AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He hadn’t dug more than a foot when he hit something. Something metal. He glanced at Brylee. She’d heard it too. Her gaze was full of longing and completely focused on his face.
“You want to dig it out?” he asked, forcing a smile. “Your big moment.”
“Oh, yeah. Thank you.” She took the shovel from him.
Cash lifted her smaller backpack and made sure the camera had an angle. He studied her as she dug around the edges of the box and then pried it out with the shovel. Lifting it up, she was streaked with mud.
“It’s heavier than the last box,” she murmured.
Dread filled him. This was it. He could feel it. Why couldn’t he be excited for her?
He was. He had to be.
“This is great,” he said in a peppy voice he hardly recognized.
She pulled the box against her chest and held it, staring at him. “It is. So great.”
Cash’s stomach dropped as he met her sapphire eyes and realized how bright they were. Tears slipped down her face, mingling with the moisture from the rain.
“I’m so gobsmacked I’m crying like an ankle biter,” she said, and it was obvious she was lying. “This is ace.”
“Yes, it is. All right, Miss Brylee Auburn. Open that box and show us what a million dollars in cash looks like.”
She was streaked with mud, standing in the hole they’d dug, surrounded by the lush vegetation and rain dripping off her chin. Or were those tears? But she smiled, nodded, and shifted the box so she could undo the latch and lift it open. Her eyes widened as she looked in, and Cash could understandwhy. A million dollars in bundles of hundred-dollar bills was impressive. The case was plain metal but there was nothing plain about those stacks of money. Her million dollars. Brylee would protect and help a lot of people with that money.
His gut suddenly clenched, and he looked around. Of course all he could see was rain and trees and thick growth, but what if somebody else had overheard that bartender talking about this treasure? What if more criminals were coming after them and now they had the million dollars?
Their plan yesterday to not call Shawn immediately and to enjoy one more evening together was not smart. He focused back on Brylee.
She glanced up at him, and her lip trembled. “There it is. A million dollars.”
“Amazing,” he said. “What you’ll do with that money to help others is amazing.”
“Thank you.” She slowly closed and latched the case. They’d worked for this all week. Now it felt like after all the Christmas presents had been opened and the excitement drained.
“Is there room in a backpack for it?” she asked.
“We could make room in mine.” And he’d be pulling out his weapons and wearing them. Just in case. “Do you want to … call Shawn?”
Yesterday he’d been the one to suggest they didn’t have to call immediately. What had he been thinking? Dumb and selfish of him to only want more time with Brylee and not make certain she was safe. He could protect her, but a stray bullet or someone like Danny getting past him ...
He couldn’t risk it, and he could completely understand why she’d reacted so strongly to Danny shooting at him. The thought of a world without Brylee was dark.
She held his gaze, and his heart took off. He hoped she’d suggest they wait. No. He couldn’t let her wait. “Sure.”
“Great.” He felt like his face would crack from all the fake smiles he was giving. Life would be miserable, lonely, boring, awful without Brylee, but at least he had a purpose. He’d keep busy, and he wouldn’t be second-guessing or fighting with himself nonstop, worried he was making all the wrong decisions and hurting the most incredible woman in creation.
Cash set down her backpack, pulled the phone out of his, and handed it over. Then he picked up her backpack again to video the call.
Big moment. Important moment.
Dang, he was miserable.
Brylee pushed the button to call Shawn. She looked at him and then she focused on the camera. She hit the speaker button. Luckily the rain wasn’t loud, just annoying.
“Hello,” Shawn answered, cold as ever.
“Shawn, it’s Brylee …” She swallowed and smiled for the camera. “We found the money.”
