The line clicked, then a man came on.

“Ms. Daniels.  Thank you for contacting us.”  He went through the usual offer of condolences then explained why he’d been looking for me.  He wanted to read the will and discuss the details of Richard’s estate with me.

Estate?  Will?  I’d never given any of that any thought.  I glanced at Emmitt.  He had his head tilted, watching me.  I was sure he could hear both ends of the conversation.

“How soon can we meet?” I asked.

“Mr. Torrin said he would be available whenever you were.  My schedule is open on Thursday.  Is there a time that day that works for you?”

“Let me check.”  I put my hand over the receiver, needing a minute to think it through.  Why would Blake not watch the house?  Why would Richard give me the number of a lawyer with whom Blake also had contact?  The answers lay in the meeting with the lawyer.  I moved my hand.

“How does ten sound?” I asked.

“Perfect.  I’ll see you Thursday at ten.”

After I hung up, I sat on the bed, thinking.  Although I wanted to meet with Blake to find out what he knew about my gift, I didn’t want to walk into a trap.  I needed to get more information about the will and Blake’s involvement.

Emmitt sat back and watched me as I grabbed the phone book.

*    *    *    *

Three hours later, when I hung up the phone, my head spun from all of the information I’d won.  The will, which was straightforward, had gone to probate.  Richard’s estate included properties I hadn’t known he owned.  Everything went to me as sole beneficiary.

I didn’t understand why he’d left everything to me, his stepdaughter, when he had two sons of his own.  Then, I realized by not naming them in the will, Richard had protected them.  Blake had no reason to pursue my brothers, unless he still wanted to use them to control me.  It also meant that Richard had put a lot of faith in me to take my brothers with me when I ran.  And, he had trusted me to keep them safe.

Since Richard hadn’t specified an executor, one had been appointed.  There’d been no surprise when I’d been told Blake was trying to contest it.  By being an executor, he’d have control of everything in my absence.  After speaking with the court appointed executor, I could see no reason there even needed to be a meeting other than to get us in the open so Blake could do whatever it was he had planned.

“I don’t think we should go,” I said to Emmitt.

He frowned thoughtfully.  “If we don’t, Blake is still out there and this trip will have been for nothing.”

He moved to sit near me on the bed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.  “The lawyer’s in the phone book.  I checked, so we know he’s real.  Even if he’s being paid off, he’d have to be careful with what he’s involved in.”

“But what if Blake brings people with him, like Frank and that other guy?”

“We’ll bring more powerful people.”

I liked Grey and Carlos well enough but didn’t think they could take on Blake’s entire following.  “Three, no matter how strong or fast they are, against an unknown number, doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

He grinned at me.  “Not just us.  One thing Blake won’t want is people knowing what’s going on.  I heard you talking and heard how much Richard’s properties are worth.  Call the news.  Bring them with.  Say you want to donate half of your inheritance to a charity.  With a camera on you, he can’t touch you.”

I remembered the video of Richard’s mauling and doubted his plan would be as safe as he thought.  Blake hadn’t seemed too concerned about public exposure, then.

We debated what to do until just past dark and our stomachs growled.  With no better options, I called the local news.

Emmitt was right.  As soon as I mentioned an eight-figure inheritance, I had the media’s attention.  The person I spoke with took down the information for the lawyer and agreed to have someone there.

I managed to say goodbye before Emmitt plucked the phone from my hands.

“Enough for tonight,” he said gently.

I nodded in agreement.  I was emotionally drained and ready for bed, but Emmitt insisted we eat.  I grinned, knowing he was the hungry one this time.  He ordered room service while I took a shower.

My thoughts kept running over what I knew about Blake.  Why fight to get control of Richard’s assets?  Yes, the number was large, but what about Blake’s take?  He should have made at least that amount.  I’d always given the tips to Blake via phone or in person.  Except that last time.

Briefly towel drying my hair, I wished again that I would have better premonitions.  Something useful like what Blake had planned.  Sighing in frustration, I pulled on my pajamas and joined Emmitt in the room.  There was no point in dwelling on what I couldn’t control, and my premonitions fell into that category.

My hair had mostly air dried by the time the food arrived.  Emmitt tipped the room service person and groaned in appreciation of the aroma coming from the trays as he set them on the table.  I teased him by reaching for the half-pound burger, and he playfully growled before offering to share a bite.  Shaking my head, I reached for the smaller burger and carried it over to one of the beds.

“I’ll take this bed,” I said sitting down on the end of it.

He stopped mid-chew and looked up.  He studied me for a moment then resumed chewing the bite in his mouth.

I watched him swallow and take a drink from his soda, wondering at his reaction.

“No,” he said.  Then, he took another bite still watching me.  His look, so intense and focused, made me a little uneasy and very confused.

“Okay.  I didn’t know you had a preference.”  I got up and moved to the other bed.  This time I didn’t look at him but reached for the remote and turned on the television.

He moodily dropped his burger on his plate.  “I don’t want to sleep apart from you.”

I almost laughed aloud.  So that’s what this was about?  Remembering his mother’s words, I primly set down my own burger and walked over to him.  Leaning in, I pressed a quick kiss to the tip of his nose as he’d once done to me.

“Too bad.”

Before he had time to react, I walked back to my plate.  “Eat your burger, Emmitt.”

It was hard, but I finished my burger while watching television.  He remained quiet, eating his own meal.  I could feel his steady scrutiny the entire time.

When he finished the burger, he ate both of our fries and the side order of onion rings.  I didn’t know how he had the room.  He hesitated when he finished, looking slightly frustrated, but then walked over by me and politely asked if I had finished, too.  I handed him my plate, and he stacked it on the tray before placing everything outside the door.

I felt like I’d started a fight when he quietly closed himself in the bathroom.

I brushed my teeth then crawled into my acquired bed.  The room was a comfortable temperature and the pillow soft.  I didn’t think I’d stay awake long enough to hear back from Grey and Carlos.

Mentally exhausted, I fell asleep before Emmitt came out of the bathroom.

*    *    *    *

The next morning, I knew I wasn’t in bed alone.  His breath tickled the top of my head, and his arm lay casually draped over my waist.  Slowly, I opened my eyes.  Curled on my side, I lay facing him.  He slept, his eyes closed and face relaxed.  He’d made a gesture toward compromise and laid on top the covers.  Since I’d said no to sharing a bed, I wasn’t sure it was much of a compromise.

Shifting slightly to get comfortable, I paused when I felt the edge of the mattress under me.  How was that possible?  I lifted my head to look..  He’d moved the other bed, pushing it up against mine.  Technically, he wasn’t sleeping in the same bed as me.

I studied him again, amazed.  His dark lashes fanned his cheeks, making him completely irresistible.  Irresistible and mine, I thought with a smile.  Mine.  His clarification of how he felt about me rang in my head.  He’d known I was the one for him when he first saw me well over a month ago.  His complete certainty awed me.  As did his patience.  I frowned suddenly.  He’d waited a month for a first date, a date with no first kiss.  Why hadn’t he kissed me yet?  A kiss to the tip of my nose didn’t count.