Page 150 of Buried Too Deep

It was a five-strand string of pearls, the quality so much better than the single strand that she wore every day. She’d seen these before. Many times, in fact.

She reached out and hovered one finger over them, wanting to touch, but not daring. “They were my great-great-grandmother’s. She’s wearing them in her portrait in the living room. Family lore says that they disappeared after her death. Her brother was suspected of stealing them. He was a pirate, according to the stories. If he did steal them, they never left the house.”

“Is that all that’s in there?” Val asked, as if Cora hadn’t said a word.

“ ’Fraid so,” Phin said, pulling the drawer out as far as it would go. “Empty.”

“Dammit,” Burke said with frustration.

Dammit?

Oh right. They’d been hoping for clues left by her father.

Cora would be disappointed in a moment. For now, all she could think was that she could sell those pearls and replace the trust money she’d put into the house’s new roof. And more. So much more.

An idea popped into her head, thrilling her. This was such a big house. It could shelter a lot of people. More than just me. People who needed help. A fresh start.

A safe place.

The idea needed time to percolate. There would be paperwork. So much paperwork. It would cost a lot of money. But now she’d have some more money.

She had options.

Phin put the lid back on the box and handed it to her with an indulgent smile. “Merry Christmas, Cora Jane. How many repairs will this necklace buy?”

She grinned at him, the worries of the day temporarily put aside. She got him, but he got her, too. This man was a keeper and she intended to try to do just that. “A lot. With a lot left over.”

Burke sighed. “I’d say we should keep looking at boxes, but I think I’m done for the night. Let’s lock up. Molly’s downstairs. She’ll stay with you tonight.”

Phin caught her looking at him and nodded once. He’d stay, too.

She’d get to sleep again. Maybe not on the floor this time.

She held the box gingerly in one hand, her emotions on a roller-coaster high. She’d crash sooner or later, but for now, she felt downright giddy, like she’d had too much champagne.

She grabbed his neck with her free hand and pulled him in for a kiss that felt both celebratory and…more. He smiled against her lips before cupping her face in his big hands and kissing her back.

The kiss became hot immediately and Cora barely heard the groans around her. Barely felt Burke take the box of pearls from her hand, only vaguely hearing his promise to lock them in his home safe.

Barely heard the footsteps as the others stomped down the stairs.

Barely heard Val say, “Guys, take it downstairs. We’re locking this door behind us, just in case we get more unwanted visitors tonight.”

Phin pulled back, breathing hard, his cheeks flushed and his eyes dark with desire. “I’ll lock up, Val,” he said without taking his gaze off Cora’s. “See you tomorrow.” He took one more hard kiss that left Cora’s lips tingling. “Come on. Let’s go somewhere that’s softer than this hardwood floor.”

Cora rose and tugged him to his feet. “I know just the place.”

20

The Garden District, New Orleans, Louisiana

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 12:10 A.M.

PHIN HAD ENOUGH FOCUS TO lock the door to the attic—one of the new locks he’d installed himself—but every remaining brain cell was focused on Cora Jane Winslow and the way she was kissing him.

He wasn’t sure what had prompted this explosion of passion, but he wasn’t going to question it now. His skin felt fizzy with sensation, his thoughts short-circuiting.

Every ounce of blood had fled his brain for his cock. He hadn’t felt like this—so alive—in so damn long. Maybe ever.

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