“I’ll get her.”
Claire nods, still reeling from the information.
I walk into Charlie’s room to find her wide-eyed and smiling.
“Hey there, beautiful. Did you have a good nap? I sure missed you today.” I pick her up, snuggling her to my chest and kissing her head. “You’re growing up too fast, my love.”
“She is.” Claire smiles from the doorway.
“You okay?” I ask her.
“I think so. It’s a relief, honestly.”
I nod, changing Charlie and getting her ready to go out to the mortgage company.
“I love you both,” I say for the millionth time today.
“We love you too.” Claire saddles up next to me, gazing down at our daughter.
Three hours later, the papers are signed on our new house. We drive over there and eat pizza for dinner on the floor. After, we have a dance party in the empty space.
This is my life now, and I’m so damn grateful for it.
Chapter 39
Claire
Thank God Adam set up my office before moving in the rest of the house. It’s not like we have all that much, but the sheer hecticness of moving day is too much for me.
That’s why Masie and I are in my office, with Charlie in a little enclosed area, attempting to crawl already.
Slow down, little lady. There’s no need to rush.
“Okay, so this came in, and all I know is that it’s the Piri Reis map and not much is known about it,” Masie says.
“Where did you get it from?” I ask, flipping over the plastic-sleeved map.
“Anonymous donor.”
I look at her with furrowed brows.
“I know. That’s why we need to do research on it to see if it’s legitandlegal,” she says.
“You have an illegal artifact?” Woodcroft’s voice booms from the doorway.
I watch like it’s slow motion. His eyes widen as soon as he sees Masie. And Masie … Well, her eyes are running down the length of his body, not even trying to hide her attraction.
“It’s actually unknown currently.” Masie smirks.
Oh shit. Playful Masie is trouble.
“You’re Dr. Green, correct?” Woodcroft asks.
“I am, indeed. And you are?”
“Kellen. Kellen Woodcroft.” He steps forward to shake her hand.
“Oh! You’re my contact with the Marshals. I have some suspicions about this one,” Masie continues on like there weren’t just flames erupting from them both. She rambles about how she came to have possession of it and how she’s leery. It’s why she’s brought it to me so we can double-team some research on it.
