I held up my hand and then dug through my purse, finally locating the key and lifting it triumphantly into the air. “Key.”
“Fantastic.” He nodded once. “Stay as long as you need.”
“Thanks.” I bit my lip in nervousness, I was really doing this. Holy crap. My heart slammed against my chest as I started walking down the quiet hall.
“I hope you find what you’re looking for Valentina.” He whispered after me. “I truly do.”
My steps faltered.
I’d never told him my name.
Shaking, I quickly turned around.
But he was gone.
I nearly toppled into another lady on my way out of the hall to find him.
“Miss?” She was juggling about a million papers. “Can I help you?”
“A man.” I blurted. “He just left down the hall and—“
“—no.” The lady frowned. “I would have seen him, I’m sorry, maybe…you imagined it?”
“Right.” I swallowed the dryness in my throat, my heart really going to town threatening to crack right out of my chest and start thumping across the floor.
“You look lost?” She offered.
“Nope.” I clenched the key between my fingers, my sweat pooling around the metal. “I have a safety deposit box to look at.”
“Well,” She nodded. “Let me know if you have any questions. My name’s… Emiliana.”
“Okay.” I took two steps backwards then turned on my heel and made a beeline for the boxes, they lined both walls.
Finally, I located number thirty-six, and without giving myself time to chicken out, shoved the key in the lock and turned.
Had I known then, what I know now. I would have ran towards the bank, shoved my way through the fires of hell, and done just about anything legal or illegal to get to that box.
RACHEL VAN DYKEN is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching "The Bachelor".
She keeps her home in Idaho with her husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers. She loves to hear from readers.
You can connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/rachelvandyken or join her fan group Rachel's New Rockin Readers. Her website is www.rachelvandykenauthor.com.
Eagle Elite
Elite (Forever Romance)
Elect (Forever Romance)
Entice
Elicit
Bang Bang
Enchant
Enforce
Ember
Elude
The Bet Series
The Bet (Forever Romance)
The Wager (Forever Romance)
The Dare
Seaside Series
Tear
Pull
Shatter
Forever
The Seaside Series Boxed Set
Fall
Strung
Eternal
Seaside Pictures
Capture
Wallflower Trilogy
Waltzing with the Wallflower
Beguiling Bridget
Taming Wilde
Waltzing with the Wallflower Trilogy
London Fairy Tales
Upon a Midnight Dream
Whispered Music
The Wolf's Pursuit
When Ash Falls
Renwick House
The Ugly Duckling Debutante
The Seduction of Sebastian St. James
The Redemption of Lord Rawlings
An Unlikely Alliance
The Devil Duke Takes a Bride
Ruin Series
Ruin
Toxic
Fearless
Ruin Series Boxed Set
Shame
The Consequence Series
The Consequence of Loving Colton
The Consequence of Revenge
The Dark Ones Saga
The Dark Ones
Other Titles
The Parting Gift
Compromising Kessen
Savage Winter
Divine Uprising
Every Girl Does It
www.rachelvandykenauthor.com
Table of Contents
Author Note
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Author Note CONT
Empire
About The Author
Also By Rachel Van Dyken