Elliott motioned for her to sit. He quickly joined her on the comfortable sofa, and reached for her hand. His father smoked a pipe and wisps of smoke curled around his face and the scent of cherry tobacco swirled throughout the room.His mother sat across from his father, her feet crossed at the ankles, a ball of yarn at her side and whatever she knitted or crocheted on her lap. Both appeared fine if not a little sullen."Dad, Mom, have you given any more thought to mining and mineral rights?""Sure have, son." His father turned to look at Elliott. "And your mother and I agree with you. We don't even know those two guys or what they do and wouldn't venture into something without your advice."Elliott looked at his father and then at his mother, who nodded her head. "Okay. I'll stop by their office tomorrow and take care of it." Elliott looked at both his parents for approval. After they nodded their heads at him, he said, "Right now, Sam and I need to head home. But I'll be back in

"Hi, yourself." Warmth hit Sam's face as she walked through the door, unbuttoning her coat. What was that glorious smell? "Your place is very homey and dinner smells wonderful. What is it? Fresh vegetables, I think I smell cucumbers, and something in the oven?" She licked her lips and swallowed."Ah, that would be a fresh salad chilling in the fridge and potatoes baking in the oven. Are you hungry?" He ran his hand through his slightly too-long wavy hair that she loved. She wanted to run her hands through his soft hair while kissing his sweet lips."I'm starving, I had a quick lunch, seems like hours ago. How was your day?" Sam asked as she walked closer to him. Soon reaching his side, he leaned over and lightly kissed her cheek. She turned her face toward him and kissed him on the lips. Her breath shortened, her heart raced. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer."I miss you," she whispered against his lips."Me too," he muttered as he delved into her mouth ag

Sam ran her hands through Elliott's hair and held his butt as he continued to reach his final pleasure. He leaned down and kissed her, then held himself above her on his elbows. A vein in his forehead became more pronounced and his face flushed as he pumped his seed into her, while she stared into his intense, dark blue eyes.He settled close by her side, not relinquishing his hold on her. She cocked her head to meet his forehead and they stared into each other eyes."You do something to me." He moaned and pulled her closer. "Especially the sex part. Do you feel it?""I know there's something. I miss you when I'm not with you. I miss your touch, your scent, and your sweet kisses." She kissed his face in between her words. "I don't know what it is about you." She kissed him lightly on the lips. "I can't keep my hands off you." She kissed his lips, forced her tongue into his mouth. She delved in, sucking his lips as if she were a tornado. His hands reached up and cupped her face, one

Elliott couldn't believe his eyes when he entered his house and saw his longtime friend, Mitch, sitting on the couch, studying something on Sam's computer. A streak of jealousy traveled through his blood and he fisted his hands, resting them on his hips.After Mitch explained the confusion, Elliott stood rigid, astonished Sam could believe him to be capable of murder. He stared at her, speechless, and watched as she stuffed her stocking feet into her boots, grabbed her coat off the rack and headed for the door."Where are you going, Sam?" he called out to her as she opened the door.****Sam turned to Elliott. "I'm going back to the B&B where I can feel safe locked in my room away from murderers and fake people who claim to be friends." She stomped to the Sherriff and snatched the computer from his hands. "Here, you can study them yourself." She slammed a small thumb drive into his hand. "You know where to reach me if you have any further questions." She nodded at Mitch, turned, an

When Sam returned to her room, the sun was coming in through the window and onto the middle of the bed. She opened the drapes wider and the brightness seemed to warm the entire room. She lay on the bed, her face in the sun, and closed her eyes. Shortly, she fell into an exhausted sleep and slept soundly until late in the afternoon. Waking slowly, chilled, she tried to get a handle on everything that had happened to her since she'd arrived in the Hole, as she'd heard townspeople call the area. How much she had looked forward to finding someone like Elliott to spend time with and possibly even her life.She stretched her arms up over her head and yawned. She felt lazy and thought about ordering something to eat for delivery but instead she would have to go out.After all, she did want to see the sights and explore the small town. A few minutes later she ventured outside and strolled a short distance. The temperature had been abnormally hot today and just now it began to cool down. Sam