“Grandmother always told me she was named after Agatha Christie. Agatha was a friend of the family, apparently. Not sure I believe Grandma, she always had a ready supply of stories like that.”
“There was so much I never got to know about her.” Dominic sounded wistful. “I miss her. She was a great friend to me. She didn’t deserve to die the way she did.” His voice became fierce.
“No, she didn’t.” Evrain stood and paced. “And the more time that passes since her death, the less likely it is that the killer will be caught. The murderer could have been a ghost for all the trace he left.”
“I’m sure the police are doing everything they can,” Dominic said.
Evrain shrugged. “I suppose so. I just hate that her violent passing means she carries on being a victim. The autopsy, the delays before we could give her the funeral she wanted, and now this, finally settling her estate. It’s dragged on, causing pain for everyone involved.”
“You were close.” It was a statement, not a question, and Evrain didn’t feel obliged to answer. Dominic didn’t know of the special bond between Evrain and his grandmother but he’d seen enough of them together to know they had a solid relationship.
“I always had more in common with her than I did with my parents. I was a bit rebellious as a teenager. My dad decided I’d be better off at boarding school where I couldn’t be so much of a disruptive influence on my younger sisters. I spent most of my longer school holidays with Grandma or my godfather Gregory and his partner in Florida.”
“I met Gregory once, briefly, when he was visiting Aggie,” Dominic said. “She spoke about you all the time. I know she loved that you came to live over here.” Dominic leaned forward, scrubbing a hand through his hair.
“Much good it did her.” Evrain couldn’t help the hint of bitterness that crept into his voice.
“What happened was not your fault,” Dominic said with quiet certainty.
Evrain wished that he could be equally sure. He was saved from his doubts when the office door creaked open. Angus Pitt, the skeletal family solicitor, strolled into the room. He looked suitably somber, his entire demeanor cast in gray. Evrain shook hands with him, holding back a shiver at Pitt’s cool, papery skin. Dominic stood and murmured a greeting, then they all sat down.
“Well, gentlemen, I would say it was nice to meet you, but the circumstances somewhat preclude that sentiment.”
Evrain met the lawyer’s shrewd gaze directly. “Indeed. My preference would be to get through matters as quickly as possible.” He was craving fresh air.
Pitt blinked. “Just so.” He produced a manila folder from his desk drawer, opened it then withdrew a slim sheaf of papers. “Very well, let us begin.”
At least he didn’t open with “Are we all sitting comfortably?”
Evrain fought to keep still. Sarcasm hovered on the tip of his tongue.
“We are here to listen to the last will and testament of Agatha Millicent Hornbeam,” Pitt continued, seemingly oblivious to Evrain’s utter lack of respect.
“Um, excuse me, sir.” Dominic held up his hand as if he were in a schoolroom.
Evrain growled. Dominic shouldn’t be addressing anyone as ‘sir’ except him. He shook his head.
Where did that thought come from?
“Yes, Mr. Castine?” Pitt peered over his glasses, apparently enjoying the deference.
“Should I leave?” Dominic asked. “This is family business, surely.”
“Your presence is required. Please remain where you are.”
“Oh. Okay.” Dominic glanced across at Evrain, his expression anxious.
Evrain attempted a reassuring smile. It came as no surprise to him that Agatha had left something to Dominic in her will, though it was clear that Dominic had no idea.
Pitt mumbled through a quantity of legal jargon that Evrain paid little attention to. Dominic shuffled his feet, making a brave effort not to appear bored out of his mind. Evrain avoided fidgeting through strength of will alone. He tuned back into the man’s droning voice.
“Other than some small bequests to beneficiaries who have been informed in writing, the two of you share the majority of the estate.” Pitt then opened a small vellum packet that sat on the pile of papers on the desk in front of him. Two envelopes slid out. Pitt pushed them to the edge of the desk and gestured at them. “There is a letter here for each of you. Mrs. Hornbeam’s instructions are that they must be opened on the day that you receive them, before the sun sets, and that you must be in each other’s presence.” Hooded eyes blinked slowly. “Her words, not mine.”
Evrain stood. He picked up both envelopes and handed the one with Dominic’s name inscribed on it to him. He examined his own. His name was written out in full in Agatha’s spidery, copperplate hand. The paper was thick, creamy white. The ink blue-black. He turned the envelope over and found a blood-red wax seal, stamped with the shape of a flower.
As Evrain resumed his seat, Pitt picked up another document and began to read out the details of a series of small bequests, mainly to charities and old friends. Gregory and Coryn were both mentioned as were Evrain’s sisters and his mother, who all inherited pieces of jewelry. For Evrain’s father there was a particularly fine set of leather-bound encyclopedias that James had always admired.
Dominic fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable. Evrain assumed that he had no idea that Aggie had left him anything at all. It wasn’t the kind of thing she would have talked about. Evrain’s parents had told him that he, rather than they, would inherit Aggie’s estate when the time came. He caught Dominic staring at him and returned the glance. Dominic’s cheeks flushed deeply.
Caught you.
Evrain hid his grin. A cough from in front of him brought his attention back to the proceedings.
“If I could have your attention, gentlemen?” Pitt scowled at them as if they were a couple of recalcitrant schoolboys. “Where was I…? Yes, to Dominic Castine I leave the land at Hornbeam Cottage, to include the gardens and surrounding acreage. In addition, a sum of one hundred thousand dollars to support the development of that land as part of his business.”
Dominic gasped. “But that can’t be right!”
“I can assure you, Mr. Castine, that it is correct.” Pitt’s nose wrinkled and his eyes narrowed, daring Dominic to dispute his words again. “And to my beloved grandson, Evrain James Brookes, Hornbeam Cottage and the remainder of the estate amounting to a value of some two million, five hundred thousand dollars, on condition that he makes Hornbeam Cottage his permanent residence with immediate effect.”
Evrain drew in a sharp breath.
Pitt stood and gave a small bow. “I’ll give you a few minutes’ privacy while I organize some coffee. Needless to say, gentlemen, I would be honored to offer any further legal services you may require.” He left the room quietly. The click of the closing door seemed to resound through the silence like a thunderclap.
“Holy fuck! I don’t know about coffee, I feel the need for hard liquor.” Evrain ran a hand through his hair. “I had no idea…”
Dominic stood but kept his head bowed, his pretty eyes firmly fixed on the Axminster. “I’m so sorry about this, Evrain. Please believe me when I say I knew nothing about the bequest, Aggie never said a word. I’ll sign everything over to you. I’m sure Mr. Pitt can make the necessary arrangements and just deduct his fee or something. It should all be yours by rights, I don’t know what Aggie was thinking. I never expected anything, she never said… I’m sorry this has happened. I’ll sign whatever I need to sign and you won’t have to see me again.” He stumbled over the words then took a rough breath.
Evrain wondered if he’d need a paper bag. Dominic was on the verge of hyperventilating. He’d never heard so many words come out of the man’s mouth in one go. He needed gagging before he got any more stupid. Now, there was an idea worth experimenting with. Evrain pictured Dominic’s lips stretched around a ball gag and decided to add it to his list of things to do before he hit twenty-two. Most of the items on that list involved Dominic naked and a wide variety of restraints.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Evrain stood directly in front of Dominic. He put his hands on Dominic’s shaking shoulders and squeezed lightly. “You don’t escape me that easily.” He kept his tone low and commanding. “My grandmother had good reasons for everything she did while she was alive and I have more sense than to question that now she’s gone.”
Dominic kept shaking his head. The words weren’t sinking in.
Evrain squeezed a bit harder. “Look at me, Dominic.”
No response. Coppery lashes still concealed Dominic’s eyes.
“Look. At. Me.”
Dominic jerked in Evrain’s hold. He gasped as if shaken from a trance, then made eye contact. “Sorry. I’m just… I can’t believe it!”
“Don’t be sorry. You have nothing to apologize for.” Evrain didn’t loosen his grip. “I have no use for land. You do. I’m more than happy to let you commit yourself to hard labor in my stead.”
“But all that money! I haven’t earned it, any of it.” Dominic sounded genuinely in distress.
“And you think I have?” Evrain cupped Dominic’s face with one hand, expecting him to pull away. He didn’t. “She’s left me more than enough to ensure that I don’t have to work again unless I want to. Cunning old biddy—I thought she was as poor as a church mouse, not rolling in loot.”
Dominic trembled beneath his touch. It would only take a second to lean in and kiss the worry away. Evrain swayed toward Dominic. He had such lovely lips. Kissable. Or maybe a quick nip. Gentle pain to pull him out of his state of shock.
Dominic had lowered his eyes again. That wouldn’t do. Evrain took a single step back and removed his hands from Dominic’s body.
“Look at me.”
Dominic shifted nervously but didn’t meet his eyes.
“I said look at me, Dominic. Don’t make me ask you again.”
Anxious blue eyes gradually met his own. Evrain preened at another small victory. “Please believe that I’m happy for you.” Evrain clasped his hands behind his back to stop from touching Dominic again. He had to move with glacial slowness or risk frightening his quarry away completely. “Accept that something good has come out of a horrific act. Aggie wanted this for you. For us. Accept it with grace.”
Dominic gave a single nod. Evrain caught his breath as the light glinted in Dominic’s hair, reflecting the warm, deep red tones. Evrain had a sudden urge to run his hands through it—he remembered how soft it felt. It was the perfect length to get a good grip, to tug Dominic’s head back and hold him still for a punishing kiss. He lifted his hand, and Dominic froze. His body was sending out signals that said ‘touch me, please touch me’. Whether his mind was thinking the same thing was debatable. Evrain didn’t care. He felt the electric tension in the air, deciding that Dominic’s lack of movement gave him permission to continue. However, his planned exploration was abruptly curtailed as the office door clicked open to admit Angus Pitt and his secretary, who was lugging a heavy tray of coffee.
Evrain scowled his annoyance and frustration but moved away. Dominic let out his breath with a slight shudder, making Evrain wonder if Dominic was about to laugh hysterically or sob with relief. He smiled. He liked having Dominic off balance. His vulnerability just made him all the more attractive to Evrain’s predatory nature. That was tempered by a need to comfort and protect. He wanted nothing more than to pull Dominic into his arms and keep him safe.
Evrain endured twenty minutes of polite small talk and cups of over-brewed coffee, before he and Dominic left. After the stultifying atmosphere of the office and the obsequious attentions of Mr. Pitt, Evrain craved fresh air. He pushed through the door with Dominic close on his heels. Outside on the rain-slicked pavement, they looked at each other and shared a smile but then some of the tension returned, the atmosphere shifting like the calm before a storm.
“I’m so glad to be out of there. I couldn’t breathe,” Dominic said.
“I know exactly what you mean. That man sucks all the oxygen out of the air, I swear.”
“Definitely creepy. I just want to go home. Take a shower.”
“How did you get here?” Evrain asked Dominic before he could make some excuse and disappear. “Have you got your van?”
Dominic nodded. “It’s parked just around the corner.”
“Good. You can give me a lift back to the cabin. If I have to move in tonight, and apparently I do, I need to take a look around and decide what to bring from my apartment.” He hoped that if he was decisive enough, Dominic wouldn’t have the courage to question Evrain’s right to tell him what to do.
“Okay, I can do that. I suppose a shower can wait.”
“It can.”
Evrain secretly hoped that Dominic would be happy to spend more time with him. They’d had little enough opportunity since Agatha’s death. He made the most of the short walk to Dominic’s parking spot, allowing his hand to occasionally brush against Dominic’s as they strolled along. He caught several sideways glances and noticed Dominic chewing on his lower lip. His nerves were delicious. Evrain resisted the urge to hold hands, not because he was worried about reaction to a public display of affection, but because he knew that once he had Dominic in his grip he wouldn’t be able to let go.
Dominic’s truck was old but immaculately clean.
“It’s not much, but it does the job.” Dominic sounded apologetic as he unlocked the door. “Doesn’t even have central locking.” He shrugged.
“Well, you can afford something better now. It would be an investment in your business.”
“Oh no, I couldn’t,” Dominic said. “She’s a reliable old girl, I wouldn’t just trade her in.”
Evrain climbed into the cab and settled into the passenger seat. Inside, it smelled vaguely of moss and earth—a comforting scent of the countryside. Evrain breathed deeply, knowing the scent would forever remind him of Dominic.
“It’s good to know you’re so loyal.”
Because once I make you mine, I’m never letting you go.
Dominic slammed his door shut and settled in his seat. “Do you want to go home first and change?”
The question startled Evrain from his thoughts. He gave himself a once-over, catching Dominic’s dubious glance. “Are you criticizing the way I look?” Evrain asked mischievously.