“Well you could stand some sweetenin’.” She quirked an eyebrow at him.
He took a deep breath. Neither he—nor the inn—could afford for his pride to stand in the way. He’d booked two reservations for the summer just that afternoon, unwilling to tell the potential customers there might not be an inn to stay at come June. If insurance wasn’t going to help, and he couldn’t open for tourist season before fixing the mold issue, the remaining inheritance was his only option to fund the mitigation.
But still. “What do you need money for?”
“I don’t see how that’s your business.” Her tone, while matter-of-fact, somehow wasn’t rude, which only aggravated him more.
Did she ever get mad?
“Well, you know why I need the money. If we’re going to be partners, then it’s only fair I know where you’re coming from.” He didn’t know why he cared what she did with it, except for the fact that Elisa even having a stake in this game still irked him.
“Wait. You said partners.” Her blue eyes lit with hope. “Does that mean you’ll do it?”
His resolve flickered. “Like you said—I think we have to.” He studied her delicate features, and considered the red flags going off in his brain. This was such a bad idea. Why had his grandfather thought it a good one? “But if we do, I think we should keep this on the down low.”
“Down low?” Her lips curved up. “Apparently the 1990s called, too. Want their slang back.”
“You know what I mean. If anyone realizes we’re working together, it’ll raise eyebrows. I’m not up for the drama.” Or a write-up in the Magnolia Chronicle.
“Me neither.” Her expression sobered. “Especially from my dad.”
One thing they could agree on. Was she, too, remembering a particular night twelve years ago, much like this one? When the moon was full above their heads, and the cicadas sang in the treetops and the grass folded cool under bare feet?
When black tears tracked Elisa’s cheeks and her father made it incredibly clear to Noah how many shotguns he owned?
He cleared his throat, pushing back a summer best forgotten. “So…” The past was the past, despite its sudden attempt to convince him otherwise. It needed to stay solidified in history, where it belonged. Tonight, the hunt was all that mattered. Saving the inn. Proving he wasn’t a failure. Red flags aside, they had to go for it.
He held out one hand to shake. “Temporary truce?”
Elisa rolled in her lower lip, peering up at him with cornflower blue eyes as if gauging his sincerity. Then she shook his hand. “Temporary truce.” Her palm was small and warm in his, and his brain had to tell his hand to let go twice before his fingers complied.
He hooked his thumbs in the back pockets of his jeans. “And only people whoneedto know will know.”
She nodded, her hair swinging in her face. She brushed it back. “Right.”
The word had barely left her lips before an engine puttered. Noah squinted at the road. A dark car inched by, headlights off. A familiar silhouette sat in the driver’s seat, her pale face illuminated by the full moon. He sighed as he angled back to Elisa. “I’m guessing Zoey Lakewood is on that need-to-know list.”
“Told you I didn’t walk.” Elisa grinned sheepishly. She waved, and Zoey guided the car up the driveway.
Noah watched as Zoey rolled down the driver’s side window. He didn’t know the woman well—she’d been a grade younger than him in school—but he’d bought some pastries from Bayou Beignets for his crew a few weeks ago, and they’d been a big hit. “If she was your ride, why did she leave?”
“Because I told her to. I didn’t want to chicken out and lose.”
Lose?
Gravel crunched as Zoey shifted the car into park. “Hey, Noah.” She leaned out the open window and wiggled her fingers.
“Zoey.” He tipped his head at her and frowned. “Your headlights are off.”
“I know.” Zoey clicked them back on. “So, did you do it?” Her dark brows disappeared into her thick bangs as she looked eagerly at Elisa.
Elisa headed for the other side of the car. “Yep. You owe me ten bucks.”
“Did you dowhat?” Were the shadows playing tricks, or had Elisa’s smile turned downright sassy?
She opened the passenger door and paused, one arm braced on the frame as her gaze mingled with his. “Why, convince you to do the treasure hunt,sugar.”
He narrowed his eyes.
