Page 42 of Taken With Trouble

“Ow,” I grumble, righting her in my arms.

“Liam?” She gasps. “What are you doing?”

“Saving you. Again, I might add.”

“I didn’t need saving.”

“Really? Because you’ve been acting like a real damsel in distress lately.”

“Put me down.”

“Not until you show me what you found.” I nod to her fisted hand. She looks at it as if she forgot what she had in there.

“No way. I found the treasure, and it’s all mine.”

My cheeks pinch. “Really?” Now I’m intrigued. “May I see it?”

“Nope.” She shakes her head and tries to extricate herself from my arms, but I have found a treasure as well, and I don’t plan to give it up, either.

“Could I trade you for a kiss?”

Her eyes betray her, darting to my lips quickly before she shoves away from me. “Unnecessary.”

I release her, just as she opens her hand to reveal… I squint at the small object, then chuckle.

Serena closes her hand again.

“A bullet?”

She swallows, standing taller. “Yes. It ismytreasure; I found it, and you cannot have it.” She’s trying to save face, but red is currently climbing her neck and cheeks, making her look absolutely adorable in this fit of obstinance.

“Well, then, I guess I won’t share my treasure.” I tease her. I wasn’t planning on telling her, but now I just admitted it. What is wrong with me when it comes to this woman?

Her eyes whip to mine. “You found something?”

“Maybe.” I turn and start walking up the path to my car.

“Where?” She hobbles along behind me on the gravel path.

“In the bathroom.”

Serena slows. “You’re lying.”

I turn on her. “Why would I lie about getting my hand all nasty from the mold-rotted wood? It’s an excellent place to keep treasure. You can always keep an eye on it. Multiple times a day in fact.”

She screws up her nose. “I didn’t find treasure in your bathroom.”

I smirk. “Then you didn’t look hard enough.”

“Would you just show me?”

“Fine.” I stop and pull my hand from my pocket, brandishing the key for her.

“A key?” she asks, as if she’s not sure.

“Yes, as in… a key to the treasure.”

“Or just a key someone dropped there by mistake.”