“Nice hobby if you can afford it,” he remarked.“You’resure you don’t mind letting me drive this baby?”
“It’s fine.”Ishrugged.“Idon’t like driving myself.”
Which was a lie—Ihadn’t been allowed to drive enough to know ifIliked it or not.Iliked the freedom it gave me to get places on my own, butIwas still extremely nervous behind the wheel.
“Well,Ilove it.”Korwynshot me an easy smile as he turned the ignition and started the car.“Tellme—what made you decide to take a chance on me back there?”he asked, putting the car into drive.“Imean, if you don’t mind me asking.”
“It’s whatCarterwould have wanted,”Isaid automatically.Iwasn’t about to tell him howHarrisMurdochhad threatened me.KnowingIwas desperate for him to win theAlphaChallengewould give this handsome young man far too much power over me.
“Really?”Heshot me a sidelong look that seemed skeptical.“BecauseIthought he would hate me.Iwanted to come meet him while he was still alive, but my dad told me to stay away from him.Healways saidUncleCartercarried a grudge against him because of the way they parted and that he would carry one against me, too.”
That was probably one hundred percent correct but ifIadmitted it,Iwould lose the reasonIhad invited him into my home.
“I know he and your father didn’t get along—thoughIdon’t know why,”Isaid slowly.“ButIdon’t believe he would have refused to take in kin.”
“Oh, you don’t know why they fought?”Korwynshot me a surprised look.“Henever told you?”
Carter had never told me much of anything, butIdidn’t say that.Ijust shrugged.
“He was…a very private man,”Isaid.Atleast that was true—my late husband had never told me anything about his business or personal affairs if he could help it.
“Well my father wasn’t—a private man,Imean,”Korwynsaid.“Look, tell me where we’re going andI’llgive you all the details, if you want,” he offered.
Actually,Ididwant to know what had separated my late husband from his younger brother.Whatcould have been so bad that it madeCartercutDanielout of his life forever?
I gave rapid instructions and then settled back in the seat.Korwyn’sdriving was smooth and competent so far andIfound thatIfelt comfortable around him.Also, in the confines of the carIcouldn’t help smelling his scent—it smelled like warm fur, dark masculine spice, and clean laundry—Iliked it a lot.
“Okay, so the reason my dad and your husband parted ways was over a woman—my mom, actually,”Korwyntold me.
“Really?”Ilooked at him in surprise.Tomy knowledge,Carterhad never been married before he had bought me to be his wife.“Whathappened?”
“Well, they both fell in love with her—both dated her.Whenit came time to choose, everyone was sure she’d pickUncleCarter.Hewas the oldest brother, after all—he stood to inherit all my grandfather’s vast fortune.Andmy father, of course, wasn’t getting much of anything—he was the poor and penniless second son.”
“Obviously she chose your father overCarter, though,”Isaid, frowning.“Didshe ever tell you why?”
Korwyn frowned.
“WhenIasked her, she always just said, ‘his hands were cold—as cold as his heart.’”Helaughed and shook his head.“Sorryif that’s disrespectful now that he’s gone.”
“No.”Ishook my head.“No, your mother was right.”ThenIturned away and looked out the window, remembering the last twenty years with my late husband, who had indeed been cold-hearted.
“Oh, er…”Korwyndidn’t seem to know what to say.
I was at a loss myself.
“So…you came after you heard my husband was dead hoping for an inheritance?”Iasked.
He shrugged.
“Sure.Myfather always claimed thatUncleCarterhad taken some assets that weren’t his.See, my grandfatherdidleave a little to his second son in his will, butUncleCarterfound a way around it.Hekept absolutely everything.Mydad used to tell me that our family was cheated—that we were owed at least some of what your husband kept for himself.”
I could well believe that was true—Carterhad always been a greedy, grasping man.Andif he hated someone or bore a grudge against them, he did everything he could to ruin them financially.Ifhe had thought that the woman he wanted had been stolen from him, he would have retaliated in kind.
“I see,”Isaid a bit stiffly.“Well, we can, of course, have the lawyers in to go overCarter’swill?—”
“Oh, no-no,”Korwynsaid quickly.“Please—I’mnot here to take anything my uncle left to you.I’mdoing fine on my own, actually—Ihave my own business andI’vedone quite well so far.Imainly came for curiosity’s sake.Allmy lifeIheard my father and mother talk aboutUncleCarterand what a cold bastard he was—sorry.”Heshot me an apologetic look.
“No, it’s all right.”Ishook my head.“Goon.”