Page 374 of The Romance Adventure

“How did the Crimson Tide get from here to here?” Jolie slides her finger across the map from where we searched using the coordinates from the Petrel’s logbook to Land’s End, the distant-most Key in the collection.

“Good question.”

We go outside and gather between Beans & Books and the dock.

“I don’t think the Grady White is a good choice. I’ll have to take the dive boat.”

“All the way out there?”

“We could all go on the Big Boat.” Harley waggles her eyebrows, likely recalling the fun times we had on it in high school.

Ryan shakes his head. “I thought we agreed, no boats. Your morning sickness is bad enough as it is.”

She tips hers from side to side. “Fair point.”

Like before, we divide into two teams. Those of us heading to Land’s End include Jolie, Magnus, Lally, and me. Harley, Ryan, Isla, and of course, Royal stay back because they have other responsibilities at their respective businesses. Royal says he’s going to try to dig up some more dirt on Kurt Jerkovic. I surreptitiously eye Jolie to see if she responds to his name again, or if before it was a fluke.

Sure enough, she shifts her weight, but her gaze remains steady.

“McMuffin, we have to get things ready for the Halloween party at the resort,” Isla reminds my brother.

“Yeah, everyone, make sure you stop by tonight in costume.”

“It’s Halloween?” I ask.

“It’s been a long time since I was part of an American Halloween.” Jolie smiles.

“They don’t celebrate Halloween where you come from?” Isla asks.

“Where do you come from?” Harley follows up.

I slide my hand into Jolie’s. My brothers can be a lot, but so can their wives. I don’t want her to feel intimidated or like an outsider. But there is the issue of her multiple passports.

She answers, and her story is the same about her parents and going to school here.

I wink at her. “She’s a woman of the world.”

Despite my suspicions, I squeeze her hand, truly enjoying the notion of there being a we who do couple types of things like getting dressed up for Halloween.

“I noticed you guys don’t wear wedding rings,” Harley says, known for speaking her mind without a filter.

“We were going to get tattoos,” I say with a laugh because, so wrapped up in our fall-fast romance, we floated the idea. That would be a bad move because of my work. Better not to have identifying factors.

Royal appears by his wife’s side. “Bro, tell me you proposed with a ring.”

Jolie laughs lightly. “Of course, he did. My fingers have been swollen lately, so I took them off. CJ is in the water so much that he’s afraid to lose his wedding band.”

She doesn’t mention I asked her to marry me just as the cathedral bells started ringing in the square. It was funny because she had to wait to answer me, but I could read her lips.

My gaze drifts to them now. I live to kiss this woman.

No sooner does the thought drift into my mind than I’m doused. So is Jolie. Royal, Isla, Harley, and everyone else, all still dry, burst into laughter.

Eyes sharp, Jolie’s muscles coil as if she’s ready to spring into action.

“She got us,” I say.

“Who? Where?” My wife looks like she’s going to destroy civilization.