Divided Interests (Southern Bride 3)

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Ah well, I don’t really know how to tell you this.”

“What?” I asked, smiling. “Tell me! Is it something about the house?”

He laughed. “I’m sort of pissed I didn’t remember this when we were attempting to run each other out of the house.”

I tilted my head and gave him a questioning look. “Why? What is it?”

“My great-grandmother died in her room. In your room.”

I was positive my jaw hit the floor. “Come again?”

“She died in there. In…” he started laughing.

“Oh God. No. Do not say it, Lucas.”

He was laughing so hard, he could hardly speak.

My hand covered my mouth, and I shook my head.

Lucas nodded and said, “She died in the bed you’re sleeping in!”

“You asshole! You let me take that room!”

Holding up his hands in defense, he attempted to talk while he laughed his ass off. “I forgot! I totally forgot!”

“You said the house was haunted! How did you not remember someone died in my room?”

He shrugged, then wiped his tears of laughter away. “I remembered Grams making a comment about how the house was haunted by her mother-in-law. It slipped my mind completely.”

I jutted my chin out. “You are a terrible man! How did she die? Did it happen of natural causes?”

Once Lucas got himself in check, he took in a breath and let it out. “Sorry. Man, I must have needed that laugh.”

I balled my fists. I didn’t want to lose ground on the progress we had made with starting over as friends—friends who exchanged passionate kisses—but boy, did I want to kick him in his balls for keeping that little gem a secret.

“I’m sorry, babe. Honestly, I am. I really did forget.”

His endearment sent a bolt straight through my body. I froze, staring at him like an idiot.

The smile on Lucas’s face faded. “I really did forget, Paige.”

With a jerky shake of my head, I forced myself to speak. “It’s…okay. I may be moving rooms though.”

He winked, sending yet another wave of electricity through my body. “You can bunk with me.”

“Ha ha,” I managed, while I pretended I didn’t want to jump up and down and offer myself as tribute.

“Okay, we’re looking for a chest,” Lucas said, casting a glance about the room.

“What’s that?” I asked, pointing to a large trunk set off to the corner. “I remember May telling us when we played up here that we were not allowed to open it.”

Lucas made his way to the old trunk. “It’s called a wardrobe steamer trunk. Granddad would tell me it was Grams’ and that someday I could look through it.”

I bent down and looked at it. The brown leather trunk had a domed top with brass cap feet on the bottom. It looked to be in great condition.

“Let’s open it,” Lucas said, reaching for the latch.

Grabbing his hand, I said, “Wait. What if we’re not supposed to touch it.”

He gave me the sweetest smile. “Actually, it’s half yours, half mine. We’re allowed to open it. Together.”

Drawing in a deep breath, I gave a nod and Lucas opened it. The inside was in amazing shape, with a light and dark peach fabric lining. Five drawers were on one side, and the other contained a few wooden hangers with the most beautiful dress still hanging on one of them. It almost looked like a ball gown.

Lucas pulled the top drawer open. I gasped when I saw the inside.

“Holy crap.”

“Well, no wonder Grams didn’t want us playing with this,” Lucas deadpanned.

My mouth opened and closed at least a dozen times as I stared at the drawer full of jewelry.

“Lucas, why in the world would May and William leave this all up here!”

“Costume jewelry?”

I laughed as I reached in and took out a necklace that held a princess cut ruby encased in diamonds.

“That is not costume jewelry.”

“How do you know?”

I looked at him. “My grandmother had costume jewelry. Trust me, this is not the same.”

“Okay, so Grams might have had a small fortune in jewelry. Why did she keep it in her travel trunk?”

“And why did May or William not touch it? Why wouldn’t she have worn it? Why did your folks not look in here?”

“Same reason you didn’t want to touch it. You were told not to.”

The corner of my mouth rose into a slight smile. “Touché.”

“I’m almost afraid to open the next drawer.”

I reached for it and pulled gently. “I’m not! My curiosity is getting the best of me.”

“What in the hell?” Lucas said, moving away from the articles of clothing in the drawer.

“Well, looks like May had a fetish for naughty knickers,” I said with a giggle.

“Why is that crotchless? Oh God. Oh God.”

“It was so they could use the restroom, you perv. But, by the time May used this chest, she wouldn’t have needed these panties. These are old, maybe May’s mom used it or something.”