Chasing Gold

By Alexa Bourne

Grace McKay spends most of her time alone trying to convince the world she’s strong enough and smart enough to become one of the best treasure hunters. According to the media, though, all she’s managed to prove is she’s a frigid, narrow-minded woman who doesn’t have a chance to succeed in her current hunt.

Simon Andrews is tired of being a glorified secretary for his family’s treasure hunting business. As the youngest brother, he’s never had the chance to test himself in the field, where his true interests lie.

When Grace’s uncle hires Simon on a whim to assist her with the search for an ancient family heirloom, he comes up against a woman determined to accomplish her goal without his—or anyone’s—help. But Simon, although captivated by her passion for her quest and her beauty, will not relinquish his chance to prove to the client and his brothers that he has the family gift for finding valuables where others have failed.

Grace, frigid? Simon is sure the media met the wrong woman. He’s in danger of bursting into flames every time they are alone together. As they get closer to finding the heirloom, though, their growing passion for one another may distract them from the very real danger that threatens their lives and their possible future together. Whatever that might mean.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Decadent Publishing
• Release date: Jan 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781613337899

Alexa Bourne

Alexa Bourne is a teacher by day and a romance writer by nights, weekends, and all school holidays. She also teaches online classes for writers throughout the year. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance for Decadent Publishing and is thrilled to have the chance to share her love of Great Britain with readers everywhere. When she's not concocting sinister plots and steamy love scenes or traveling and exploring new cultures, Alexa spends her time reading, watching brainless TV and thinking about exercising. She loves to interact with readers, so visit her web page, hang out at her blog, follow her on Twitter or drop her a note at : www.alexabourne.com or http://alexabourne.blogspot.com, http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexaBourne or follow her on Twitter @AlexaBourne.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Chasing Gold

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2015 by Alexa Bourne

ISBN: 978-1-61333-789-9

Cover art by Syneca Featherstone

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

Look for us online at:

www.decadentpublishing.com

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Chasing Gold

By

Alexa Bourne

A Beyond Fairytales Adaptation of

The Brothers Grimm’s:

The Golden Goose

Dedication

For Rebecca Grimaldi. Thank you for your guidance and your friendship.

Chapter One

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, Simon Andrews no longer had to listen to his brothers’ bullshit. With a roll of his eyes, he mimicked the exact words of Paul. If you don’t pay attention, you’ll never be ready to go into the field.

If you don’t think of yourself as a professional, no one else will either, Danny added.

Plus with your attention span, you have to put 200 percent into all your work, Paul finished.

Simon leaned back in his office chair. If you two don’t let me go in the field with you, I’ll never learn the best way to hunt for treasures, will I? He should’ve known better than to ask to join them on their upcoming expedition. They would say no. Again.

Isn’t he cute? Danny mussed Simon’s hair. Simple Simon wants to go with us.

He smacked his brother’s arm away. We’re not kids anymore. How about calling me by my real name?

Simon Simpleton, Paul said. Got it.

He locked his jaw and shook his head.

While laughing, his brothers strolled toward the conference room.

Simpleton, you want some coffee? Paul glanced over his shoulder.

Yeah. He rubbed his eyes then stared through the office window. He would need something to keep him focused on this crappy paperwork. Though the three of them equally owned their company, Andrews on the Hunt, Simon was nothing more than a glorified secretary. Sure, he enjoyed parts of his job, but he longed for more.

Leaning forward in his office chair, he concentrated on the bills that needed paying. No sense in wallowing.

Outside, a black car pulled up to the curb. The sunlight bounced off the windshield, blinding him for a moment. Chatter about last night’s football game floated from the room behind him.

He focused on the computer screen until the front door made its obnoxious sucking noise then glanced up.

The door to the office swung open. In shuffled a little old man. Tufts of white hair covered his head. Hello, laddie, he greeted before the door closed. I’m Thomas Gray. The old man pointed over his shoulder as a tall, beefy guy in a dark suit followed him through the door. He’s Nigel, my driver.

The guy at the door sent a quick, menacing glare toward the old man.

Hi. Simon jumped out of his chair, itching to do something to help Gray. What can we do for you? He walked over, offering his forearm to help steady the man, who held a cane, but it didn’t seem to do much good. Nigel, in his secret agent outfit, stepped to one side and crossed his arms. He perused the room.

Simon stared at the guy. Should he wave his hand in front of the man’s face just to see if he’d move?

The old man plopped onto the couch lining the lobby wall. You’re a fortune hunter, are ye?

He hesitated—a moment too long.

We’re the hunters, Paul announced. He and Danny exited the conference room, each with a cup of coffee—as usual, they’d neglected to bring him one, despite the offer. He wasn’t sure why he even said yes when they asked. He’s our advisor.

Danny mumbled something, shifted around Paul, and slid into his office.

What’s this about, sir? Simon asked.

Paul stood next to him. He’s trying to find a family heirloom that might or might not exist. He shifted his attention to the client. Sir, we’ve told you twice we can’t help you.

Aye, but aren’t there three of you? Perhaps the third boy will listen. He pointed toward Simon. I suppose you’re the lad I’ve come to see.

Will you excuse us for a moment? Paul grabbed Simon’s arm and pulled him toward Danny’s office before either he or the old man could object.

Aye. When you’re done, I’ll be out here waiting. The guest pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his nose.

Inside the office crowded with sports paraphernalia, Paul closed the door then pointed at him. Don’t even think about it.

Danny looked up from the pile of papers in front of him. About what?

Little brother’s feeling sorry for the guy.

You can’t know how I feel. He pushed his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose.

Paul waved off the comment. Oh, please. We can read you like a Sunday newspaper.

Danny tossed his pen onto the pile. Didn’t the guy get the message the last time? Or the time he spoke to you?

What are you two talking about?

Paul sipped his coffee. The guy’s been in here before. Each time, he spoke with one of us. He’s searching for some golden treasure, and he wants to find it before he dies.

He’s convinced someone can find it even after he’s spent his entire life searching. Danny interlocked his fingers and dropped them to his stomach. He came in last week when we sent you to secretary school.

Simon bit his tongue to keep from arguing. No amount would do any good. His brothers would never change their opinion of him.

But I told him we couldn’t do it, Danny continued. Then he came in over the weekend to discuss it with Paul.

The more the guy talked, the more he made me think about Nana’s wackiness before she died. Remember when she got out of the house, wandered down to the shopping mall, then tried to sell her shoes? Paul shrugged. Not to be insensitive, but we don’t have time to chase rainbows for a potential pot of gold at the end.

Right. Because possibilities never guarantee fame and fortune. Like so many lawyers or bank loan representatives, the brothers claimed to work for everyone. However, a bunch of stipulations were listed in the fine print.

What’s he doing here now? Danny tapped his thumbs together.

From his comments, it sounds like he’s going to try convincing Simpleton here to work for him.

Don’t fall for it. Danny rose to walk to the chair in front of his desk and began packing folders into