“Youdo,” I pointed out, the roar in my brain so loud that I couldn’t hear myself think. “Every time I try to give you my tips.”
“We’re not talking tips here!” Libby’s blue hair was falling out of her ponytail. “We’re talkingmillions.”
Billions, I corrected silently, but my mouth flat-out refused to say the word.
“Ave.” Libby put a hand on my shoulder. “Think about what this means. You’ll never have to worry about money again. You can buy whatever you want, do whatever you want. Those postcards you kept of your mom’s?” She leaned forward, touching her forehead against mine. “You can go anywhere. Imagine the possibilities.”
I did, even though this felt like a cruel joke, like the universe’s way of tricking me into wanting things that girls like me were never meant to—
The massive front door of Hawthorne House slammed open. I jumped back, and Nash Hawthorne stepped out. Even wearing a suit, he looked every inch the cowboy, ready to meet a rival at high noon.
I braced myself.Billions.Wars had been fought over less.
“Relax, kid.” Nash’s Texas drawl was slow and smooth, like whiskey. “I don’t want the money. Never have. Far as I’m concerned, this is the universe having a bit of fun with folks who probably deserve it.”
The oldest Hawthorne brother’s gaze drifted from me to Libby. He was tall, muscular, and suntanned. She was tiny and slight, her pale skin standing in stark contrast to her dark lipstick and neon hair. The two of them looked like they didn’t belong within ten feet of each other, and yet, there he was, slow-smiling at her.
“You take care, darlin’,” Nash told my sister. He ambled toward his motorcycle, then put on his helmet, and a moment later, he was gone.
Libby stared after the motorcycle. “I take back what I said about Grayson. Maybehe’s God.”
Right now, we had bigger issues than which of the Hawthorne brothers was divine. “We can’t stay here, Libby. I doubt the rest of the family is as blasé about the will as Nash is. We need to go.”
“I’m going with you,” a deep voice said. I turned. John Oren stood next to the front door. I hadn’t heard him open it.
“I don’t need security,” I told him. “I just need to get out of here.”
“You’ll need security for the rest of your life.” He was so matter-of-fact, I couldn’t even begin to argue. “But look on the bright side.…” He nodded to the car that had picked us up at the airport. “I also drive.”
I asked Oren to take us to a motel. Instead, he drove us to the fanciest hotel I’d ever seen, and he must have taken the scenic route, because Alisa Ortega was waiting for us in the lobby.
“I’ve had a chance to read the will in full.” Apparently, that was her version ofhello. “I brought a copy for you. I suggest we retire to your rooms and go over the details.”
“Our rooms?” I repeated. The doormen were wearing tuxedos. There weresixchandeliers in the lobby. Nearby, a woman was playing a five-foot-tall harp. “We can’t afford rooms here.”
Alisa gave me an almost pitying look. “Oh, honey,” she said, then recovered her professionalism. “You own this hotel.”
I… what?Libby and I were getting “who let the rabble in?” looks from other patrons just standing in the lobby. I could not possiblyown this hotel.
“Besides which,” Alisa continued, “the will is now in probate. It may be some time before the money and properties are out of escrow, but in the meantime, McNamara, Ortega, and Jones will be picking up the tab for anything you need.”
Libby frowned, crinkling her brow. “Is that a thing that law firms do?”
“You have probably gathered that Mr. Hawthorne was one of our most important clients,” Alisa said delicately. “It would be more precise to say that he was ouronlyclient. And now…”
“Now,” I said, the truth sinking in, “that client is me.”
It took me almost an hour to read and reread and re-reread the will. Tobias Hawthorne had put only one condition on my inheritance.
“You’re to live in Hawthorne House for one year, commencing no more than three days from now.” Alisa had made that point at least twice already, but I couldn’t get my brain to accept it.
“The only string attached to my inheriting billions of dollars is that Imustmove into a mansion.”
“Correct.”
“A mansion where a large number of the people who were expecting to inherit this money still live. And I can’t kick them out.”
“Barring extraordinary circumstances, also correct. If it’s any consolation, itisa very large house.”
