Page 78 of Wild For You

A few seconds pass before Cash meets my gaze, his eyes dark and distant. “It belonged to my mom. My nan passed it on to her. I thought I’d never find it.”

His voice vibrates with emotion.

“It’s beautiful,” I say, even though the word cannot do it justice.

“After we realized it was gone, we spent weeks looking for it.” He dazzles me with a warm smile.

“I’m glad you found it,” I say softly.

“No. You did, and for that I’m grateful.”

His expression grows distant again, as though he’s a million miles away, lost in memories. And then he opens the clasp and brushes my hair away from my shoulder. “I want you to have it.”

I stare at him, unsure whether I’ve heard him right. “I can’t accept it. It’s your family heirloom. It’s too personal.”

Too everything.

Ignoring my protests, Cash clasps the necklace around my neck and leans back to inspect it.

My hand moves to it, my fingers gently brushing over the smooth stone. “It should stay in the family.”

The corners of his mouth twitch with amusement. “Why? Are you planning on leaving anytime soon?”

“No. It’s just—” I suck in my breath, hesitating, as I consider my words. “You might want to give it to someone special.”

Like someone you love and want to marry.

Someone who’ll stay in your life even after the job’s finished. The thought crushes me, but I need to keep it real. Cash will meet that special someone one day. It’s only fair that she wear his mother’s necklace.

“You are special to me.” His gaze falls to my lips.

“I am?”

“Yes.” He nods slowly, meaningfully. “You’re helping me.” The words sting for some reason. I want to be the one he loves, not the one who helps him. “It suits you, Erin,” he says. “And I’d rather you have it than it gathering dust.”

Maybe for the time being, but not for long.

“I can’t—” I shake my head. It’s such a beautiful necklace. But it looks expensive, and our future is uncertain. “I can’t accept it, Cash.”

“You don’t have a choice. I want you to wear it.”

I nod because I don’t want to start a fight. But I know that I’d never take it with me. “Your mom…” I say carefully. “What happened to her?”

“She died from a gun wound.” His eyes don’t stray from the stone as he speaks. His tone is soft, but his face remains unaffected. His words are spoken casually, as if we’re discussing the weather, not an event that likely changed his life.

Okay, I so did not expect that.

All air is squeezed out of my lungs.

There is a long silence. I dare not speak out of fear that I’ll break the moment. I know he’ll continue when he’s ready.

“It was an accident.” He drops his hand from my neck and turns to look at me, his eyes a dark green shade I’ve never seen before.

It’s anger I’m seeing. And fear, and guilt.

So much guilt. I don’t know what happened, but it breaks my heart for him.

“I don’t have many memories of her,” Cash goes on to explain. “But I remember the day she died as if it happened yesterday.” He pauses to draw a sharp breath, as though to steady himself before speaking about something terrible. “We were young. I was four, and Ryder five. Kellan was seven, which would have made my sister twelve.” There is a long pause. “Yeah, that’s about right. Carla must have been twelve.”

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