Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Suddenly, May seems like forever away.
Gemma
Two finds me in Alexander’s office and it’s like we’ve been apart a lifetime. With a barely stifled squeal, I rush over to him and throw my arms around his neck. He grabs my ass and lifts me, encouraging me to wrap my legs around him too. His pleased grin warms me from head to toe.
“Missed me, huh?”
“Kinda.” I run my fingers through his messy hair. “Did you miss me?”
“Who are you again?”
I roll my eyes and huff, but he chases away my annoyance with a starved kiss that has me forgetting my own name. When we finally pull back for air, he gives me a dopey smile that makes my heart melt.
“Yeah, I missed you, Golden.”
Paula’s voice can be heard nearby, which is the only reason we pry ourselves apart. I doubt she’d be too thrilled to have us making out on her watch. That’s not what we’re here for.
“What are we doing today aside from stealing kisses whenever we can?” I point toward the bookcase. “We can look for more hidden artifacts if you want.”
Two seems eager to do just that because he starts tapping on book spines, clearly hoping to get lucky finding a hollow one. As he does his thing, I stand back and inspect the massive bookcase that takes up the entire wall.
There’s just something about this bookcase that keeps stealing my focus.
I know there’s something here.
More artifacts or letters hidden away in empty books?
While Two continues his search, I step out of Alexander’s office to explore the space next door. It’s a simple, narrow room that’s currently being used as a catch-all for boxes and Christmas decor.
The room on the other side of that one is a sitting room with furniture hidden beneath sheets. This room is larger and more like Alexander’s office in size.
But something feels off.
Hemingford Hall is full of secrets, so I’m learning to let my gut lead the way. Right now, it’s telling me to go back to the second room. I inspect the walls and ceiling before checking both the third room and Alexander’s office.
There’s at least a six-foot thickness between the office and the catch-all room.
A hidden room?
I walk back into Alexander’s office and begin inspecting each bookshelf for a hidden latch or knob, starting with the far end by the windows. Two, equally engrossed in his task, ignores me as he pulls books and reshelves them with efficient speed. I skip past him to check the other shelves. When I reach the last one and find nothing, I let out a sigh.
Maybe I’m imagining it.
“What’s wrong?” Two asks as he saunters over to me, eyes narrowed. “What did you see?”
“It’s what I didn’t see.” I blow a strand of hair away from my face. “There’s a space between this room and the next one. I think it’s a hidden area.”
His eyes light up. “Seriously?”
As though he has to confirm it himself, he leaves me to inspect the other room. Then he strides back in, a huge grin on his face.
“You’re brilliant,” he murmurs, capturing my face in his hands. “So fucking brilliant.”
Our hunt is soon forgotten as he crashes his lips to mine once more. I climb my Two tree again, happy to hang onto him like a koala. As our kiss heats up, he leans my back on the bookshelves.
That are collapsing under our weight.
I suck in a sharp gasp of air as I fall backward, him on top of me. The bookshelves didn’t collapse. I think we just found the door to the room.
We both scramble to our feet, aware that we’ve uncovered a dark, dusty hidden space. Two pushes on the bookshelves that seem to pivot on some sort of rolling mechanism. It clicks softly into place, bathing us in complete darkness.
“What if there’s a dead body in here?” I hiss, shivering at the prospect.
Dim light from Two’s phone shines on his face. “That’d be unfortunate but also quite an interesting find.”
I snort because he’d find that interesting. He mashes the flashlight button on his phone while I pull mine out of my pocket.
“Holy shit,” he mutters.
By the time I get my own flashlight on, he’s stepped ahead of me into the narrow passage. The area can’t be any bigger than six feet wide and twelve feet long. The ceiling is the same height as the other rooms.
It’s what this room contains that makes it so interesting.
“There’s a bed,” Two states, shining his light on the small, ancient, rumpled bed. “Were prisoners kept here?”
I push past him to discover a small table beside the single bed with an oil lamp on top. When I try the drawer, I discover it’s locked.
“Need a key?”
I turn to catch Two’s delighted grin as he wiggles the key he’s been carrying around with him ever since he found it in one of the false books on the bookshelves. He’s tried every lock in this building. Every lock except this one.