Page 325 of The Romance Adventure

Affronted, I tuck my chin. “I have manners.”

“Not enough to answer your phone. I’ve been texting you all morning. Emergency meeting.” Royal gestures with his cup to everyone else, already up bright and early.

I say, “I was going to call a meeting.”

“We beat you to it,” Magnus says with a nod in my direction. “Now, let’s get down to business.

To say my older brothers tolerate me is me being polite. However, since hearing our grandfather’s will, and as the reality of Chip’s stories of treasure finally sink in, their collective respect for me went up a notch. Maybe two, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped teasing or dismissing me as the baby in the family.

Technically, Emmie is the youngest, but she’s immune to everything other than love and respect. Rightfully so, she’s awesome, but it’s like whatever amount they had in reserves for me, skipped a sibling.

“So, what we know—” Royal starts.

I shoot my brother a pesky little bro look. “That’s my line.”

“No, you’re always bringing up what we don’t know.” Royal makes an annoyed sound in his throat.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because it’s important to focus on our blind spots.”

“How do we know what they are if we can’t see them?” Ryan asks.

I’d like to explain the nuances of tradecraft, but keep my knowledge a secret, and for good reason.

In turn, Isla and Lally outline Chip’s will. That’s what we know, but it’s always a secondary focus to what we don’t know.

“We’ve acquired the three stones,” Magnus adds.

“Three of the four pieces of the map. Plus, there’s the mural map at the Sip & Scoop that Isla restored.” Royal gives his wife an affectionate side hug and kisses her on the top of the head.

“We identified Captain J as being Gerome Glandman and Aunt Lorena’s son.” Ryan frowns. “Ew. Technically, that means Glandman is our uncle. Never really thought of that.”

Moving on because we despise the ruthless property developer and family enemy, I say, “We have the Petrel logbook.”

Lally adds, “With a lead on where the Crimson Tide might be.”

Just then, Harley appears. “Sorry that I’m late. Morning sickness.”

She does look a little green. Both she and Isla are pregnant.

“Nugget, I told you to stay in bed as long as you wanted.” Ryan fusses over her.

She pecks him on the lips. “I got nosy. Couldn’t let you guys have a meeting without me.”

“And she’s not the only one,” Lally mutters.

A member of Coco Key’s family of women whose names are a variation of Rose and comprise the Nosy Rosies and are behind the Coconut Wireless, waves. “Morning, McGregors! What brings you out on this fine morning?”

“Business,” Royal says vaguely.

“Hi, Rosalie,” Isla says.

“I can’t tell you how thrilled we are to see the Driftwood open along with the Sip & Scoop. The refurbished cottages are no longer an eyesore, which Primrose Real Estate appreciates because it helps improve property values island-wide. But Aunt Rosabella said you got a steal, CJ.” Rosalie baits multiple hooks to see who’ll bite.

I nod because it’s true that the villa was a bargain. Even though I’ve told my brothers that I’m a homeowner, they don’t believe me, and even now, when Rosalie confirms this fact, they don’t so much as register that their “Beach Bum Brother” owns a luxury property and pays the taxes, I might add.

Then again, I’m not exactly going to be forthcoming with how I do that.

They don’t ask. I don’t tell.