“For God’s sake, Abby. Last night was incredible.” Gage caught her face between his big hands and kissed her, long and deep. “I’m hard right now just looking at you. I can imagine a hundred different ways I want to have you.” He glanced toward the desk with a hot gleam in his eyes, and Abby flushed.

“I was an idiot this morning,” he said. “The nightmares . . . I don’t like thinking about the past. It isn’t fair you should have to deal with it too.” He ran a finger down her cheek, and she felt a warm shiver. “There’s no way to know how long this thing between us will last, but if you’re willing to put up with my . . . baggage, my bed is exactly where I want you to be.”

The pinch in her chest said how much she wanted the same thing. Her heart squeezed. She was in so much trouble with this man. “What about the treasure?”

Tension settled in his thick shoulders. “Let’s go see what’s in the box. The bank’s not open yet. While we’re waiting, we’ll pay a little visit to your cousin Jude.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

ABBY CLICKED HER SEAT BELT IN PLACE AS GAGE BACKED THE ROVER out of the garage.

“What’s the address?” he asked.

“I don’t know the exact address offhand. It’s on North Williams, right across the street from Little Cheesman Park.”

Gage headed in that direction, turned onto the street in front of the park, and drove slowly so she could find the house.

“Right there.” She pointed toward a stately old two-story, redbrick-and-stucco home that sat among a row of well-cared-for older residences.

“Nice neighborhood, and not cheap by the looks of the homes around it.”

“The houses here are worth over a million.”

Gage flicked her a sideways glance. “You said your cousin lived with his parents, so this is their place?”

“His mother’s house. Aunt Olivia is a widow. The house belonged to my uncle Joseph, King’s nephew. The home has been in the family for several generations.”

“Plenty of room for Jude,” Gage drawled. “Though I couldn’t imagine living with my mama when I was thirty years old.”

Abby smiled. “That’s because you’re a man, and Jude has never grown up.”

“He’s obviously a greedy little prick without much of a conscience or he wouldn’t have sent his thugs after you in the first place.” Gage cracked open his door and stepped out on the pavement in front of the house. Abby climbed out and joined him.

They walked up a concrete path that crossed a wide expanse of neatly trimmed lawn, up the steps to a covered front porch. Ignoring the bell, Gage hammered on the door.