“That white Toyota?”
“Is mine. Yes. I’m so sorry; I didn’t know what else to do. I saw your cabin just as the sun was setting and thought maybe someone here could help me. But then it got dark and no one was here and I—I’m sorry. I was only going to stay until morning, I swear.”
Adrian considered the situation. Logically, letting it slide made no sense. This woman had broken into and slept in his family’s cabin. If this were any other instance, he’d be tempted to call the police. But either she was an extremely good actress or her embarrassment and remorse at getting lost the previous night was genuine. This woman was no burglar.
“It’s okay,” he said.
She tucked her hair behind her ear, hugged her coat to her chest, and stared uncomfortably at the rug.
Adrian cleared his throat. “I saw your truck out there. I wondered if you were having some car trouble.”
“More like navigational trouble.”
Adrian dipped his fingers in his pocket. “Is there anything I can do to help? Give you directions?”
“I was trying to make my way to Two Pines.”
His hometown? “You’re about an hour out,” he said.
Her eyes widened. “An hour? So much for GPS.” After an exhale and a glance around the room, she lifted her phone. “You wouldn’t happen to have a portable charger with you, would you?”
“Sadly, no. But if you’ll allow me a minute or two here, you can follow me when I make my way back into town.”
Her face relaxed into overwhelmed surprise. “You’d do that?”
Her enthusiasm was so innocent; it drew a smile from him. “Of course,” he said. “I’ll be headed that direction anyway.” His family didn’t live directly in Two Pines, but he had to drive through town to make it back to the ranch. Might as well give her a hand.
If she wondered why he’d driven all this way to stay only a minute or two, she didn’t say as much. He never would have made such a trip if he hadn’t thought the lockbox would be here.
After their dad’s death, the Bear brothers had been approached by their father’s attorney to relay the contents of the family trust. While his brothers had been gifted resources and ownership of their dad’s rather substantial properties, Adrian’s inheritance had been a single line: the lockbox.
When they’d inspected his dad’s vault, there was no lockbox. The bank said he’d removed it some time before, which now left Adrian with the question—where was it? More importantly, what did it contain?
CHAPTER THREE
ADRIAN WASN’T SURE HOW TO search for the lockbox without this woman noticing. Then again, what did it matter if she knew why he was here? Once he got her to town, he’d probably never see her again.
“I’ll just—” He gestured behind him.
“Right,” she said, cottoning on to his meaning. “I’ll find the bathroom, if that’s okay. Is there a bathroom?”
“Down the hall,” he said, “though I can’t guarantee you’ll have hot water.”
She trailed off in the direction he pointed, and he took advantage of her absence to begin his search. He ducked to peer beneath the bed. Then he rifled through the dresser drawers and among the blankets in the closet. No lockbox.
Adrian made his way through the other two bedrooms, sweeping through any area he thought the box might have been tucked away in, including the linen closet. Aside from towels, sheets, and a handful of board games, it wasn’t there either.
He marched out into the sunny kitchen and began ransacking cabinets. The lockbox wasn’t likely to be stashed away in there with the bowls and plates, but it didn’t hurt to check. One cupboard offered a box of instant oatmeal and several granola bars. Evidence it hadn’t been that long since Chase and Kimmy, his brother and sister-in-law, had brought the kids here.
Footsteps creaked on the wood behind him, but the woman’s growling stomach was louder.
Adrian glanced back. She’d managed to comb through and tame her long, golden locks. Most of the women he associated with in the business realm of things had chic, modern styles to their hair, keeping it shoulder-length or shorter. This woman allowed hers to hang freely, to cascade down her back. He found himself mesmerized by it, the way he might feel unexpectedly stumbling upon a hidden waterfall.
“You hungry?” he asked.
She crossed her arms over her stomach. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
He narrowed his eyes. Stuck on the side of the road late last night, she probably hadn’t had anything to eat since whatever dinner she might have had.
“Here.” He retrieved a bowl from the cupboard, rinsed it with soap, and dried it before passing it to her. He also turned to retrieve the strawberry-flavored oatmeal and offered it. “It’s not much, but it will tide you over until we get back to town. You can use the microwave to heat up your water if you want.” He gestured to the amenity on the counter. His dad had taken great pains to ensure the cabin was furnished with electricity and indoor plumbing. Might as well use it.
The woman paused before giving in. She filled the bowl with water, placed it in the microwave, and sixty or so seconds later, retrieved it and emptied a few packets to be stirred in.
“You must come up here a lot if you leave food here,” she said.
“That was probably my brother’s. He brings his family here. I haven’t been here in years.”
She swirled the bowl’s contents with a spoon and settled onto the nearest chair at the dining table. “Then whatever you’re looking for has been missing for a while, I take it.”
Adrian stiffened. He’d hoped she wouldn’t pry. He wasn’t ready to talk about his late father with anyone, beautiful stranger or no. “Something like that.”
She took a bite of the oatmeal. “My name is Goldie, by the way. Goldie Bybanks.”
Adrian paused in his search of the cupboards, crossed to her, and offered his hand. “Adrian Bear.”
She slid her smaller hand into his. A rush coursed through him at the touch of her soft skin. She was attractive, there was no denying it. For a moment he considered asking her to the fundraiser that evening. Anyone would be better than Danica Foster, the woman his mom wanted him to take.
Goldie ate in silence as Adrian finished searching the cabinets and shelves, along with the closet space where blankets, fishing poles, ropes, knives, a roll of garbage bags, a first aid kit, fire starters, and other necessities were kept stocked. There was still no sign of a small gray lockbox.
“What are you looking for?” Goldie stood at the sink, rinsing her dish. That hadn’t taken her long. She must really have been hungry.
“Something my father left for me.” Adrian hoped it was enough of an answer. He preferred not to leave any openings for continual questions.
“Oh,” she said, making her way to the living room off from the kitchen. Adrian joined her, ready to tackle the cabinets there. This was the last space in the cabin. If that lockbox wasn’t in here, it wasn’t anywhere.
“You said you haven’t been here in years? If I had a place like this…” She lifted her bag from the chair and settled herself into it.
It was Adrian’s chair, really, the place that had been designated for him so long ago. The place he’d sat when his dad had told him in front of everyone—including Chase’s new wife—that it was time he settled down and stopped pursuing dreams.
That had been his last time here. His last visit home.
“Now I think you’re the one who’s lost,” she said.
“Hmm?” Adrian shook himself out of his stupor of thoughts. He was kneeling in front of the cabinet to the left of the fireplace, not remembering how he’d gotten there. She crouched beside him, examining the oak door as though she discerned something there he didn’t. Then she opened it and peered at the books inside.
“Buried treasure? No—one of the last remaining original copies of Grimm’s Fairytales. Ooo, I’ve got it. Maybe it’s your secret stash of lottery tickets.”
He leaned back
on his heels. “What are you doing?”
She gripped the edge of the cabinet and shrugged. “Trying to guess what you’re searching for. Am I close?”
Adrian couldn’t hold back his amusement. “About as close as Jupiter.”
Her lips stretched into a smile, displaying perfect teeth.
“Your guesses sounded much more interesting than what it actually is.”
“Glad to hear it.”
He knew she was curious, but he was relieved she didn’t press him. This woman, striking as she was, knew nothing about him, and he knew nothing about her. She was probably just trying to make conversation.
He had to admit, part of him wanted to tell her, though he couldn’t understand why. Since his father’s death, he’d kept things pretty close to the chest, even with his family. Why did he feel like spilling the beans to this stranger?
He decided to play it off.
“You got me. It’s lottery tickets,” he deflected, glancing around and doing his best to ram away his frustration. If it wasn’t at the ranch, and it wasn’t here, where was the blasted thing?
“Ah. I knew it.” Her tone said she didn’t, however, and he liked her playful way of brushing it off.
Goldie tucked a long strand of hair behind her ear. Her gaze swept across the space as though she was ready to leave. Good, so was he.
Adrian gave the place a final once-over. “That’ll do it, I think. Ready to go?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Bag in hand, she made her way out onto the porch.
“What were you doing all the way out here if you’re headed for Two Pines?” he asked, closing the door. This time, he double-checked the locks to make sure things were secure.
It had probably been one of Chase’s girls who’d left the door unlocked, though he couldn’t say that had been a bad thing, necessarily. Goldie had been in need. At least she’d been able to find somewhere safe for the night. It was also fortunate his father had kept the place furnished the way he’d always insisted on.
“I’ve been on a road trip of sorts,” she said. The gravel path was too narrow for them to walk side by side. Adrian paused, indicating for her to take the path first. He couldn’t help watching her golden hair sway with each of her lilting steps.
“That’s right,” Adrian said. “You had Wisconsin plates. You moving out here or something?”
She lowered her head. “I came out to see my aunt.”
Adrian’s brows rose. “You guys must be close if you came all the way out here to see her.”
“I guess.” Abruptly, she ended the topic. Her haphazard tone gave him the impression he wasn’t the only one keeping things close to the chest. Fair enough. Once he got her back to town, that would be that.
***
“This is me.” Adrian gestured to the blue Hummer with its masculine grill and square frame, as though they were in a parking lot full of other options. “You see your truck from here?”
Goldie nodded, glancing in its direction across the trees. Her white Toyota was right where she’d left it, stalwart and loyal. The distance was farther than she’d thought. Had she really trekked that far in the dark?
She wasn’t sure how to move. A pulsing, grasping hesitation between them gaped, as though neither was sure how to break the awkward silence. She certainly wasn’t. With the way his dark hair, jawline dusted with a days’ growth, inquisitive hazel eyes and full lips weakened her knees, she was ready to get lost all over again.
The morning had been completely off-putting. Then again, this entire trip had been the same way. She had yet to settle into a place where she felt comfortable since she’d left home, though she had to admit, talking to Adrian had soothed her somewhat. He seemed nice, and he had gone along with her questions. He’d even offered her breakfast—of sorts.
“I see it,” she said.
“I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.” He slid on a pair of sunglasses that accented his features and gave him an edge of seriousness. His hair was slicked off to one side, and the whole look made her feel like melted butter. Seriously, had any guy ever affected her like this before? “Then you can just follow me down.”
It took her a minute to shake off the effect of the sunglasses and kick her brain back into gear. “Sounds good. Uh, Adrian?”
He paused on the way to his car and peered over his shoulder.
“Thanks. You know, for everything. Not many people would just accept a total stranger breaking into their space and sleeping there. You’ve been more than generous.”
“It wasn’t a problem,” he said. “I’m only glad you had somewhere safe to sleep.” He fiddled with his key fob for a moment before taking a few steps back in her direction. His returning proximity ratcheted her pulse. “I hope this isn’t too forward of me, but can I have your number? That way I can give you a call if we get separated for any reason before I get you where you need to go.”
Goldie nibbled her lower lip. Oh, but he was smooth. Why, no, she didn’t mind giving her number to this sizzlingly gorgeous, unfamiliar person who’d been completely chill about her breaking and entering. Assuming she was able to charge her phone once she made it to her truck.
“I promise that’s the only reason,” he added with a smirk.
“I would never have thought otherwise,” she teased before reciting her digits to him. Adrian tapped them into his phone, repeating her name as he added her to his contacts.
“And yours?” she said.
“You need mine?”
“You’ve been more than generous to someone you don’t even know. I’d like to make it up to you somehow.” As a high school English teacher, she didn’t have much to spare, but she’d always loved to bake. Once she got to Aunt Bethany’s, she could whip up a batch of her drool-worthy chocolate chip cookies and bring some out to him—wherever that was.
He waved away the offer. “No need. I’m happy I was able to help.”
A twinge of disappointment tingled through her, but she did her best to brush it off. Did he think she would misuse his number if she had it? She supposed he was right not to trust her too much. She had broken into his family’s cabin, after all.
“Ready?” he said.
“I’ll follow your lead.”
He inclined his head with a withdrawn little smile.
CHAPTER FOUR
GOLDIE FOLLOWED ADRIAN’S REAR LIGHTS as closely as she dared, not wanting to lose sight of him for an instant. A peculiar, fluttery burning hadn’t stopped in her stomach since their conversation outside his cabin.
Who kept something like that stocked and furnished for the possibility they would stop by and use it on the occasional weekend? Most people Goldie knew could barely afford rent for themselves, let alone a secluded cabin. From the state of his family’s cabin, the cut of his clothes, and the style of his car, she’d guess Adrian Bear was loaded.
She considered slowing down, purposefully getting stuck behind a meandering semi-truck for the sole purpose of forcing him to call her so she would have his number in her phone, but thought better of it. He was a steady driver, easy to follow. Besides, she didn’t want to seem any more helpless than she already did. She wasn’t completely incompetent.
Her phone began to chime with a number she didn’t recognize. Her heart gave a little flip. With trembling fingers, she swiped against the screen.
“Hello?”
The answering voice was deeply pleasant and charmingly familiar. “Goldie? It’s Adrian. I never asked you specifically where you needed to end up.”
She bit her lip. He intended to see her all the way there? Her signal was back again, and she very well could have found her aunt’s house on her own from here, but she wasn’t about to admit as much.
True, she didn’t want to seem incompetent, but she had to admit, she wanted the excuse to see him a final time. She hadn’t been kidding when she said she wanted to do something to make it up to him. And according to one of her students, her cookies were comparable to eternal hap
piness. Or maybe she could make him some pull-apart monkey bread, the kind drizzled with caramel sauce.
She recalled the address from her aunt’s email. “321 Columnar Street.”
That was what she would do. She had his number now. Once she got settled in at her aunt’s house, she’d see about taking him something as a thank you gesture.
Adrian led the way through the small town that reminded her so much of Baldwin it wasn’t funny. There were only a handful of stoplights along Main Street where traffic was probably at its thickest. An Albertsons and small Walmart nestled together alongside a shoe store. Several token fast-food restaurants lined the corners, and then the buildings thinned again, making way for homes.
Each home was small, many with an old bungalow style. Single and squat, with pointed windows and brick porches. One house had a tower on its side and Goldie longed to knock on the door just for a glimpse of the interior. Because that wouldn’t be creepy at all. She wondered if her aunt lived in one of these antique homes.
Adrian’s blinker signaled at the street labeled Columnar, and Goldie’s pulse hitched up that much higher. This was worse than going to her class reunion, at which she hadn’t lasted longer than twenty minutes. What was so hard about putting herself out there to meet someone new? Especially someone who knew things about her own life that she didn’t?
His Hummer slowed, its brake lights reddening as it came to a stop. He’d left enough room for her to pull her little Toyota behind him. She took in the small house with blue siding they’d stopped in front of. The yard was well-kept, though small. The flowerbeds were tended and bursting with peonies.
Adrian exited his vehicle with both confidence and coolness at once and strutted his way to her window.
“Is this it?” he asked, once she’d rolled it down.
Her nerves were beginning to tap dance. “I’ll find out. Thanks again, for everything.”
She cut the ignition and waved to a couple of neighborhood kids who slowed on their bikes to gawk at her. Any minute now, Adrian would bid her goodbye and be off. Undoubtedly, he had other—better—things to do. Instead, he hung back, leaning against his car.
Goldie And The Billionaire Bear (Once Upon A Billionaire Book 1) Page 2
