Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 131651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 658(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 658(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
I kiss him back with all my heart, every steaming emotion I’ve ever mustered.
“About your inheritance—”
“I don’t care about mine,” he rumbles.
“Holden!” I slap his chest gently. “I care, okay? We’ll make sure you get it. You protected me.”
“Not the damn egg.” His lips twist in a wry smile. His hand smooths my hair. “I knew when I shot it to pieces that I blew any chance I had of the inheritance.”
“I disagree, and Gramps is gone. Jackie Wilkes, I’m sure she’ll be reasonable. If she’s not, I’ll fight the lawyers for you, if that’s what it takes. I bet I can get my cousins on board, too.”
“Just what we need, the whole crew of Blackthorn kids stepping up for the guy who used to ruin their fun. I don’t want you doing anymore fighting, Clee. I can handle my own battles.”
I stroke his beard. “You’ll always be worth the fight. And we’ll figure the rest out.”
“The rest, right,” he repeats. “Kit’s going to be thrilled.”
“She’s a sweet little bee, Holden. I love her to death.”
“She likes you too.” There’s a gleam in his eye that gives me the shakiest smile.
I slide off him, curling into the space he makes for me at his side. He rolls over, holding me close, my back to his chest.
“Hey, Holden,” I say.
“Yeah?”
“You said you loved me earlier. Can I hear it again?”
He pauses. I feel his smile against my hair. “Good night, Clee. Love you like mad.”
“I love you, too,” I whisper.
For the first time in days, I drift off peacefully.
The next morning, we wake up and fuck slowly in the morning light, basking in the warmth of each other.
Then he orders a quick grocery delivery and makes us huge omelets while I sit at the table, idly talking about the next art project I’d love to do with Kit.
I’m no idiot. I know we haven’t figured everything out yet.
There’s still so much we don’t know about how this will work, and there are a ton of details.
Like whether I’m going to move in permanently, whether we’re going to take it slow or keep moving at the speed of light.
I know what I prefer.
Once I’m in, I’m in.
I’ve never felt like this about any man before. And after everything that just happened, I want to put the storm behind us and move on.
Let Holden pave over the horror and loss with happy memories.
I just need him to agree. To recognize that we can be happy.
That’s always been the tricky part.
He’s just plating up our food when the unit’s intercom rings. We both tense. Holden’s gaze flashes to me.
“Expecting someone?”
“No.” I shake my head. The fear I’ve been pushing back comes racing to the front of my mind.
Holden’s hand goes to the waistband of his pants, the bulge that tells me he still has a gun there.
Before, I’d be scandalized.
Now, though, I’m glad he’s packing. My heart hammers in my chest.
He moves deceptively slow as the intercom buzzes again.
“I’ll get it,” he says, voice nice and easy, like he’s soothing a skittish animal. He stops by me briefly, smoothing a hand over my hair and kissing my forehead.
Then he walks over and presses the button for the speaker. “Yeah? Who is it?”
“Is Cleo Blackthorn there?”
I recognize the voice, an older man.
“Dad?” I gasp.
Holden looks at me as I mouth ‘send him up!’ A second later, I unlatch the door and throw it open.
My father storms in, stops, and stares. The way we’re both in our pj’s, Holden shirtless, gives it all away.
Oof.
My cheeks flare.
Dad looks Holden up and down, his eyes sharp and assessing.
“Suppose I should thank you. Guess you’re the big hero who kept my daughter safe, after all,” he says, dispelling any doubt I had about what he knows.
“Guess so.” Holden shuts the door, his voice equally cool.
Dad turns to me.
“Had a hell of a time finding you, girl,” he huffs.
Holden stiffens, but I shake my head.
“Hi, Dad,” I say cautiously. “How did you find us?”
“I hounded the cops all night, for one. Pulled every string the Blackthorn name can pluck. I knew you’d be with Verity, and when I heard the big ruckus in the news, I figured you were in trouble. Couldn’t leave you hanging, Cleo.”
I’m silent, still words bubbling in my throat.
But Dad doesn’t seem mad at me.
If anything, he looks distressed, running a hand through his hair and pacing back and forth across the room.
Holden moves beside me—easily in reach if I need him—but still far enough away so he’s not intruding.
“Dad—” I swallow thickly.
“No, me first. I’m a fucking fool, Cleopatra,” he growls.
Whatever else I expected him to say, that isn’t it. I go silent.
“I could’ve prevented this whole damn thing—and you, risking getting yourself killed over that stupid treasure.”
“But I didn’t die, Dad. And I wasn’t exactly open with what I’d inherited, so that’s on me,” I say, knowing I need to speak before Holden snaps.