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She swallows hard. “An ex-boyfriend. He showed up in town last week. He wants money, and we butted heads, literally. It was an accident. If I can find this treasure, I can pay him off and he’ll leave. It’s not a problem.”
Except it is a problem. It’s a huge ass problem for me. “What’s his name?”
She rolls her eyes. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Honey. What’s his name?”
“Dell. Dell Rutherford.”
“And you’re just going to give him the money? You aren’t going to call the police?”
Her eyes go glassy. “I told you his name. I told you what he wants. The rest is my business.”
“He hurt you, so that makes it my business.” And I’m not going to think about why that is. “Why not call the police?”
“He and I dated a few years ago and I…” She sits in my chair and pulls her knees up to her chest. “I did some things I’m less than proud of. I don’t want him to tell my sisters or anyone else. It’s better if I just pay him and he goes away.”
“How much does he want?”
She swallows hard. “Two hundred grand.”
She looks so pained by that number, but it would take one phone call for me to pay the guy off. I’d do it if I thought he’d actually go away. Guys like him get a hint of money and they’re never going to leave.
“And you think we’ll find that much with this treasure of yours?”
She lifts her hands in a shrug. “I honestly have no idea. If I can put him off long enough, I’ll get my inheritance. That’ll be more than enough to get him what he wants.”
I’ve heard how big that inheritance will be from Clover. If Dell hears any rumors about it, there’s no way he’ll be happy with just two hundred grand.
That’s something to worry about later. If I have my way, the guy will be long gone well before she gets that inheritance. “And that’s the real reason you want to go on this treasure hunt.”
She looks up at me. “The real reason I want to go is for my sisters, like I told you. I’m the youngest and I just want…” She fists her hands together and squeezes. “I want to know them better.”
“And a treasure hunt is the only way to do it?”
Fire flares in her eyes. “It’s better than me begging them to hang out when I know they’d rather be with their boyfriends and husbands. It’ll be an adventure we won’t forget.”
I’m the oldest of three siblings, but I pretty much moved out of the house at eight. I can understand wanting to build a more solid relationship with family. “Okay. I’m in.”
She looks up at me, eyes wide. “Really?”
“Did you bring the map?”
She hops up, excitement coloring her features. “It’s in the car. I’ll get it.”
I watch her race to her car, her long legs graceful as she moves.
“This is a terrible idea,” I say to Barley. He’s not paying any attention to me. He and Begonia are on the highest platform of his climbing tower, sitting side-by-side and staring into each other’s eyes.
It doesn’t surprise me I have the kind of goat who falls in love at first sight.
I walk around the house, meet Honey at the front door, and let her inside. “Why don’t you get everything spread out? I need to make a call before we get into this.”
I take the stairs two at a time and shut myself into my bedroom and then in my bathroom. I turn on the faucet and the exhaust fan for good measure before I dial my assistant.
“Jaxon, it’s been a minute,” Heidi says cheerfully. “Please tell me you’re on your way back to LA.”
“Not until we get the Vivian mess straightened out.”
