Page 391 of The Romance Adventure

Her lip twitches.

I narrow my eyes.

Jolie swipes for the keys.

I hold them out of reach.

Then she lunges toward me, full body, throwing me off balance. I topple into the desk chair on wheels and roll toward the window.

I’m not sure what everyone else is doing, but they’re not helping me as Jolie charges my way. I hop to my feet and we run around and around the desk. It’s at least six feet in length and my strides are longer than Jolie’s, so eventually, I stop on the short side. She does the same opposite me.

Once again, I meet her eyes, hoping to see in their depths why she’s doing this. I don’t see the swirls of treasure fever, nor golden-eyed greed. At least not much.

Given her line of work, I’m sure she’s fought her way out of rooms filled with goons more formidable than us, but that’s just it. This is us.

However, I’m grateful things have remained contained, and she’s not chasing me all over the resort. I’m afraid of what would happen if she caught up. Would I forfeit and let her have the keys? The treasure chest is in a safe, but I have no doubt she’d find her way inside.

Hands planted on the desk, Jolie moves to jump onto the desk’s surface, when Magnus bellows, “This has to stop.”

“What’s going on?” Royal asks.

“I don’t think she’s who she says she is,” Ryan mutters, looking more disappointed than angry.

We kind of have Jolie backed into a corner. During the chase, I assessed that she didn’t have any firearms concealed on her person, but her hands could be deadly weapons.

I give Magnus one key and pass the other to Ryan. “Royal, you can get the chest.”

Turning to Jolie, I ask, “Why do you want the crown?”

She crosses her arms in front of her chest. “That’s top secret.”

I’m embedded with the pirates in the area, and as far as I know, none of them are interested in the crown, except Captain J. There are far easier targets for them than treasure hunting—what with hundreds of ships in these waters and their cargo.

“I thought we were a team,” Harley says.

“I don’t like it.” Lally shakes her head.

“I vote Jolie off the island,” Isla suggests.

“We’re not voting anyone off the island,” I say.

Royal steps forward, arms crossed, jaw set. He points at Jolie. “She’s up to something. You know it. I know it.”

“It’s complicated and potentially confidential.”

Royal barks a laugh.

Magnus observes with practiced patience.

Ryan frowns. “If Harley were acting this way, you’d have had her escorted off the property.”

“No, I wouldn’t because I’m loyal,” I say, hoping this appeals to my wife’s better sensibilities. If this doesn’t, then it’s over between us.

“You’re dumb.” Ryan gets to his feet, marching toward me.

“You’re going to get burned.” Royal approaches from the other side.

Given my training, I can take them both. Magnus would be a challenge, though I don’t want it to come to that.