Page 76 of The Romance Adventure

Heavy with thought, I return to the car. As I pass through town, my gaze travels to the soft glow from inside Beans & Books. Things with Isla and me could be great. But we don’t have enough in common. She’s a ball of chaos, and she’s connected to the recently deceased defendant in my legal case.

I spot her in the café, talking animatedly to a spindly, bald man. A man whose sleek sedan idles across the street. The license plate says The Man.

My chest threatens to crater at her betrayal, but I push against it, stuffing it down to fester, just like Isla warned against.

Not only is she involved with Daxel Norris, but now is she making friends with Glandman, my family’s biggest rival? I should’ve known better than to wade into the water with her.

When I get back to the rental, Magnus packs his bags.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“Why’d you ask that, like I did something to upset you?” His tone suggests he didn’t appreciate my rude and accusatory tone. The kind Bean might use if she discovered all her chocolate missing—the woman loves the stuff and so does her sister.

Which is exactly why my tension is ratcheted up to a breaking point.

“Is this about Isla, Glandman, or something else?” Magnus asks, as perceptive as ever. I’m convinced the guy has eyes on the back of his head. Intel everywhere, too.

“All of it. She sees the world differently than I do,” I say, starting with Isla without meaning to. If things were good with her at the moment, the rest would be more bearable.

He nods. “She looks through rose-colored glasses.”

“Paint splattered rose-colored glasses.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“It’s not practical.”

Magnus shrugs. “Is it any better than seeing the world through a brick wall?”

“I don’t⁠—”

“You think everything is a wall.”

“I’m not the one who goes around smashing things.”

“Only the bad guys, Royal.”

“You say that like I’m one of them.”

He shakes his head slowly. “Nah, but sometimes you’re your own worst enemy.”

“Why don’t you butt out of other people’s business like an old goat.”

He squints because that wasn’t my best line and I can’t afford that. But I’m off my game. I blame Isla. “She keeps asking about Chip’s will.”

“Not surprising. She was there. It’s an unusual but not entirely surprising thing—our grandfather leaving us a puzzle to solve or else all his treasure goes to Glandman.”

“I saw him earlier.”

Magnus nods as if he already has eyes on the guy, tracking his movements, and is ready to fire a proverbial shot if necessary. “Glandman isn’t getting a penny of Chip’s money. Not a splinter of wood from the resort. Not a grain of sand from this island.”

“You and whose army is going to stop him?”

My tactical, stoic brother laughs dismissively. “I don’t need an army.”

“Then how are you going to stop him?”

“You started it.”