Rekindled Read Online Free Page A

enchanting, with the mix of dark hair, pale
skin, and an oval face carved to perfection. Her scent, a blend of flowers and
something spicy, beckoned him closer.
    Deep barking came from the car behind her. She opened the car door
and a large dog bounded out and stood by her side. Gone was the small bundle of
black and white fur they'd helped rescue four years earlier. The dog now likely
outweighed Gemma. Adam slowed his steps.
    He hung back as she let Bear sniff and familiarize himself with
his surroundings. Amid the crew's exclamations of Bear's resemblance to a wolf
or an actual bear, Adam stepped into the small crowd forming around the lunch
table. Bear's ears perked up. He turned toward Adam, tugged on the leash, and
nearly pulled Gemma off her feet. Something deep in his chest twinged when he
locked eyes with the dog. A reminder of the love and dreams he had with Gemma
when they'd rescued Bear from horrible living conditions, promising to take
care of him. And each other.
    The crowd fanned out, still peppering Gemma with questions. Adam
crouched down and rubbed the dog's fur. "Hey, buddy. I missed you."
    Bear whined and barked and jumped, resting his paws on Adam's
shoulders. The feeling that this wasn't the way life was supposed to turn out
flashed through him, hot and uncomfortable. Nudging the dog down, he rose and
looked at Gemma. A shaky smile graced her lips.
    "Jocelyn's making you work during your visit?"
    His sister jumped to his side, the light of battle in her eyes.
"I hired her. Gemma made lunch today. She's filling in until Aunt Gretchen
comes back."
    No.  He didn't want her here, getting into his
head. He wanted her back in L.A., where he wouldn't have to think about her
every single second. "Researching for a new role?"
    The corners of her mouth turned down for a split-second.
"Something like that."
    Connor leaned over the table, drawing her attention with a
question about Bear. She flashed him a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. The
dog stood patiently by her side, allowing Connor to pet him. No longer a
hyper-active puppy. No longer the dog Adam remembered.
    Jocelyn smacked his arm. "Help me get something out of the
car."
    He followed her to the street. The sounds from the crew's lunch
break echoed through the quiet afternoon. "You don't make the hiring
decisions without me. Why is Gemma here?"
    "She's upset. She doesn't know what to do with her life, or
if it's time to throw in the towel on the whole acting thing."
    "Seriously?" The declaration hit him like a bucket of
ice water. Of all the possible reasons for her to be back in town, he hadn't
expected that one.
    From thirty feet away, he could see Gemma's stiff posture, and how
her hands dug into Bear's leather leash. Shadows darkened her eyes. She kept
pressing her lips together, a tell-tale sign that she was unsure of something.
    "She's overwhelmed, and she's homesick. She couldn't even
scrape together the money for the flight here. Things in L.A. aren't getting
easier. She's out of a job and thinks she's too old to continue to pursue
acting."
    His gaze ranged over Gemma's delicate features. She'd chosen Los
Angeles and a life that didn't include him, but after they'd ended their relationship
he still followed her career. He'd hoped the minor roles in low-budget movies
would turn into something bigger for her. She was talented. Why couldn't
Hollywood see what was obvious to him? "I had no idea things were so
tough."
    Jocelyn laid her hand on his shoulder. "You guys were really
close once, maybe you can help her."
    He dropped the guard back down over his heart. "That
relationship's over."
    "I'm simply saying she needs a friend. So, be nice to
her." Concern creased his sister's face. Her hands rested on her hips. Her
attempt at his father's my-way-or-the-highway   stance normally
brought a smile to his lips. But not today.
    "I have to get back to work."
    "You haven't eaten yet." Jocelyn grabbed his arm in a
death-grip hold he'd taught her. "I hate