Read Online Sin With Cuffs by Rhonda Lee Carver - Free Book Online

heels as if the anticipation killed her. “When Doris’s husband passed away, he had a life insurance policy, which she inherited. She invested all of it in stocks. Over the last twenty years, she has saved every dime earned and had a bank account worth three hundred and fifty thousand. She gave fifty thousand to local charities and left the remaining amount to—” Holly could have sworn she heard Vicki swallow, “—you Holly.”
    Holly wasn’t sure if it was the moan that came from her mother or the astonishment of Brigham’s words that made the room spin.
    “What?” Vicki said. “But, I’m her daughter.” The words sounded like an accusation.
    Brigham nodded. “Yes, I understand that.” He didn’t even spare Vicki a look of apology. “Do you understand, Holly?”
    No, she didn’t. She hadn’t thought of how much her grandma was worth or how much she’d saved. “I—I’m not sure.”
    Vicki turned her heated gaze directly on Holly. “You’re not sure?” Her voice reeked of resentment.
    “Let’s continue,” Brigham shook the papers as if to gain their attention again.
    “Yes, let’s do,” Vicki muttered.
    “The house was free of any mortgages or liens. The house is left to Holly as well.”
    “What?” Vicky popped up out of her seat. “This is ridiculous. How is this possible?” In one moment, all of the procedures of plastic surgery went down the drain. She looked her age, older maybe. “I don’t believe for a second that she left Holly everything.”
    “Have a seat, Mrs. Belmont. She did leave something to you.” Brigham’s voice was calm, as if he’d expected Vicki’s enraged attitude.
    “Fine,” Vicki said coldly. Tension fled her face as she sniffed and took her seat again.
    “For you Mrs. Belmont, Doris left her antique collection of porcelain clowns.”
    Vicki’s mouth dropped and a sound of horror escaped her, as if she released a demon. Her mouth snapped shut and her skin paled. “How dare that old woman make a mockery out of me. She was a senile old bat.”
    Holly kept her gaze on Brigham across his cluttered desk. For her, her mother’s temper tantrum was nothing new, yet he too remained as cool as a cucumber as he lowered the papers to his desk. Reaching into the open top drawer, he pulled out two business-sized envelopes.
    “Doris’s health was ailing over the last year, but I assure you her mind was very much intact,” he said. “She came in a few months ago, made revisions on her will and asked me to give you these letters upon her death.”
    Vicki stared at her envelope. Holly took hers, seeing her name scrawled across the white paper. Her grandma was the only one who ever put a heart after Holly’s name. “Do we need to read these now?” Holly asked.
    He shook his head and scratched his bearded chin. “No. In your own time.” He laid Vicki’s envelope at the edge of his desk. “There are a few details we’ll need to go over together, Holly.” Vicki didn’t take the silent invitation to leave. “I’ll need to speak to Holly alone,” he said to her.
    With an expression of cold, slanted eyes and pursed lips, Vicki got up. Holly felt sorry for her mother, yet it was hard to feel compassion for someone who only looked out for herself in whatever situation. Holly knew this would be another wedge in their relationship.
    * * * *
    Liam parked on the street in front of the office of Brigham Mason and turned off the ignition just as Holly walked out the front door. He watched her walk down the walkway, her head down, seemingly unaware of her surroundings, and honked the horn. She looked up and he waved, but her forced smile told him what he’d already guessed; the meeting was a disaster.
    She came to the window and he rolled it down. “How did it go?” he asked.
    “About as fun as a stroll through hell,” she said.
    “That good, eh?”
    “Yeah, that good.” Her frown deepened.
    “I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.” Staying clear of her had been the