“We did a good job of holding things in check.”
“I’m only here to fulfill a promise to your dad.”
“You can still fulfill your promise.”
“And then I’m leaving.”
“With my blessing.”
“I’m not good enough for you.”
“I’m not asking you to become an Eagle Scout.”
“I can’t afford to get involved.”
“We don’t have to become”—she made air quotes—“involved. If it turns out that I’m going to start dating again, then I’d like to give us the chance to ... experiment with what’s going on between us. That’s all.”
He glared, fighting to understand.
And then he did understand. Chase was a saint. He wasn’t. “The fact that you could never take me seriously means that you can lower your guard and experiment with me. Is that it?”
“No.” She scrunched her nose. “Are you angry?”
“I’m not angry.” But he was. “I just don’t want to be the lab rat in your experiment.”
“It wouldn’t be like that.”
“My answer’s no.” The idea of her loving Chase while messing around with him made him crazy. “I need to head out. Are you going to open that?” He indicated the envelope.
“I’d like to talk about us more.”
“No.” He’d dissected this as much as he could stand.
She gave him several long seconds to change his mind. He didn’t.
Her body language resigned, she ripped open the envelope and slid out the card. She read it, then slanted it toward him.
He stepped forward.
Ed had written down a number. Nothing else.
306.8752
“What does that mean?” Luke asked.
“I have no idea.”
While he looked at the number, his memory kept pulling him back to their kiss. “So the treasure hunt’s done for the day.”
“I’m afraid so. It’s done until we figure this out.”
He was already walking toward his truck. “If you think of something, text or call me. Don’t search for the next clue without me.”
“Luke?”
He paused.
“I like having you as my treasure hunt partner. You can trust me never to take off in search of the next clue without you.”
