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 dunno, Margot. Don’t think I’m going to get a hot husband out of it. You were lucky.” Idly, I swirl my finger over the rim of my cup.
“Don’t I know it! And I’d do it all over again. Creepy locals and AI deranged nutjobs are no match for true love.” She sighs fondly.
“You’re way more chill than I would’ve been.” I smile and shake my head.
I don’t know why that makes me sad. Nobody walked into their little inheritance challenge thinking they’d wind up married.
Especially in her case.
I seriously doubt Gramps ever meant to play matchmaker with her like he did with Ethan and Hattie.
And in my case, it’s not even that. We just tripped and fell into hot, reckless sex and a lot of mistakes.
But staring at Margot, I wonder if her life’s going to my head.
I keep hearing this tiny, nagging voice in my head. The one that insists Holden could be the one, if only he weren’t as stubborn as a bison.
The thought of losing him turns my heart to ash, even if there’s every reason in the world to walk away.
I try to make small talk, asking about her latest wins in the shoe world. Aside from the hot husband and cute kids, that’s another windfall Margot never expected.
Her shoe design career was about as stagnant as my art before it took off.
She never imagined she’d become a goddess to an army of little girls who now have pretty orthopedic shoes to wear thanks to hers.
I’m a little jealous and a lot awestruck at how well she has her shit together.
“You’re quiet today.” She smiles at me. “What did he leave you? If you don’t mind me asking…”
Right.
PopPop.
“It got tangled up with legal stuff for a while, but… you won’t believe it.” I take a deep breath and tell her about the Hera Egg.
Honestly, it’s a relief to talk to someone about it who isn’t Holden or Jasper Fairfax. Even if she can’t do anything to help, just her knowing takes the crushing burden off my shoulders.
By the end, her eyes are wide, flashing with excitement.
“Holy crap,” she breathes. “That’s way more intense than the lake house.”
“It’s a lot. But you had it worse with the crazy people.”
“Yeah, but we figured out who was causing us trouble and dealt with it. You still don’t know? They just broke in after you turned down the offer? Holy hell. I think I know where I’d be looking.”
“Well, we don’t know if it’s connected. I kind of doubt it,” I say, but I wonder myself.
Holden certainly seems to think so, and for all I know, he’s right.
I just don’t feel it, the possibility that Fairfax could be shady. Rotten enough to risk hurting people.
“Either way, scary,” she whispers.
“For sure. But I think we’re closing in on settling this. There’s a New York art museum I’m looking at, a smaller one. They want to pay me to display it, and with security being a really big deal there, it might be perfect.” I laugh a little, almost like the thought that it could be over makes me nervous. “I’d be lost without Holden. He’s been so good through all this with the security stuff.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” Margot lights up. “Holden Verity. Wouldn’t be Gramps if it didn’t come with all sorts of trouble. And I don’t mean your bandits.”
My cheeks flare.
Oh God, is it that obvious?
She knows.
Of course, she does. She had it easy with Holden, too, when she was the best-behaved kid growing up. He never had to babysit her like he did with me.
I’ve been careful when I mention him, but Margot reads me like a book. She notices how I avoid mentioning him too much.
But what the hell, maybe I wanted to have this conversation.
I’ve been flailing. Stuck in an endless loop of not being able to talk to anyone about it, and I could use an outside perspective.
Even if it’s a little ‘this is how you get over him’ advice. Because right now I feel like the biggest sucker alive.
“He’s not trouble. Not like that,” I tell her.
“You sure?” She props her chin on her hand. “What exactly have you been doing with Holden Verity when you’re not chasing treasure, Clee?”
Fucking.
Repeatedly.
And then fucking up. Also repeatedly.
“For real, if I wasn’t married, I might climb that man like a koala.” She laughs when I don’t answer. “Did you know I had a little crush on him growing up? Just a silly thing, but man…”
Oh, I get it now. I understand it all too well.
Only, my crush is so much worse because it’s based on reality.
“Do I even want to know?” I counter.
“He’s dreamy. And you’re telling me he’s just your bodyguard?”
“What else? Though I’d say he’s more the egg’s bodyguard than mine.”
Nice one, Cleo. Smooth.
You know what, screw it. “But actually… he’s become a bit more than that. I’m not sure anymore, to be honest. It’s crazy.”