I laughed. “I think we primarily focused on any bachelor with straight teeth.”
Andrew rolled on his side and leaned into me. “I’m a bachelor. And I have straight teeth.” He grinned like a mad man, making me laugh harder.
“But you aren’t related to the King.” I looped my arms around his neck and pulled him on top of me.
“I’m not, but I plan on giving you the royal treatment…” He pressed his lips to the corner of my mouth. “Right.” He kissed my jawline. “Now.”
* * *
It was close to five in the evening when Andrew and I returned to the marina. His picnic had worked out just like he had planned, and nothing he’d brought in the basket was wasted. Despite our next clue hunt turning out to be a dud, Andrew hadn’t stopped beaming since we’d left the island. We walked from the boat to the marina’s main office holding hands. I loved the feel of my palm in his large one. He went to return the keys and get his deposit back, and I took the empty basket to our car.
I was securing my backpack in the back of the Jeep when Andrew ran up the stairs to the parking lot three steps at a time. He stopped dead in his tracks, his face streaked with confusion then shifting into obsidian anger, muscles in his jaw spasming as he clenched his teeth. His eyes were glued to someone or something behind me, the crease between his eyebrows deepening. A sense of unease coursed through me, and I turned.
Richard leaned against a green Land Rover’s hood, his hands folded on his chest, a sickening smile pasted on his face. Tweedledum stayed in the driver seat inside, his sunglasses too small on this stupid flat face. Tweedledee stepped from behind the car, swinging a gray Yeti duffle over his shoulder, his shirt rising and exhibiting a black gun in a holster.
What the heck? My thoughts whirled with possibilities. Had they been here all this time, waiting for us to return with a new clue or actual treasure, or did they just show up? Was someone spying on us, or did Richard track our phones? Or had someone told him we were here? My mind reeled through every instance William had hidden his phone as soon as he’d noticed me watching him texting. Was he talking to Brandon? Was William that stupid to leak our location? Or did Brandon track William’s phone? No, that couldn’t be it because William didn’t come with us to the island, so he must have just shared it in conversation.
Andrew stopped at my side. “Fucking hell.”
“Mrs. Jones, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” Richard gave me a curt nod.
I won’t deny that it gave me great pleasure to be mistaken for Andrew’s wife. I threw Dickhead a dirty look. “I can’t say the same.”
“We just arrived.” Richard nodded in the direction of the ocean. “Do you care to share with me what you found on Árbol Hueco Isla? Remember, we could always split the share.”
“We should go.” Andrew opened the passenger door for me, and I slid into the Jeep. He pushed past Richard, rounded the car, and jumped into his seat. Without buckling up, he started the car and backed out of the parking spot, making Richard jump back to avoid being hit.
Andrew navigated us out of the marina, buckling up as he turned onto the main road, heading back to the town where we were staying.
Andrew’s grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles white, as if at any second he would rip the wheel off the dashboard.
“I must apologize to William,” Andrew said.
I shifted in my seat and smoothed away the hair whipping my face. “Why?”
“I was wrong not to believe him.” Andrew looked at his side mirror and steered the car around a slow truck going up the hill with livestock. “Dr. Garciaiscollaborating with Richard.”
ChapterTwenty-Five
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” I said over the roar of the engine. “You yourself said Richard was good at his job. He could have figured this location out on his own.”
Andrew glanced at me with an apologetic smile. “Our visit to the Árbol Hueco Isla had nothing to do with Augustine Pérez.”
A mix of confusion, nerves, and excitement churned in my stomach. “I don’t understand.”
“Richard wouldn’t have known about the island unless Carlos told him. I made up the location of the clue. I just wanted an excuse to take you on a date, spend time alone with you, and woo you with my cheesy lines.” His mouth twitched. “Are you mad I lied?”
Joy exploded inside of me. If he weren’t driving, I would have grabbed his shirt by its collar and pulled his face to mine. “I’m devastated.” I laughed at his reaction. “Why would I be mad? Today was the most romantic date anybody has ever planned for me.”
“Once we’re done with this trip, I’m taking you on a proper date.” He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed my knuckles. “On many dates.”
Andrew’s words made my heart soar. He didn’t care about our different social backgrounds, and the ocean that separated our lives. He wanted more dates with me. He wanted more of me.
* * *
“You were right!” I barged into our hotel room, my mind and heart full of all sorts of feelings. William was on his bed, his legs crossed at the ankles. He dropped his iPhone on his chest.
“Jesus, you scared me,” he said. “Of course I’m right. Just tell me about what.”
