Chapter 24
“Get a grip,” I yell at my subconscious trying to derail me.
That woman is probably some beautiful guest who is leaving tomorrow. You’re here for three more weeks. At least.
Three weeks in which to find that pirate treasure. To present Keston with his family legacy.
Even though all I want, and need is him, we can still have it all. Money plus love. Okay, not in that order, right CJ?
“Right!”
I gaze into the tall cocktail glass Dex has placed in my hand. He said something about it being number seven on the list.
“This better be good,” I mutter to no one. “After the day I’ve had . . . am still having . . . I need the best damn rum drink.”
“Oh, it’s good,” a deep voice whispers in my ear.
I shriek. Almost drop the drink.
“What?” I spin around to see Keston. Legs wide, arms crossed, looking like he stepped out of Wakanda.
I want to toss the drink and throw my arms around his neck. But I can’t start behaving weird and . . . jealous?
Let’s call it what it is. My heart is spinning in my chest cavity trying to find a safe place to land.
“Well?” he smirks. “Is it the best damn rum drink?”
I stir the liquid with the cute umbrella and cherry perched at the side. I lock eyes with him under my lashes as I slowly sip the favorable concoction. My eyes open wide.
“This is incredible.”
He grins. “Thanks.”
“No, really Keston. This is your best yet.” I mean it. I suck down the rest of the cocktail forgetting it’s loaded with rum.
“What’s in it?”
“I could tell you . . . but then.”
“Whatever.” I roll my eyes. “I’ll bear the consequences.”
“You’d have to marry me.”
I press a hand against my chest. Is he serious?
Then I see all eyes on us. “Oh, is this part of your bartender spiel? It’s a joke?”
He laughs and pulls me toward him, removing the glass from my hands and placing it on a table.
“Woman, I missed you.” He kisses the top of my head while people stare with their tongues hanging out.
“Is he like . . . available?” asks the woman who said she’d eat him for breakfast.
He says clearly, “Not anymore.”
I wrap my arms around his waist. “That’s right. Not anymore.”
I bury my head against his warm chest. Inhale his outdoorsy scent of coconut, rum, and lime.
“Baby,” he says, leaning back. “I could hold you all night, but I’ve got to get back to the bar.”
“Oh,” I step backward. “Sorry. I have to tell you something important.”
“What is it?”
I tell him everything as we walk toward the bar. I have to shout a few times the words “pirate,” “treasure,” and “dairy.” But he gets the gist.
At first, he freezes. Then he sighs. “Okay. You have my support. I’d rather know what you’re doing than not.”
I smile. “Yipee. I’m a pirate treasure hunter.”
He groans.
“I didn’t know you were famous,” I shout, as Keston guides me closer to the bar. He’s high-fiving and fist-bumping a lot of hands along the way.
“Not yet, but I will be,” he says.
A Grand Canyon of a smile spreads across my face. Because I plan on making him super famous once I find his pirate king treasure.