"The books? It wasn't hard," he said yet again. "I just needed access to her suitcase, that's all."
I made a scoffing sound. "That's all?"
"Don't worry," he said. "She wasn't there. And with those locks? Hell, a kid could've done it."
"I seriously doubtthat."
"Wanna bet?" he said. "Me? I could crack a safe by the time I was ten."
"You're joking."
"No joke," he said. "I learned all kinds of skills."
"From who?" I asked.
"My dad's associates."
I tried to laugh. "You mean criminals?"
"Hey, I was curious kid."
He made everything sound oh-so easy. But I knew it wasn't.It couldn't be.
Regardless, I was beyond relieved when he assured me that with the completion of the book tour and its related side missions, he considered his account paid in full.
Afterward, he gave me a tour of both cabins – the larger one and the smaller one that he'd built years earlier. I loved them both. But mostly I loved the guy who'd made it all happen – back thenandnow.
In the end, we decided to stay on the mountain for a full month, soaking up the fall colors and precious time alone, free from prying eyes and media speculation.
I felt like I was living a dream.
And it wasn't over, not even close.
Chapter 78
Becka
During our month alone on the mountain, Jack was the same amazing guy I'd come to love during the book tour, except now, there were no more secrets between us.
No more late-night excursions.
No more dodging my questions.
No more mixed messages and things that didn't add up.
During this time, I even learned more about the scars on his legs. The story was actually pretty funny – and horrifying at the same time.
He'd been only twelve years old.
And he'd fallen through a window, all right – except he'd fallenintothe house, not out, while he'd been breaking into his dad's mansion through a second story window.
"But why'd you do it?" I asked. "Were you locked out or something?"
"Hell no," he said. "By that age? I was never locked out."
"Why not?"
"Because I could pick a lock in under ten seconds." He made a sound of derision. "And forget the alarm system. That was child's play." He grinned. "Literally."
