50. The Real Prize
50
THE REAL PRIZE
Jake
If you’d asked me seven days ago if I could have imagined falling for a woman this quickly, I’d have scoffed.
But everything about this job had surprised me—Ruby most of all. I’d tried to fight against this attraction, against my feelings, against everything about her that was irresistible. I didn’t let anything get in the way of work, especially romance. But I was no longer working with her, so I was free to proceed.
No, that was a lie. I’d been game to move forward with Ruby regardless, hunting treasure together or not. I wanted her, and I didn’t want to fight that desire any longer.
“So, about this elephant in the room,” I said, brushing my fingers across her soft thigh.
Ruby scanned the beach. “I don’t believe elephants are native to Flamingo Key.”
“No. The elephant is the rest of Florida.”
“Ah, I see.” She smirked. “And what exactly about Florida is elephantine?”
I laughed, loving her sense of humor. “This. Us. The fact you and I just fit.”
A smile spread across her face as she shifted closer to me. “How do we fit?”
I pulled her snug against my side. “I like to think we fit in Florida.”
The look in her eyes said, Go on .
I counted off on my fingers. “One, we live close to each other. Two, it would be a damn shame if this,” I said, gesturing from her to me, “had to end with this trip. Three, what would you think about seeing each other when we’re back home?”
She roped her arms around my neck with a big, b est idea ever grin. “I only have one reply: yes.”
I sealed our promise with a kiss under the rising morning sun as gentle waves lapped the shore. This brief affair had started in a tropical paradise, but it wouldn’t end there. No matter what happened next with the diamonds, I had already won.
I had the girl. She was the real prize.