Page 10 of These Reckless Hearts

Stone

My heart pings painfully,thudding against my ribcage. I didn’t imagine I would get my first flower while I was dressed in another man’s clothes, but that’s what the four of us signed up for, and now that we have it, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Memories of Stone and I blip by like flipping through a photo album. The first time he touched me on the half-moon bed. The love in his eyes when he said we were going to have treasure hunting babies one day. Letting Stone back in, if he was ever out, seems like an inevitability—fate’s true progression at work, something that’s useless to fight against. And trust me, fighting against it is something I won’t be doing.

I return the note inside the envelope and slip it back in the bouquet. Stone’s watching me when I lift my gaze, so I walk up to him, tangle my fingers with his, and bring him back to the kitchen island where Wyatt is whistling happily and placing our breakfast on plates.

“Let’s eat on the patio,” Lucas suggests. “I’m sick of being stuck inside.”

We carry our food out, Stone in the lead. He steps over mine and Wyatt’s discarded clothes from last night and heads toward the cement table. Lucas chuckles. “Looks like a couple of you had way too much fun last night.”

“It turns out, I like skinny-dipping,” I tell him. “Who knew?”

We sit at the table, serving ourselves eggs, bacon, and toast from platters. Here at Jacobs Manor, I’m in a cocoon of safety. I’m so enveloped by love that it makes it easy to forget about everything else that’s going on.

Stone changes that though. “I had an idea,” he starts. The three of us look at him expectantly. “We know my dad’s on the run because he’s scared shitless of Cole, but I think we can flush him out by going to his associates. My dad feeds off money. Wealth is everything to him. It’s his most prized possession.”

“Except for you,” I state.

“I don’t think he has use for me anymore,” he says, running his fingers over his jaw. “I went against him.” I shrug because I’m not entirely convinced but Stone continues. “I thought Dakota and I could set up some meetings with his treasure investors and tell them we’re no longer associated and that they should move their investments to us.”

Wyatt squints in the sun. “This could ruin him financially. If you got people to jump ship, anyway.”

“I think Dakota and I would be quite convincing, especially since we can prove that my father was only the pencil pusher. It’sourteam that knows about the treasure. They’ll pull their funding, and when they do, my father won’t have the means to pay anyone to take us down. Cole can retaliate, and then….”

“Then what?” Lucas inquires. “How far are you willing to take this?”

Stone clamps his jaw, muscles popping out of his neck. “He tried to kill you. All of you. I no longer have ties to him.”

Part of me wants to fist bump him, but the other part of me knows how this feels. To be let down by someone you loved is gut-wrenching. His words come out smooth and easy, but I think I’ve found the reason for the dark circles under his eyes. I just hadn’t been paying attention before.

“What do you guys think?”

His question catches me off guard. Stone’s not one to make sure everyone’s on board before he runs right into something. “I love the idea,” I confirm.

“Me too,” Lucas answers. “At the very least, it’ll put the money where it should go, and that’s with us.”

Stone swallows. “Good because I’ve already set up a couple of meetings for today.”

Of course he did. That’s the Stone I know.

He checks his watch. “And if we want to make it to the first one on time, we’ll have to hurry.”

I scarf down my plate and then run toward my bathroom, picking up the clothes from last night as I go. I shower and primp, then open my closet to search for something appropriate to wear to a business meeting. I should’ve guessed Stone would’ve already planned for this. Several different dresses and skirts await me.

I pull out a modest black dress and slip it on. It hugs my ass, but not in a scandalous way. I pull the top half of my hair up and place it in an elastic because the barrette I tried first broke. A pair of slip-on flats later and I’m ready.

When I walk out, Lucas and Wyatt have moved the coffee table against the couch and are hovering over several topography maps on the floor. Wyatt whistles, making me blush. I glance over to find Stone waiting for me in a suit and tie, and I nearly trip over my feet. Jesus. He’s so damn pretty.

He holds the door open for me, and I wave to Wyatt and Lucas as we exit. “Are we on time?”

He checks his watch again. “We’re good.”

Ninja and the other security guard get out of their car as we approach the Audi that’s pulled around the front of the house. “We’re heading into Phoenix,” Stone informs them.

“We’ll follow,” Ninja reports. At those words, Stone gazes worriedly behind him. “Our orders are to stay with Miss Dakota.”

Cole wasn’t kidding when he said he was going to treat me like his sister. After I pulled myself away from the bathroom last night, he told me he would be there for me every step of the way until I found the treasure—and after. We’ve all agreed that Lance won’t stop looking for it, and despite the fact that I’m not technically a Wilder, I feel the treasure’s call deep in my bones. I can’t get away from it, and I’ll still die if a Jacobs finds it before I do. Well, one Jacobs. I guess I would be satisfied if Stone does—as long as I’m at his side.

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