She nodded. More seconds ticked by.
“Whenever you’re ready.”
She ran her fingers along the edge as if searching for more hidden codes in the smooth metal. Finally, she swallowed and opened the lid.
The sight inside made her breath hitch, and tightened his own lungs too.
Rows of paper, neat packets bound with aging rubber bands, some of them snapped. She reached in and pulled a packet out, carefully flattening the papers.
“Holy…” Her voice broke off at the sight. Old-school government bonds and stock certificates with embossed seals and ornate borders.
Not one or two. Dozens.
Her gaze shot to his. “Gabe. These are…old.”
Gabe didn’t need to be a financial expert to know what he was looking at. Paper bonds like this held for decades, compounding, surviving market swings because time was on their side.
This was freedom written in faded ink and official stamps.
“These have got to be worth a fortune.” Her voice wobbled. “Not billionaire fortune, but for me? My bookshop? And look! There’s paperwork here that names me as beneficiary of the contents of safe deposit box! This is…”
“The word valuable is an understatement,” he finished for her.
She gulped. “His nephew should have them.”
He watched her, not the papers. The way her fingers trembled. The way hope warred with caution in her expression.
“But Henry wantedyouto have them. Why else would he have hidden the key in the book he sent you? From what you’ve told me about Henry, he was no fool. If Henry left this all to you legally, he believed his nephew had enough. He gave you freedom to go anywhere and do anything.”
Her big eyes snapped to his.
This made it possible for her to find a new dream. Their relationship was too new to assume he was included in that.
“What are you going to do?” His voice was sandpaper.
“What am I going to do? I’m going home. Back to Wyoming, my sister, the Malones and their babies. The ranch.” She reached out to touch his hand. “Back with you.”
Heat flared under his ribs.
Their gazes held, and they shared a smile.
Then she reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. “I’m calling Thomas. My financial advisor. He’s here in Denver. I’m not sure you know that Honor and I lived here for a time before I moved to Willowbrook.”
He shook his head. “We both have a lot to learn about each other.”
Her lips slipped into a smile that froze a little when she glanced at the papers in the box.
“I have no idea where to begin with all of this.”
“Call him,” Gabe said. “We’ll take it step by step.”
She exhaled. “I’m glad you’re here, Gabe.”
In answer, he rested his hand on her lower back and kissed the top of her head. She made the phone call, and he listened to her whispery voice as she explained everything to her advisor.
When she hung up, she leaned into Gabe’s side and let out a breath. “He can meet with us in a couple hours. He sounded…shocked. But in a good way.”
“You okay?” He held her closer.
