    Stretching out on his bed, he wondered if Sarah had already gotten to sleep. She’d been tired, but she’d have to face the police