I blink at the note. Then blink again. Nothing in it makes sense. The last few years were pure heartache for him? Ha. And Daren is a good soul that he trusts beyond measure? Double ha.
There’s no way in hell I’m showing Daren this note. The last thing that guy needs is more air to fill his big head.
At the bottom right-hand corner of the paper is the word “Through” written in black marker and the number fourteen written below that. Just that one word and number. Nothing else. I turn the paper over but it’s blank on the other side. Through fourteen? Weird.
Folding up the note, I quickly tuck it into my purse and glance at Daren. He’s staring at his own letter, looking perplexed.
I nod at his note. “What does it say?”
He blinks up at me then swiftly shoves the note into his pocket. “Nothing. Let’s see what’s in this last envelope.” Reaching into the suitcase, he grabs the remaining envelope, opens it, and pulls out yet another note from within.
As we lean in to read it, our shoulders brush. His body heat wraps around me in the small hallway, tucking me into his citrus scent and I’m momentarily distracted.
No.
I shake myself.
I will not like him—or his awesome-smelling soap, or shampoo, or whatever that heavenly orange scent is coming from.
Getting a grip, I focus on the words scrawled out in my father’s handwriting.
Daren and Kayla,
You’ve agreed to be handcuffed together! I can’t tell you how pleased I am by this. I realize handcuffs are uncomfortable and quite distasteful, but I wanted you to take this inheritance seriously. More importantly, I wanted you to work as a team. Because life is a series of working with others to achieve mutual goals. And that is lesson number one. The money I’ve left you is elsewhere. Use the enclosed key to open #23 at the train station.
Daren shakes the envelope, and an oddly shaped golden key falls into his palm. It’s large and heavy, with a square top and thick teeth. I’ve never seen anything like it.
He holds it up with a small smile. “Well now we know where the money is.”
“I guess we do.” I inhale deeply, my spirits lifting to crazy levels of giddiness as I stare at the key. This is really happening. My life is really going to change.
“You okay?” Daren cocks his head.
“Yeah.” A slow smile stretches across my face. “I’m good. Just excited, that’s all.”
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go find us an inheritance!” He tucks the key in his pocket and moves to stand.
I follow suit but as I try to pull myself up, my heels wobble and I lose my balance and fall back. My chained wrist pulls Daren down with me but where he kind of slides to the floor on his knees, I end up landing square on my butt with my legs sprawled beneath me and my skirt hiked up to the palest skin of my thighs.
Daren looks at me with a suppressed laugh and throws my words from earlier back at me. “Real smooth.”
“Hey,” I snap. “It’s really hard to get off the floor when you’re handcuffed and wearing heels and a skirt.”
He stands. “Oh I have no doubt. That’s why I opted for my casual shoes today.” He mocks, “They don’t do much for my calves but they’re quite comfortable, and they go with everything.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.” His eyes skim my naked thighs and his smile shifts from amusement to appreciation.
I yank the tight material of my skirt down as far as possible and he clears his throat and moves his eyes back to mine.
“Here.” He has his genuine smile back on. “Give me your hand.” He reaches for my left hand as he threads his fingers through my cuffed right one. Then he starts to pull me up.
It’s a practical gesture but it feels intimate. His fingers, laced between mine, are big and warm as they fold over the back of my hand and lift me up.
I manage to stand without flashing him or toppling over. “Thanks.”
Once we’re on our feet, we quickly untangle our hands. As his fingers slide out of mine and his skin rubs against my skin, something low in my belly twitches. My eyes drift up the sinewy muscles of his forearm and bicep, across the thick muscles of his chest, and down his lean stomach to his hips where he’s brushing dust off his jeans. For a brief second, I wonder what those hips would look like without jeans on. Then I mentally slap myself.
This is Daren Ackwood, for God’s sake. Mr. Sleeps-With-The-Whole-Town. I will not get sucked into his funnel of good looks and sexy hips.
I glance him over again and frown. Goddamn Daren and his bandit kissing, getting my body all worked up and bringing on unsolicited belly twitches. I really need to get away from his fingers and hips, STAT.
“Let’s hurry up and finish this.” I start tugging him back toward the front door.
“Yes, ma’am. But first?” He stops walking and the handcuffs snap me back. “I’m going to find my baseball cards.”
“What?”
“You heard me.” He moves in front of me and marches down the hallway, whipping me behind him.
“No way,” I say as I’m reluctantly towed behind him by our steel restraints. “We don’t have time for you to play card detective.”
He doesn’t look back. “Sure we do.”
“What is with you and these baseball cards?” I say. “You’d think you were twelve by the way you’re so emotionally attached to these things.”
He looks over his shoulder and grins. “I have attachment issues, remember?”
I roll my eyes.
“Seriously, though. They were a Christmas present I got when I was thirteen. All valuable collector’s cards.” He takes us back into the living room where he opens the cabinet in the corner and starts going through the shelves. “I barely had a chance to enjoy them before your dad jacked them.”
I nod. “Uh-huh. And why, exactly, did he ‘jack’ them?” I make air quotes and Daren frowns at my fingers.
“He jacked them,” he says, “because he thought I was too spoiled to appreciate them.”
I snort. “You probably were.”
“I was.” He nods. “At the time.”
I raise a brow. “You admit you were spoiled?”
“Oh yeah. I was totally spoiled.” He shrugs. “Growing up, my parents bought me anything I wanted whenever I wanted, as long as it kept me out of their way. I had all the money and freedom in the world. And I took it all for granted.”