Page 9 of Married to Mischief

“That’s not what I was going to start with.” Liam chuckles, looking far too relaxed. I don’t know how he can be. What if the treasure is on that property? Then we have no claim to it. And this whole thing will have been for nothing. Except to say we found it, of course.

“Then what?” I ask.

“Well, I was going to ask their names.”

“Their names? Really? That’s it?”

“That is usually where one begins a conversation.”

We’re screwed.

“Relax.” Liam places a hand on my leg. “I have a good feeling about this.”

“You say that about everything.”

He lifts a shoulder. “And it’s worked so far. Especially about you.” He winks.

“Such a charmer. Now stop it and come up with a real plan.”

“It will be fine.”

“Your optimism is really annoying sometimes,” I mutter as I turn down the private lane. What if these are gun people? Not that I’m judging since I’ve got my Glock on my hip, but what if they want us off their property? This treasure isn’t worth getting shot over.

I pull the car to a stop in front of an old shed thirty feet from the front door of the small cottage.

Liam opens the door and steps out, straightens his suit coat, and looks around.

Then he promptly dives back inside the car.

I narrow my eyes at the man curled up in the passenger seat, panting. “What is wrong with you?”

“They have chickens!”

“Are you kidding me?” I laugh at his seriousness and look outside to confirm three plump chickens strutting around the car. “You’re still afraid of them? They arebirds, Liam.”

“Serena.” Liam mirrors my condescending tone. “One does not forget nearly being chicken food as a child.”

I drop my head back against the seat, laughing. “They barely pecked your toes.”

“Your grandmother’s hens were as nasty as her, and they nearly took my pinky toe off! I have a scar.”

“You’re so dramatic. Be a big boy and get out of the car.”

“You can take this lead. I’ll wait here.” He crosses his arms like a defiant child.

“You’re really willing to risk losing this treasure because ofchickens?” He can’t be serious. This treasure is all he’s been talking about–obsessing over–for the last six months.Just wait till we find this treasure, Serena. It’s going to change everything.

Liam looks out the window at the chickens and sighs. “Only for you will I face my greatest fear.”

“When your greatest fear is a chicken, it’s hardly romantic.”

He scoops my hand off the middle console and brings it to his lips. “You already helped me face my father. Nothing else in this world scares me except for losing you.”

I pinch his cheeks. That fear has plagued me on more than one occasion as well. “No losing each other. Got it?”

“Got it.” He grins. “Seal it with a kiss?”

I lean over and press a kiss to his lips, but he captures the back of my neck, keeping me close for more. His kiss is hungry and wild. It tastes like now and forever.

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