Gage’s big palm wrapped around her fingers. “It’s okay, Abby. We’re home. You’re safe.”
“Sorry.” She slid out of the car, swaying a little as she started walking. Gage’s arm went around her, drew her against his side.
“Just take a minute. It’s been a long day.”
She took a deep breath, trying to ignore how good it felt to be pressed against his big hard body.
Abby forced herself to move away. “I’m okay. Just a little tired is all.”
“I hate to say it, but it’s only going to get worse.”
She straightened. Gage was right. The trip ahead of them would be grueling. “I’m fine. Thanks.” She glanced at the brick walls around them. “Where are we?”
“In my garage. We’ll come back and get this stuff later. Come on, I’ll show you your temporary home.”
* * *
Gage hadn’t told Abby his apartment was on the second floor of his office building. It was convenient, with a private rear entrance and a two-car garage. High, flat ceilings gave it the feel of a loft, and huge paned windows kept the space open and airy; it was almost like living out of doors.
In the downstairs atrium, several leafy trees grew up through circular holes in the brick floor, filling the entry with fresh clean air.
“This is where you live?” Abby’s gaze missed nothing as she crossed the floor beneath the branches of the trees.
“It’s handy. The market was down when the building came up for sale. There’s another apartment next to mine, so I’m a landlord as well as a tenant. I’ll show you around, then come back and retrieve your suitcases. The stuff in the boxes will be safe where they are till morning.”
Instead of using the elevator, he led her up a flight of metal stairs, crossed to his front door, and punched in the code to turn off the alarm.
“The building is extremely secure, my apartment even more so. When you’re in the treasure business, people can get strange ideas.”
She made a sound in her throat. “A lesson I just learned.”
Gage thought of the break-in, didn’t want to imagine what might have happened if Abby had been home. “You’ll be safe here.” Top-of-the-line security wasn’t cheap, but it was worth it. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
He led her into an expansive living room with gleaming hardwood floors, Persian carpets, and comfortable overstuffed furniture splashed with exotic, patterned, bright-colored pillows. Around them, his own personal treasures, souvenirs from his travels, sat on bookcases, tables, and chests, or hung on the walls.
“Your apartment is wonderful,” Abby said, admiring the partially broken head of an ancient Greek statue, moving on to a big African pot with red and black designs that sat in the middle of his dining table. “It’s like taking a trip around the world.”
“Each item tells its own story. Most of them I like remembering.”
Abby looked up at him. “We’re going to make a new story, Gage, starting when we get to Arizona.”
He thought of everything that had happened since he’d met her. “I think our story has already begun.” A look passed between them, and desire swept through him. He wanted to make a story with Abigail Holland. He wanted to remember her naked in his bed, her golden-red hair spread out on his pillow.
He turned away, started walking down the hall. Abby followed, her laptop slung over her shoulder as he led her into the guest room.
“India,” she said, her gaze running over the intricately carved wooden headboard above the queen-sized bed and a tall chest inlaid with mother of pearl. An ornately carved elephant with a padded seat served as an ottoman in front of an overstuffed chair upholstered in the same dark red woven fabric that covered the bed.
“The Maharaja’s crown—the Golden Hawk,” he said, remembering his time there. “We were commissioned to return the crown to the Delhi Museum after there was a massive fire and it disappeared. We tracked it down, but the effort only paid enough to cover our expenses. Interesting trip, though.”
“I’ll bet.” Abby set her laptop on the carved writing desk in the corner. “The room is beautiful, Gage.”
Her approval pleased him. He usually didn’t care what other people thought about the place he chose to live. “There’s a bathroom over there.” He pointed to an open door. “I’ll bring up your luggage so you can get settled in.”
“I’ll help you,” she offered.
“I’d rather you get started on that list. I’d like to get some idea who’s behind these attacks before we take off for Arizona.”
* * *
