Page 335 of The Romance Adventure

Acting casually curious, I say, “When you were overseas, did you ever find out what happened to the Cartagena Catch?”

She shrugs. “I imagine people are still searching for it.”

“Were there murmurings at the fete? Lovers of art speculating about what may have become of it?”

“There always are. It’s one of the world’s greatest undiscovered treasures, with the ship containing it going down somewhere between Cádiz and Cartagena. Most people in those regions catch the treasure-hunting bug at one point or another.”

“Including us,” I say, trying to keep things light.

“What if the treasure hunt was merely a way to bring two people together?” Still perched on the counter, she shifts closer to me.

My gaze dips to her lips and mine plays with a smile. “I’d like to think that’s the case.”

“There are things in this world greater than diamonds and gold.” She slides her fingers along the hem of my T-shirt.

I couldn’t agree more. “I missed you, Jolie. I missed your accent, your eyes, your smile...” I trail off as the space between us closes.

Her eyes dip. Mine lingers on her lips.

Moments before our mouths meet, a male voice says, “This has to be the place. I’ve checked every other recently sold piece of real estate on the island.”

“Looks like his Jeep in the garage,” a second male says.

Drawing back, I stiffen, but quickly realize who the familiar voice belongs to. I tug us both toward the floor. Surprisingly, neither one of us spill the horchata. For me, not surprising considering I’m trained to move through laser fields and high-security locations. As for my wife, I add this tidbit to the dossier.

A third male voice says, “Technically, this is its own island.”

“This is it. Look. A ship’s bell.” Likely, it’s Ryan who rings the large brass bell Chip gave me and that I had mounted on the deck. Often, we kids scattered around the island, and he rang it when it was time for us to come home.

“Lots of people have those.”

It rings again.

Closing my eyes, I exhale. “Sounds like we have guests.”

Jolie smiles. “More like a rowdy crew.”

Crouched down behind the counter, I gesture between us. “Can we pick that up later?”

Biting her lip, she says, “Yes, if it means I finally get to meet your brothers.”

“Prepare to be underwhelmed.” That’s not to say my brothers aren’t amazing men, but our relationship is typically strained at best.

“Why are we doing this again?” This time, it’s a female voice. Isla, I think.

“Four heads are better than one.” That was Lally.

“To think he’s been hanging out with us when he could’ve been hiding out here,” Harley says.

A small voice hollers, “Dino!”

A shadow crosses the window, and then a pair of blue-gray eyes meet mine.

Ryan has Luke riding on his shoulders, giving him the perfect view into the kitchen where we hide.

Squinting, Royal mouths through the window, “What are you doing?”

I hang my head, knowing that the others will peer inside and see Jolie and I crouched down with glasses of horchata in hand, looking reasonably guilty.