“Lionel called,” Trevor said.
“Okay,” Emma said, cautiously, not entirely sure yet exactly what he was frowning about. But given the phone still in his hand, Emma could hazard a guess it wasn’t going to be good. “Wishing us a happy holiday, was he?” Her attempt to lighten the mood fell flat, but his expression did smooth a little.
“I debated on answering it, but I know I’ve put you in an awkward and potentially costly situation with him, so I thought a good offense would be your best defense.”
She appreciated that he’d thought of her. It hadn’t occurred to her what her liaison with Trevor might cost her, in terms of her new career, but she realized she didn’t much care. Some things were more important, and what Lionel Hamilton thought of her was quickly becoming unimportant. “Not so much, huh?”
“Not so much.”
Emma grabbed two towels and handed him one. Better to keep going through the motions of things being normal. Which was sort of ridiculous since nothing about being here was part of her own personal normal. She started rubbing Jack down. “What did he say about you being here?”
“I told him why I was here.”
“Which went over marvelously, apparently.”
“Actually, he was surprised I was still thinking about it. It’s been a number of years since the subject has come up.”
“But he still wouldn’t tell you. He does know the truth, right?”
“I assume so, but I’m not sure. I know he knows there are things in our family history he’s not particularly proud of, and he’s an intensely proud man. Which is mostly why he’d just as soon I forget my little hunt and pretend I’m fine with who I am and what I was born into. It flabbergasts him that I’d want to believe any different.”
“Do you?” She rocked back on her haunches when he frowned at her. “I mean, what are you hoping to find? That you really are a Hamilton, or that you’re from some other genetic pool?”
“I—I don’t know, really. I mean, I’ve asked myself that. A thousand times. But I’ve grown up a lot in the past six or seven years, and I’m looking more to my future than to my past. It’s more just an old doubt that I need to lay to rest, I guess.”
“What did Lionel say about it?”
“He told me that while he didn’t appreciate my subterfuge, he wanted me to just be done with it, once and for all, then never speak of it again.”
Emma smiled. “Not a surprise, given what you’ve said about him. So…did you tell him you’d found the hidden room in his study?”
“I didn’t mention the avalanche, but yes.”
“And?”
“And he’s rightfully pissed off that I was snooping in what wasn’t mine, but he didn’t bluster too much when I reminded him that I wouldn’t have needed to snoop if he had just treated this like the adult conversation it should have been, years ago, and told me what he knew.”
Emma patted Jack on the head and scratched at his ears, then pushed to a stand. “Why do you think he won’t? I mean, I know he’s a proud man, but…do you think that whatever you unwittingly prodded him to uncover would rock the family in some other way? And, by extension, the foundation of Hamilton Industries?”
Trevor stopped rubbing Martha and looked at her. “You know…I never really thought about that. I mean, it’s a couple generations past, so far as I know, so I wouldn’t think so, but—”
“So, legally, it could still matter. If the liaison was something that might jeopardize true ownership of the company, or something earthshaking like that. Maybe it’s not just a matter of him being embarrassed by family skeletons, but there’s something serious and specific he doesn’t want to get out. Any idea who the adulterous liaison in question might have been with? A rival of some sort, perhaps?”
Trevor tossed the damp towel on the laundry pile with the others and shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
Emma was momentarily distracted by the realization when his pants rode down to reveal…more skin, that he wasn’t wearing anything under his jeans.
“Like I said, it was generations ago. I’m not sure how it would still be that critical.”
“Hamilton Industries is more than a few generations old.”
“True, but aren’t there limits on certain things?”
“Legally, maybe. But this is a small county, with close ties. It might not matter what the law says. People’s opinion does hold a lot of sway and everybody loves a scandal.”
Trevor sighed, then swore under his breath. “Everything you’re saying…thinking back over my conversations with Lionel…I think you might be right. I can’t believe I never went in that direction.”
“Why would you have? All you wanted to know was who was in your direct lineage. Did he tell you where the answers were?”
“He said everything I needed to know was in the hidden room.”
Emma’s gaze jerked up to his. “Then why are we standing here?”
“Because,” he said, a hint of a smile coming out now. “Perversely, now that I’ve been handed the key to unlock my own personal kingdom, given what you’ve just said, I’m not sure I want to know what I’ve inherited.”
Emma smiled. “It’s perfectly normal to be nervous, but…you have to know. I mean, you do know that, right? You can’t let anything I’ve said change your mind. I know you’re looking to the future, and that’s right and good and healthy, but…this is a part of who you are.”
“More foundation talk?” he said, smiling, even though he was clearly distracted, his mind probably on new ideas, possible other answers.
“Yeah, of a sort. Do you want me to go with you? Or would you rather go through things alone?” Then another thought occurred to her. “Or…were you coming to tell me you wanted me to leave altogether? Did Lionel fire me for letting you in?”
Trevor reached for her then, and pulled her into his arms. It felt like forever since she’d been there, and she was very happy to be back.
“I did tell him you had nothing to do with letting me in. And no, he hasn’t fired you. In fact, he didn’t even ask after you. He’s not exactly known for treating his hired help like human beings, but then I gather you’ve noticed that.”
“So…he doesn’t know about—”
“Us?”
She smiled, she couldn’t help it. She liked that word. A lot. “Yeah. Us. Is that going to cause other problems for you?” She tried to move out of his arms, her smile fading. “Because this is a much bigger thing than you and I—”
“You and I are a very big thing. And, when Lionel finds out, he’ll feel about it however he feels. I’m not particularly concerned about that.”
“Okay,” she said, trusting him on that. Besides, she wasn’t going to fall apart if every last thing wasn’t perfect. It was pretty damn perfect enough.
“I will be honest and say that I’m not sure how it might impact your future business opportunities in Randolph County. Lionel can be…punitive. And since I don’t know what I’m going to find—”
She stopped him. “Why don’t you do that, then we’ll worry about my business opportunities or sudden lack thereof.”
He kissed her then, surprising her with the intensity of it.
“What was that for?”
“Your business opportunities or lack thereof are a real problem. What I find in that room is an ancient one. It’ll wait.”
“Trevor—”
“Let me ask you something, and I know it’s a bit over-reaching, all things considered, but…Does your family live here? In Virginia, I mean?”
She shook her head. “Connecticut. Much like you, I went to college here, stayed. I work with my college roommate, or did, for your uncle’s company. Chelsea still does, in HR, but I quit seven months ago after I inherited some money from my grandma on my mom’s side. I was good at my job, but I hated it. I love animals, and always wanted to work with them. I can’t stand to see them suffering though, so being a vet was out. I came up with the pet-sitting service idea and…” She smiled. “I’m babbling again.”
“You’re human. And I like mine imperfect.”
She laughed. “Well, you’re getting that with me in spades.”
“So…seven-month-old business.” He pulled her more tightly against him. “Did you know that there are pets in need of sitting in North Carolina? At least, I’m assuming there must be.”
“Huh,” she thought aloud, trying to be calm and casual, when her insides were erupting into a party of hope and expectation. Was he really saying what she thought he was saying? “Is that so?”
“I think it is quite probably so. Maybe you’d consider relocating. Just saying to think about it. We can figure things out long distance if you want, or I could even think about—”
She cut him off with a kiss. “Did I mention I love an adventure?”
“No. No, I don’t believe you did. But I’m immensely happy that you do. So, you’ll consider it? After we’ve had time to make sure that—”
“How much time would that be?”
He grinned. “Want to celebrate the new year in Chapel Hill? Test things out?”
“If we can celebrate after I’m done house-sitting.”
“That can be arranged.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You know, Santa is being very, very good to me this year.”
He scooped her up against him. “That Santa is a hell of a guy, I hear.”
“Well,” she said, kissing him, “he’s got some competition.”
The kiss started out gentle and sweet, but quickly turned into something fiery and passionate. He started to back walk her out of the kitchen, and toward the staircase leading upstairs.
“Trevor,” she said, sighing as he started his way along her neck with those kisses she already knew would drive her wild. “The hidden room. Your legacy.”
“Is in my arms.”
She melted a little, but moved away from his tempting lips all the same. “You want to know. It’s there for you.”
“I don’t think it’s going to change anything. Being a Hamilton or not. I mean, it is who I am, like it or not. It’s helped me, whether I’ve wanted it to or not. But I like who I’ve become, on my own, and whether or not there’s another surname out there I don’t know about that should rightfully be mine, what’s come to me through the family is mine. But that doesn’t matter now. Because I know what I am, and what I’m not.”
“What do you mean?”
“Whether I’m a Hamilton, or a Smith, or a Jones won’t change anything. My world is still in North Carolina, my life is my own, and that trust fund will stay where it is, because that’s the decision I’d make whether it’s rightfully mine by ancestry or not. I guess I’ve always known that. I just hadn’t come to terms with it.”
“What changed? Not what I said about Lionel hiding something, because—”
“It just put it in a different perspective for me, one I’ve been too narrow-minded and locked into past thinking to consider.”
“So, even if that other surname isn’t attached to you? But, maybe to some other branch of the family?”
He nodded. “It’s immaterial to who I am. It might be important to Lionel, and if that’s the case, I’ll respect that. I know it’s not how I want to define myself, it’s not how I have defined myself.”
“So…what will you do with it? Your Hamilton legacy, I mean.”
“The money?”
“And whatever other responsibilities or inheritances might be in your future, yes.”
“Keep them for our offspring?”
She laughed. “You really are forward-thinking.”
“Okay, let’s just say I’ll make sure it stays somewhere safe, on the off chance my progeny feels differently about his or her legacy than I do.” He tipped her face up to his. “Are you okay with that?”
“It’s not your money or your name I’m after, Mr. Smith.”
“Good.” His grin was quite suggestive. “So…what are you after, then?”
“Starting the new year in Chapel Hill. And the best chicken Marsala a girl can get.”
“Feeling lucky, are you?”
“Oh, there’s no feeling about it. Lottery winners the world over should envy me right now.”
“I rather like that notion.”
“So…upstairs? Or hidden room?”
“You know, whatever secrets Lionel might be protecting will be his cross to bear. That’s been his choice.”
“So, you’re not going to look.”
He shook his head. “No. I’m not going to look.”
She glanced over her shoulder, toward the hall leading to the study. “The whole secret room…”
He laughed. “It’s killing you, isn’t it?”
“I can’t believe it isn’t killing you. Just for curiosity’s sake.”
“How about this—come upstairs with me, and we’ll talk about the future.”
“Talk?”
“Amongst other things.”
He really did have the most wicked twinkle in his eyes.
“And then?”
“And then if you want to go treasure hunting, you can go while I cook.”
Her eyes widened. “You’d really let me go find out?”
“Just because I’ve decided not to doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know everything you might need to know about the family you’re entangling yourself with.”
“And if I find something…interesting?”
“Your call.”
“I’m warning you, no way will I be able to not tell you. I’m a terrible secret-keeper.”
“Okay.”
“You really are the most perverse man.”
“I know it seems that way, but honestly, my perspective has shifted into an entirely new orbit.” He tugged her up the stairs. “One that involves you, me, and whatever we might discover as we head down our path. It’s going to come with Hamilton stuff. And I hope it comes with a lot of Lafferty stuff, too. There will be good, and bad, and frustrating, and wonderful. But, at the core, it’s just us. That’s what I want to focus on.”
“Then you’d rather me not look?”
“I’m telling you that what matters is that we both do what we need to do, and the other of us will respect that. Want me to hunt with you?”
“I know it’s presumptuous of me to say this, but yes, I think you should know.”
“Okay.” He tucked her hand in his and they went back down the stairs.
“Right now?”
“Seems like as good a time as any. I don’t want you distracted when I take you back upstairs and have my way with you.”
“But—this could be a very momentous occasion.”
He swung around and brought her flush up against him. “The momentous occasion happened when I met you. And the momentum has been building ever since.”
“You really mean that, don’t you? I mean, you really don’t care what’s in that room.”
“I think what’s in that room is a burden Lionel chose to adopt. And he’s requested it be left that way. And you’re right…as to the rest, I truly, honestly don’t care. It’s so odd, after all this time, but I’ve really come to peace with it. I know my path.” He backed her into the corner between the foyer and the hallway leading to the study. “And I want you on it with me.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
She smiled. “Okay. So…who do we get to clean up the mess?”
“You’re okay with me sealing the room back up?”
“I’m okay with you taking me upstairs and talking about our path and having your way with me and clouding my mind with all kinds of wonderful future things. I’m okay with respecting your uncle’s wishes, and I’m thinking he will be more than happy to take care of his study, especially when you tell him you decided to leave the Hamilton skeletons be.”
“You know, I never thought I’d say this, but I actually feel sorry for him,” Trevor said. “And I feel a little bad, pushing him like I have. The whole time I was angry because he wouldn’t put my needs first, because he wouldn’t trust me with the truth. I thought he was being overly conservative, and keeping up appearances above all, like my family has always been. I never thought I was being selfish. Or that I was truly asking him to jeopardize something that might really matter to him.”
“You had a right to know.”
“I think he is protecting something, or someone. And it might not mean anything to anyone but him, but I should have respected that, or even at least considered it.”
“You didn’t know.” She kissed him. “You do now, and you’re respecting his wishes to handle it his own way.”
“If he lets whatever secrets he’s harboring die with him—”
“Then maybe that’s where they should lie.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
She grinned. “I’m always right.”
“I thought you were imperfect.”
“Usually right, then.”
“Well, for me, you’re just right.”
She melted. “The things you say.”
“The way you look at me.”
She smiled. He grinned.
“Come on, Curls. We have a date with destiny.”
“Well, never let it be said I’d keep destiny waiting. Or you.”
He pulled her right down on the center of the grand staircase and, grinning, began unbuttoning her shirt. “The things you say.”