32. Indiana
Kane released an evil laugh. “You’re never going to forgive me for that, are you?”
“Forgive you? Why should I?”
He heaved a sigh. “As I’ve told you before, I’m sorry for doing that. I shouldn’t have taken that urn from you, and I regret that decision like you will never believe. I was young and stupid and blinded by that treasure. But it ruined what you and I had. And that wasn’t worth the price I got for that piece of junk.”
My jaw dropped, and I had absolutely no comeback.
“Indiana, I don’t want your forgiveness, but I hope that you will forget what I did to you ten years ago. You are a much better treasure hunter than I will ever be, and you deserve every success.”
“Oh.” I still couldn’t formulate a reply.
He swept his hand through his thick blond hair, and the wet waves danced in the slight breeze. “For the record, I sold that stupid urn for two hundred dollars.”
Wow. In my mind, I’d blown the value of that trinket to ten times that amount.
“You spent more than that on fuel driving my boat out here, by the way. And those two bottles of wine are worth much more. They’re all yours, Indy. So, what do you say? Do we have a truce?” He held his hand forward, and I studied it like he had a loaded grenade in his palm.
I glanced at Tyler, and although he seemed frozen in position, his expression begged for me to take Kane’s offer.
A chuckle worked its way up my throat. “You really don’t give up, do you?”
I shook Kane’s hand.
“Giving up is for pussies. Speaking of giving up, now that I’ve kept my end of the bargain . . .” He turned his gaze to Tyler. “Can you please arrange a meeting with Aria?”
Tyler nodded. “I think you’ve earned that meeting.”
“You’re not kidding.” Kane rolled his eyes to me. “You know I would have brought you out here, Indiana, right?”
Feeling like a dope, I shrugged.
Kane burst out laughing. “Well, I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into, Tyler, because Indiana is one of a kind.”
“I have no idea, but I look forward to finding out.” Tyler wrapped his arm over my shoulder, pulled me to his side, and kissed the scar on my forehead.
Kane slapped his hands together. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving.”
We followed Kane to his galley, and as he made roast beef and Jarlsberg cheese sandwiches with pickled relish, Tyler hit Kane with a pile of questions about his treasure hunting. I mostly kept quiet because Kane’s stories were fascinating, and sometimes too incredible to be true, but that just seemed to add to his personality. With Kane, it was hard to tell fact from fiction. Especially when he said he’d spent four years working for the Navy. I could never picture him in a regimented military role.
Their conversation made for an entertaining hour, though, while we waited out our surface dive time. By the time we returned to the water, the currents had changed dramatically for the worse. The ocean tugged our bodies back and forth, and it took a lot of energy to scan around our first find for any more relics from the Siren’s Lure.
We came up empty-handed, yet none of us were surprised.
It was a miracle we found what we did.
The next two hours were taken up by cleaning and storing Kane’s equipment, and I couldn’t believe how pedantic he was about putting everything in its place. He wasn’t like the Kane Devlin I remembered.
The sun was on its way into the western horizon when we gathered around the tub with our salvaged bottles.
“So, now that you have that dive out of your system, Indiana, any chance you guys can get off my boat so I can get back to what I had planned to do today?”
Tyler and I both chuckled.
“Sure,” I said.
“And take those ugly bottles with you.” Kane nodded toward the bottles in the seawater.
I burst out laughing, and it was like the weight of the world was finally off my chest. Releasing a huge sigh, I offered to shake Kane’s hand. “Thank you.”
He shook my hand and flashed a smile that took me back to a time before our relationship went to crap.
“Before you go . . .” Kane marched away and returned a few minutes later carrying a bottle of champagne and a plastic bag. He handed the bag to Tyler. “Sorry, I don’t have much, given I hadn’t planned this trip, but there’s a few nice cheeses in there and some crackers.”
“Thanks, mate.” Tyler shook Kane’s hand.
Kane handed the champagne bottle to me. “Look after yourself, Indy. You deserve a break.”
“Thanks, and thanks for your help today.” I couldn’t believe I was saying that to the same man I’d had nothing but contempt for over the last few years.
Kane helped Tyler carry the tub containing our precious bottles onto my boat, and as I followed them, I scanned the deck. “Hey, this is a Border Force boat.”
“Correct. Aria has replaced this one with a new boat.”
We went inside and placed our precious bottles on the table in the main room.
“Catch you guys around soon.” Kane saluted us, then strode away.
I glanced around the room, which had been stripped of everything related to Border Force.
“Are you serious about Aria giving me this boat?” I asked Tyler.
“Yes. It’s all yours if you want it.”
“If I take that job offer . . . right?”
“No, the boat is yours no matter what you decide.”
“Are you serious?” I ran my gaze over the shiny surfaces which showed no signs of wear and tear.
A horn blared outside. Tyler led the way back out the exit and held my hand as we watched Kane’s departure.
Kane blew the horn on Devil’s Fortune again, and as Tyler waved, Kane’s yacht eased away from us.
I shielded the setting sun with my hand as I watched Kane’s boat grow smaller in the distance.
Once I confirmed he really was going, I turned back to Tyler. “You know, when I first saw you today, I thought you were going to arrest me.”
“I thought about it, you crazy woman.”
“Why do you keep calling me crazy?”
“Because you are. And you drive me crazy.”
“Hmmm, is that good or bad?”
“The jury is still out on that.”
Giggling, I playfully slapped his chest. “You love it, Officer Fancy Pants.”
As I grinned up at him, a glorious warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the setting sun beating down on us.
We took turns showering the salt water from our bodies, but without spare clothes, I had to redress into my bikini, shorts, and T-shirt. I returned to the main room, where Tyler was peering into the tub with the bottles.
“I still can’t believe we found these.” His expression was loaded with awe.
“It’s pretty special.”
“Finding treasure like you do must be amazing.”
My thoughts drifted to my time treasure hunting with Mom.
“What are you thinking?” Tyler asked.
I loved how intuitive he was. It was like we’d been together forever, and he could truly feel me.
I peered into his stunning eyes. “The day I got these scars on my leg.”
Tyler nodded and frowned. “The day your mom was murdered.”
“Yes, before she was killed, I told you we’d been scuba diving.”
He tilted his head, and the sorrow in his eyes was like he knew another sad story was coming.
“That was the day Mom and Dad found the ancient boat that had brought them together.”
“That’s right. You told me they met in the library.”
I smiled, pleased that he remembered.
“What I didn’t tell you was that the wreck they found contained treasure.”
He blinked at me. “Treasure? What kind of treasure?”
“Gold coins, jewelry, trinkets.”
His eyes widened. “That’s what those bastards took from your father.”
“Yep.”
He placed his hand over the back of mine.
“Just before Dad died, he told me he killed those men.”
“I know, babe, you told me.”
I loved how he called me babe. No man had ever had that privilege, and I was so glad that special nickname came from him.
“What I didn’t tell you was Dad got that treasure back from those men after he killed them.”
“He did?” Tyler frowned. “What did he do with it?”
“He put it back where he found it.”
His lips parted like he was about to impart a great secret. “And?”
“And I know where it is.”
His eyes twinkled. “Wow.”
A grin overtook my mouth. “You’re wow.”
“So are you.” He pressed his lips to mine. His lips were so soft, yet his kiss was firm and absolutely incredible.
I loved that he didn’t ask where the gold was. That meant the world to me. He had already learned that pressing me too hard would backfire. I would tell him when the time was right.
No, I wouldn’t tell him. I wanted him by my side when I brought that treasure to the surface again.
I placed my hand on his chest and eased back. “How about we anchor closer to Kangaroo Island and christen my new boat?”
His stunning eyes flared. “Sounds perfect.”
We strolled to the bridge, and as I familiarized myself with the controls, Tyler settled into the seat beside me. After hauling up the anchor, I started the engines and they purred beneath my feet. We set off into the shimmering waters, and as the wind blew in through the open windows, I wanted to pinch myself.
I had no idea what this job offer of Aria’s was, but the fact that she wanted to offer me something was incredible. Everything about this moment was incredible, especially the man at my side.
By the time I’d decided on a location in a small cove along Kangaroo Island’s shoreline, the sun had dipped below the horizon in a blaze of gold and orange. A couple of rock wallabies bounced away as my anchor splashed into the water.
I turned off the engines, and a perfect silence washed over us. The peaceful ocean made me feel at home. It was another thing I missed while staying in Tyler’s tiny home.
We returned to the main room and leaned over the tub containing the two antique bottles. A fierce sense of melancholy washed over me.
“I wish Dad could see these,” I said.
Tyler offered me a sympathetic smile. “I know.”
A breath left my throat.
“What?” Tyler said.
“I promised Dad I would give him a bottle to drink if we actually found any intact. We should drink a bottle.”
Tyler’s jaw dropped. “You’re joking, right?”
“No. It’s perfect. It will be our homage to Dad.”
“Indy, that’s crazy.”
“Exactly.” I plucked a bottle from the tub. “You find some wine glasses. I’ll find some chairs. Meet you on the top deck.”
“Indy,” he called as I marched away with Dad’s spirit dancing inside me.
With determination in my steps, I climbed the stairs to the top deck of the boat. The wind tousled my hair as I set the antique bottle down on a small table and gazed across the breathtaking view of the full moon rising up from the eastern horizon. A hint of the sun’s warmth lingered in the air and mixed with breezes drifting off the ocean.
Tyler joined me, holding two wine glasses. He raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure about this?”
I met his gaze, filled with a mix of confidence and joy. “Absolutely. Dad would have loved this.”
A small smile played on his lips. “Okay, then. Let’s do it. Want me to do the honors?”
I handed him the bottle. “Sure.”
He peeled the red wax from the top of the bottle and prodded the cork with his finger.
“Is it okay?” I asked.
“The cork is still intact, so that’s a good sign.”
He carefully pushed the corkscrew into the cork, but it crumbled away. “Shit. The cork is compromised.”
“It’ll be okay. Keep going.”
Working painfully slow, he finally pulled the cork from the bottle, and it released a small pop.
“Yay,” I cheered.
Grinning at me, he sniffed the contents and scrunched his nose. He held it toward me.
I smelled the open bottle. “Smells good.” I held the two glasses toward him. “Go on then, pour us a glass.”
He poured dark ruby liquid into our glasses, and the scent that wafted from the wine was rich and intoxicating.
Raising my glass, I met Tyler’s eyes. “Here’s to Old Smithy. I love you, Dad.”
“To Old Smithy.”
We both sipped.
”Yum.” I grinned at Tyler.
Tyler puffed out his cheeks. His eyes bulged, and he raced to the side and spat overboard. “Bloody hell, that’s disgusting.”
“What’s wrong with you?” I took another sip.
He poked his tongue out as if he was trying not to gag as he strolled back to me. “I think that Nescafe Blend 43 has ruined your taste buds.”
“I’ve had worse.” Giggling, I took another sip. “But yeah, I’ve had better, too.”
Tyler wrapped his arm across my shoulder, turning me toward the moon.
The moonlight bathed us in its soft glow, casting a magical aura around us as we stood on the deck of my boat. The waves gently lapping against the hull provided a soothing soundtrack to our serenity.
“Your father would be proud of you, Indy.” Tyler’s gaze was fixed on the horizon, and he squeezed me tighter to his side.
A lump formed in my throat, but I didn’t want to cry. I’d done enough crying. Especially when this moment was absolutely perfect.
“Old Smithy may not be here in person, but his spirit lives on in you.” Tyler kissed my forehead.
An idea trickled into my mind, and a giggle rose up from within me like Dad was sending me a challenge.
“What?” Tyler eased back from me.
“We have to chuck a browneye at the moon.”
“What?” Tyler laughed.
“Yep. It’s a tradition on my boat. We have to moon the moon. Come on.”
Clutching his hand, we ran, giggling, to the front bow.
Laughing like lunatics, we pulled down our pants and waggled our bums at the moon.
I could barely breathe by the time we stopped and pulled our pants back up.
“You’re fascinating.” Tyler grinned at me, and in this moonlight, he looked spectacular.
“And you’re lovely.”
“Careful, Indiana, I think I’m falling for you.” He gripped my hand and pulled me toward him.
“Good, because I know I’ve fallen for you.”
A breath left his throat, and as the moonlight danced in his stunning eyes, he pressed his lips to mine.
But his kiss didn’t linger as long as I wanted, and he eased back with mischief dancing on his expression. “You know how you mentioned christening your new boat? I have an idea how we can really christen the boat.”
He removed my T-shirt, undid the knot at the back of my bikini, and cupped my breast.
I stripped out of my shorts and bikini bottoms and jumped into his arms. “Take me to the stars, Detective Fancy Pants.”
His warm hands clutched my ass. “As you wish, Captain Bossy Boots.”
THE END