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that
one in the cutoffs could have been a real contender. Aside from her beauty, she
had a keen intelligence and a heavy dose of wit, and she wasn't afraid of
giving as good as she got. In his life, no one dared to spar with him. People
either wanted something or owed him money, neither of which were breeding
grounds for resistance, even of the playful variety.
    She'd
been captivating when she was angry, he thought. A flush on those cheekbones,
her breath coming in drum beats, her mouth open, agape at his rudeness. She'd
lit up like a Christmas tree. Delightful. Utterly delightful.
    He looked
at the door, as if he could see her through it.
    Carter
Wessex.
    Could she
be related to Wessex, he wondered suddenly.
    Wouldn't
that be interesting.
    Nick
tried to recall what he knew about William Wessex's family life. The man had
been married but something had happened to the wife. Something tragic. Had
there been a daughter? Wessex never showed up anywhere with one, never
mentioned one, but Carter's coloring was startlingly similar to his and she had
the same kind of arresting good looks.
    Nick
picked up the phone and dialed his office in New York. It was answered on the
first ring.
    “Fredericka
Ulrich,” his chief of staff said brusquely. Aside from having a brilliant
head for business, the woman was a walking encyclopedia. She knew everything
about everyone who was anyone, and what she didn't know, she could find out.
    “Freddie,
does William Wessex have a daughter?”
    “I
think so,” she mused. “But I know who to call. Wait by the
phone.”
    This was
Freddie at her best, Nick thought. He was still smiling when his line rang
moments later.
    “Late
twenties. Estranged. Really estranged,” she told him.
    “Name?”
    “Carter.
Lives somewhere in Vermont. Archaeologist. One of the best in the country even
though she's relatively young.”
    “Does
Wessex care about the split?”
    “Tremendously.
He's frantic about it. Been a couple years or so, since the mother died.
Apparently the daughter won't see him or even talk to him.”
    “Ms.
Wessex showed up here today.”
    “Not
surprising considering that hill behind your house. You going to let her
dig?”
    “I
said no.”
    “And
now you're wondering what it might be worth to William Wessex if he had a shot
at making nice with his little girl?”
    Freddie
was also a terrific strategist.
    Nick
smiled grimly. “You know I like to make sure my business partners are in
debt to me. Financially or otherwise.”
    “What's
the downside?”
    “Apart
from the two of them turning my peaceful retreat into a war zone if things
don't work out?” He pondered a moment. “If she digs up my damn
mountain and finds the remains of any of those slaughtered men, I'm going to
have even more two-bit tourists with shovels hunting for gold. Hell, look at
the commotion that guy Lyst stirred up by claiming to find a cross and talking
to the local paper. The phone hasn't stopped ringing and Ivan tossed three more
trespassers off my property this morning. I come up here to relax, not run a
park service.”
    “And
if she finds the gold?”
    “There
isn't any.”
    “How
do you know?”
    “I
just do. Hell, maybe I should leave well enough alone.”
    “But
if father and daughter reconcile, Wessex will owe you for life,” Freddie
reasoned. “He could prove even more useful than he's been.”
    Nick
mulled over his options. “And maybe if she digs around a little we can
finally put all this silliness to rest. I'm tired of guarding an empty
safe.”
    After
hanging up the phone, he went to a window and looked out toward the lake. As he
watched the sunlight reflect off the waves, he noticed something out of the
corner of his eye. It was a large red-tailed hawk sitting in a tree, watching
him through the glass.
    He
thought of the woman who had just left his home.
    And found
himself looking forward to seeing her again.

Heart of Gold

Chapter 3
    Carter
was making a beeline for the front door,