“Where we’ll walk the plank?”
She winks. “Something like that.”
Chapter 26
“Just the facts. No, I didn’t say fax.”
-Carolina
I’m having so much fun on the scavenger hunt, I forget about lunch until my stomach protests. Loudly.
We found our next clue on the pirate ship in the end zone of RayJay. Which led us to the Plant Museum on the grounds of the University of Tampa. Now, we’re wandering through Ybor City looking for Florida’s Oldest Restaurant.
“There,” Rand points to The Columbia.
I smack my head. “Of course.”
Rand grabs my hand. “Stop hitting yourself. I don’t like it.”
He doesn’t let go of my hand. I decide Idolike that, so I keep holding his hand as we enter The Columbia and show the hostess our clue. She winks and leads us past the impressive lobby fountain toward a private dining room.
The table is already set with a dizzying array of forks. Mama taught us to behave like civilized humans at the dinner table, but our training didn’t include shrimp forks or finger bowls.
“I don’t know why you’re frowning, but I hope it’s not at the idea of lunch because I could eat my arm off,” Rand nudges me to sit.
I’m being ridiculous. I know it. Rand isn’t some hoity-toity doctor who expects you to know the difference between a salad and shrimp fork. He’s just Rand. The guy next door. A smoldering hot, smarty-pants genius next door.
I sigh.
I sink into a chair facing the door. Rand sits in the chair right next to me and immediately places his hand on my knee.
I don’t hate that either.
I’m wearing pants, but as he strokes little circles on my knee and upper thigh, my leg feels like lava.
“Complimentary champagne for our scavenger hunt winners,” a waiter appears with a bottle of pricey bubbly.
“We won?” I perk up.
“Yes, madame,” he pops the cork and begins pouring. “You’re the first to conclude the hunt, and that makes you the winners of this round.”
I didn’t think there’d be anything better than having Rand feel up my knee. But this is a very close second.
Winning! Yes!
“Suck it, mean girls!”
Rand clasps his hand over my knee as he roars with laughter. “So violent! I kind of love it!”
I’m about to suggest something else he’ll love when my phone rings. I glance at the screen and immediately answer. “Mrs. Whitby?”
“Oh, Carolina, dear. I’m so glad you answered,” my neighbor sounds out of breath.
“What’s going on?”
“Well, I have some great news! I found Inigo!”
Relief washes over me. I nearly burst into tears.“Inigo! I’m so glad to hear that. Where did you find the little rascal?”
