“Yep.” She pressed a key into my hand. “Get dressed.”
I squinted at her, and sniffed. “Did you just put dinner on?”
“Yep.” She knelt on the bed, wiggling like a fucking puppy. “Come on.”
“What are we doing?” I watched her curiously.
“Treasure hunt?”
“Uh huh.” I dug about for my jeans, swiping sleep from my eyes. “Hel, I could do with a few hours. You know that?”
“Later.”
She hauled me along the hall as I pulled my shirt on, not bothering with the buttons. I wrapped my hand around hers, watching her ass as she led me downstairs and around the rear of the kitchen, stopping in front of the study door.
“Ta-daa.” She waved her hands theatrically.
I raised an eyebrow. “I get to be office bitch for Christmas day?” I counted backwards. “You do know that’s tomorrow, right?"
Eve blinked. “Shit. Is it? Good thing I have a turkey. Or a ham. Or five. I think. Looks like we’re defrosting!”
“So…” I stalled on the threshold, looking into the lushly appointed study. “Honey, desks and I really don’t agree but if you want me to do book work, I can guarantee I’ll fuck something up in short order.” I was half joking. Business, I could do when the need called for it, providing it was paper based. Get me into a computer system, and that was where the fuckery started.
My accountant threw a party when I left Texas, and not the retirement sort.
“Your present.” Eve tugged me into the room, an exasperated look on her face. “Here.” She grabbed one large, over-filled bookcase by the edge and pulled.
It didn't move.
I coughed softly. “Try the next one?”
“Nope, it’s this one. Sure of it.” She pulled again.
I glanced at the floor, and took two steps forward. “Right bookcase, wrong side. See?” I tapped the markings on the floor with my toes. “It budges from this side.” I pulled and the bookcase swung open toward me like a secret door.
A gun safe stood behind it. Eve presented me with the key.
I took it, frowning. “Evie. Are you sure?”
She nodded. “The tumbler’s ruined, long ago. This kinda works.”
I stuffed about with the key until the ancient lock gave up its ghost for me. I pulled the heavy door open, exposing a rack with three rifles on it.
“Travis’s,” She pointed to a Remington that looked like it had barely been used. “Mine,” —she pointed to another similar rifle, though this one bore more marks. “And yours.” She grinned at me, lifting an ancient looking Hawken double barrel rifle from the rack. “It’s a lot of fun. And it was one of the last made,I think. It’s been in the family forever. Now, it’s yours. Merry Christmas.”
I stared hard at her. “Evie…”
“It’s yours, Rhys. I talked to Trav, and this is what I wanted to give you the day you said you’d stay. So, this belongs to you, now. It’s part of red Hart, and it never leaves this land.” Defiance glittered in her eyes, along with a challenge.
This rifle belongs here, and now, so do you.
“Then I accept.” I took the rifle from her, its weight heavy but good in my hands. “Thank you, beautiful.” I leaned in and kissed her gently.
“You’re welcome.” Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she worked her arms around my neck and pulled me closer. “I’ve waited so long Rhys,” she whispered.
I swallowed hard. “I know, Evie. Can I put this down so I can kiss you properly? I don’t want to offend house ghosts right now."
She giggled at me and put the rifle back into its rack, closing everything up. Then she slid the key into my pocket.
