A secret passage? Gretchen’s sense of adventure got the better of her and she reached for the next letter, excited to find out more. She skimmed Ben’s bolder, slightly crabbed handwriting until she came to the answer.
It’s the brick to the right of the mantel, my love. If you look closely, you can see my initials carved into the caulk.
Okay, this she had to see for herself. Putting the letter aside, Gretchen got up and scanned the library for a fireplace. There were two of them, one at each end of the long room. She headed to the closest one and scanned the bricks, running her fingers along the grout, looking for imperfections. Nothing. She moved to the other fireplace, but it was nothing but smooth marble.
Huh. Gretchen paused, thinking. This was a large house and it was bound to have multiple libraries. Perhaps this was the wrong one? With the letter in hand, she gave Igor a quick pat on the head and headed out. She had no idea where another library was, but Hunter would know. Brightening, she headed for his office, smiling to herself. Now was she excited at the prospect of the fireplace door and having an excuse to interrupt Hunter. Did it even matter? She loved interrupting Hunter. This was just a delicious opportunity that had presented itself.
Gretchen headed to his office and knocked lightly on his door.
“Enter.”
She peeked inside and smiled at the sight of him. Even though no one was in the house but her and Hunter and Eldon, and Hunter worked alone, he was still dressed in one of his suits. Today’s was a dark brown jacket and a lighter brown tie to match. His hair was slightly tousled, as if he’d been running a hand through it. His brows were furrowed but his expression eased when she entered.
“Finished working?” Hunter stood to greet her. “It’s early.”
“Just momentarily distracted,” Gretchen told him, sauntering over to give him a kiss in greeting. She lightly brushed her lips across his and smoothed a stray cowlick of his hair. “Am I bothering you?”
“Yes,” he said bluntly. His hand moved to her waist, pulling her against him. “But I don’t mind it.”
She grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck and sighing with pleasure when his hands caressed her ass. “You’re going to make me forget my mission.”
“Mission?”
“Mmmhmm.” She lightly traced a finger along his jaw, admiring the strong lines of his face that were marred by scars. “I’m looking for a secret passage.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s mentioned in the letters,” she told him, dragging her fingers along his shoulder even as she slipped out of his arms. She seemed to recall seeing a second library off his bedroom wing. “Where are the other libraries in the house?”
Hunter seemed to stiffen. “There’s no secret passage.”
“There is,” she insisted, pulling the letter out and pointing at it. “I swear I’m not lying. They go on and on about it in the letters. I thought it would be terrific to see. We could take pictures of it and add some excitement and reality to the book.”
His mouth thinned. “There’s no secret passage.”
“Of course there is. Just look at this.”
He wouldn’t look at the letter. Puzzled, Gretchen pushed it in front of his face. He pushed it aside again and gave her an annoyed look.
“Wow, what’s crawled into your panties?”
“Nothing.” He rubbed his face. “I’m just tired.”
“Then will you quit acting like I’m bothering you?” She held the letter out to him again, her expression daring him to take it. “I don’t know what the big deal is.”
His expression was immediately contrite. He pulled her into his arms, rubbing his hands on her back. “You never bother me,” he said huskily. “My day is better every time I see your face.”
She leaned in and gave him a light kiss, brushing her fingers over his scarred cheek. “Then help me find this secret passage.”
He took the letter from her and scanned it. “The house underwent many renovations over the last fifty years. The main library was destroyed. If there was a secret room, it’s there no longer.” He folded the letter carefully and held it back out to her, his face impassive. “I’m sorry. I know it’s disappointing.”
“Oh.” Gretchen couldn’t quite hide her regret. “That’s a shame. I was hoping to see it. I’m sorry to have bothered you, then.”
As she turned away, he grasped her arm, forcing her to turn back around. “Gretchen, you are never a bother. I’m just distracted.”
“By what?”
“Work . . . and you.”
She gave a mock-hurt sniff. “Well, if I’m bothering you, I’ll just go.”
He snagged her around the waist as she turned to leave. “No you don’t. Now that you have my attention, you’re not going anywhere.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.” His hands went to her shirt and began to tug it upward. “I can’t help myself. You look ravishing.”
She snorted. “I’m wearing a T-shirt and yoga pants.”
“You always do.”
“Now is that some slight upon my wardrobe choices?”
“No, that’s me telling you that I find you impossible to resist every time I see you.” There was the slightest hint of color to his face, and each word was said precisely, as if flirting came hard won to him.
But he was doing it for her.
She found that enchanting. Her heart melted into a little puddle of goo and she smiled at him, her hand going to his tie. She put the letter down on a nearby table and moved into his arms. “So there’s no more secret passage?”
“Nope.”
“Then it seems like I came in here for nothing,” she said lightly.
“Not for nothing,” he murmured. “I think I have something to show you.”
“Oh?”
“In my room. Perhaps you’d like to search it for secret passages.”
“What are the odds of me finding one in there?”
“Slim,” he said, and one side of his mouth tilted into a smile. “But there’s always that chance.”
“Sounds like my kind of party.” She turned and tugged on his tie, dragging him toward the door.
***
Later, when Gretchen was curled in his bed, sleeping and sated, Hunter got up and went back to his office, shrugging on a robe over his naked body.