Page 354 of The Romance Adventure

“Yeah, it’s like snitches get stitches,” Isla says. “Sort of.”

“I know what it means.” My gaze travels to the horizon as if expecting the Dark Seas to materialize. Jolie does the same.

The others speculate and debate.

I’m still hung up on my wife’s interest in and knowledge about the treasure—along with the French passport she carries. Whether she has her own agenda or is somehow involved in the international policing of pirates, I can’t say for sure. All I’m certain of is I’m embedded in the Pirate Guild, intending to destroy their hold on the area, and then hopefully global trade routes.

But I will find the Lost Crown of Tears even if it means smoking her out. I’ve dealt with all kinds of criminals from the too dumb to stay alive to the cleverest in the world. I can handle this.

“I say we face it head-on.” My tone is forceful. Final.

Ryan’s eyebrows practically jump off his forehead.

Royal scowls.

The eldest McGregor nods. “We’re not going to let a stupid note, Glandman’s son, or anyone stop us. Finding the crown was our grandfather’s last wish. Let’s do this.”

The others nod and slowly agree.

Then Isla says, “But first, I say we all go get some ice cream. I think some heads need to cool off.” She eyes her husband.

My wife eyes me. The others walk ahead and she bumps me with her hip. “You’re a real swashbuckler, you know that?” Her accent rolls over the words like a sea shanty.

“A swashbuckler like a pirate?”

“Like you just do whatever you want. You’re daring.”

“Is that a good thing?” I ask because right now I want to kiss her—have wanted to since she got home, but I’m not sure it’s welcome.

The signals are mixed.

She still keeps a slight distance.

I don’t know what stands between us.

Our crew swarms the Sip & Scoop. As always, Ryan gets the sundae cone. Magnus orders rocky road. Royal goes with mint. Isla opts for cotton candy. Lally gets butter pecan, and Harley asks for wild mango with hibiscus. Jolie gets French vanilla. I opt for birthday cake.

“But it’s not your birthday,” Jolie says.

“But it’s delicious.”

“I’ve never tried that flavor.”

I angle my cone for her to take a lick. Can’t deny that my focus is more on her lips than what she thinks of the flavor.

She squishes up her face in the most adorable way. “It’s so sweet.”

But that’s just what we needed to shift the general mood from relatively hopeless and serious to a daring, adventurous family team seeking treasure with everyone smiling and laughing. Magnus sings the oldies song on the radio using his waffle cone as a microphone. The tune was one of Chip’s favorites. Love fills Lally’s eyes. I recall the dinner at the Driftwood and can practically pinpoint the minute they fell in love. Isla has the unique ability to make Royal smile and laugh. And any day Ryan and Harley are not at each other’s throats is a good day—we’re on a winning streak since they got married.

Jolie gazes at the map mural they found behind a broken mirror while demo-ing the ice cream shop.

“Isla restored it with fresh paint and a steady hand, but none of us can figure out if it’s significant.”

Jolie tips her head, brown eyes dancing through the turquoise water and tracing the little red flags planted on various Caribbean Islands. A compass rose is in the upper left corner and various objects scatter across the surface, including palm trees and pineapples, tropical flowers, a manatee and a mermaid, coconuts, and a copper bell.

“Not all the islands or towns are labeled. Seems kind of random,” Jolie says.

“Can’t figure out if the original artist got lazy or if it means something. I point to Coco Key. “We are here.”