AllFreeNovel
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“I’m reaching out to someone but keeping it vague. I don’t know if we can trust this guy, but the good news is, he’s here on the island. We’re in the same Facebook group for metal detecting.”
“I had no idea you were so invested in this kind of thing.”
“Well, dear brother, you don’t know everything about me.”
“I used to,” I grumble low enough I hope she doesn’t hear it. My feelings on this pregnancy are starting to put unwanted space between me and my little sister. It doesn’t matter how much I hate it or how I go about asking her who he is, she doesn’t budge. I fully intend to recruit Soren as soon as his ass is within radio distance. During a war on the water isn’t the best time to have the chat, which is an additional pain. I feel as if I’m losing my little sister, and I can’t even talk to my best friend about it. He’s scheduled to come back in September, but that’s still two months away. It makes me even more grateful for the bonding happening between the two most important woman in my life.
Robin gives me a sympathetic smile, indicating she heard me, but I ignore it.
“What do you think of this last part? In your treasure hunting expertise.”
“Again, smart ass, I’m no expert, but the only altar on the island is in the Mistletoe Church in Holly gardens.”
A sly grin spreads across her face, and it makes me very nervous.
“You know where that is right, Milo? You can take her?” she asks, but she’s acting really suspicious.
“Yeah.”
“Perfect. Oh, you should really wait until tomorrow, though. The sun will be going down in a few hours. If you guys find a fortune, you’ll want good lighting.”
“You’re not wrong,” I reply, still trying to figure out her plan.
“Good. It’s settled. Tomorrow, then. Well, I’m off to bed,” Robin says, standing with her beach bag.
“After a long day of relaxing?” I laugh, hitting her with one last brotherly jab before our mushy goodbyes.
“Growing a human is exhausting,” she says with a light tap to my cheek that’s just a little too hard.
I laugh low, through clenched teeth while she says goodbye to Meno.
“It was great meeting you. I hope we can hang out again soon,” she tells Meno with a hug, then it’s my turn.
“I love you, Dumdum. Call me tomorrow when you guys are famous treasure finders.” With that and a smile, she takes off toward her parked car in the sandy parking lot. Being the ever-protective big brother, I watch her car drive off until it exits the security gate and is out of sight.
Finally, looking back at Meno, I find her reading the poem again.
“Do you want to check out the church tomorrow, or do you have another hunch?”
“No, I think it’s a great idea. I googled it, and it’s as old as the Christmas Tree Statue.”
“What do you think the majestic three could be?”
Thinking for a moment, I remember the island’s waterways. “There are three main sources of water here on Candy Cane Key.” Quickly, I pull out my phone and one of my mapping apps. “Here, we have the winding channels in the mangrove, which waters reach way over here.” I show her the church on the map. “Then you have the island’s water plant, and last but not least, the church fountain, which happens to be the largest sitting body of water.”
“Really. No one’s swimming pool is bigger?” she says with a laugh.
“You haven’t seen the fountain yet. It’s enormous.”
“What do you think we’ll find there?” Meno asks.
“Treasure-wise?” I glance at the poem again. “It said three.Of gold, we found the key.”
“Second was of jewel, and we found the ruby in the angel,” she adds.
“Yep. So that leavesof heart.”
At that, our eyes find each other. Hers twinkle with mischief that draws me in. My lips hunger to taste her again. When we meet, it’s a reunion that lights me up from the inside out. Desire moves my hands into her hair, and we kiss like teenagers at the little picnic table. Nibbling, sucking, softly caressing, we take our time until an older woman clears her throat as she walks by. We break apart to laugh.
