Page 331 of The Romance Adventure

“It was complicated. Did you tell anyone in your family?”

“What family?” I blurt.

CJ doesn’t know that I don’t have one to speak of. Well, there is one remaining member, but he doesn’t know the real me.

In the heat of our early courtship, I may have told CJ I have siblings, but I can’t remember.

“Your brother Marcel and your sister Heloise?”

That’s the problem with lying to someone you love.

“Remember? The Bond family. I asked if there was any relationship and when I could meet them. You told me that they’re busy being international spies. Then that night we watched the latest 007 movie. Our guy James pulled some real wildcard moves.”

It’s all a little too on the nose, because much like Sir Kent Von Dräger, I have multiple aliases.

I’d learned that an American was seeking the Lost Crown of Tears and looking for leads in Casablanca. I had my eye on him and it became clear that he was a risk taker, entering neighborhoods where he didn’t belong and making inquiries with dangerous people. If I were in a different line of work, I’d say he was sketchy. He went dark after a meeting with the Shadow Riders, a notorious gang of bikers and underground smugglers.

In Tangier, I got eyes on him again and tailed him for two days before I found him in a gambling den where he won a speedboat. The man was a sensation seeker.

But then he disappeared again without a trace.

I gave up and traveled back to Malaga, where I was headquartered, figuring it was a false lead. There, I treated myself to dinner with live music.

Across the bar, he sat looking rather smug with himself. It was almost like he recognized me with the way his gaze traveled up and down before landing on my lips. Though I tell myself that he liked what he saw.

Without a word, we started dancing and didn’t stop until the music did. The night spun away from us and by dawn, I only had one question for him—everything about my investigation disappeared from my mind.

“CJ, that night in Malaga, I asked if you played games.”

“Technically, it was the next morning, and I answered, ‘Only when I know I’ll win.’”

At the time, I considered that he, too was a spy. But he broke too many rules to be part of any agency. Then again, I’m half rogue at this point.

His chest lifts with an inhale as if he’s about to ask something difficult. “My turn, before you last left for Europe, you told me that you needed some time to think things through about our relationship.”

“That’s not a question.”

But I could never leave this man. I love him too much.

With a wavering smile, I say, “I wanted to test the absence makes the heart grow fonder theory, and see if you’d come to your senses and tell your brothers that we’re married.”

“I guess I’m not the only one who plays games.”

He’s right about that. Being with CJ is unadvisable for a variety of reasons.

The McGregors don’t know it, but my father is at odds with them. He abandoned me, but I would like a relationship, even if it comes at a cost. Even if it’s from behind bars.

As if nothing we’ve said to each other registered, CJ asks, “So, you’ll come to Barbados with me?”

Even though I was resolute in my plan to push him away, I can’t say no to my husband, especially if it means I might find out more about the treasure we seek.

CJ

CHAPTER 4

My brothers often say that I always just go with the flow. I’m not sure if it’s a criticism or a compliment. Likely, the former.

My youth spent surfing could be part of the reason I tend to go with the wind. However, I’ve also learned that sometimes it’s best to observe a situation before trying to control or influence it.