Page 372 of The Romance Adventure

I learned more about Jolie in the last twenty-four hours than I had collectively since we met in Malaga.

She was tailing me overseas. Why? Who does she work for?

Her father wronged her. Who is he?

Is someone else after the crown aside from us and Captain J?

There are more questions, so many more about my wife and about us, but I’m nearly at capacity. It didn’t help that Royal practically roasted me on a spit last night for not bringing our grandmother back here. Magnus and Lally agreed we made the right decision, but he still thinks I’m flying by the seat of my pants, er, board shorts.

At the end of a long exhale, a car turns off in the driveway. Two, three? Doors slam. Here comes the welcome wagon.

Leaving what we thought was the completed map on the counter, I greet everyone.

“Keep it down. Jolie is still asleep.”

Ryan’s eyebrows shoot upward. “Late night?”

“Very.”

Magnus is the first inside and says, “I see why.”

Royal is at his heels. “Where did you get that?”

Ryan points at the old, brown fragments of paper. “Did our grandmother give that to you? Did Captain J have it? Why didn’t you tell us yesterday?”

If any of my brothers’ minds work like mine, they’ll quickly put together that I did not have the fourth piece of the map when we were last together, so I would’ve had to acquire it sometime between when we parted and now.

It’s barely eight am, which Luke is excited to share with the world as he rings the old ship’s bell outside. Isla has him in her arms and instigates his glee.

I wince. “Jolie is asleep.”

“I figured it was okay since you don’t have neighbors way out here.”

“I’m awake.” My wife appears at my back, looking fresh with bright eyes and wearing a white blouse, a pumpkin-colored skirt, and tall brown boots. I swallow because every time I see her, I’m reminded anew how beautiful she is in the most classical, sophisticated, and out-of-my-league way.

“Good morning, everyone.”

Magnus’s gaze narrows almost imperceptibly as if he pieced together that Jolie has something to do with my acquisition of the map.

Last night, after I got home, I decided to take a risk and study the four pieces together in my secret room below the garage. Didn’t think she’d come looking for me. Thankfully, motion detectors on the floor picked up her approach, but it was almost too late.

I’m eager to know who she really is, but like any other case I’ve run, I keep my cards so close to my vest that no one knows I’m even holding them.

I mention the incoming swell to my brothers—Ryan used to surf with me sometimes. Magnus occasionally, too. Truth be told, I love surfing and could use some time in the water to let my thoughts settle and see what rises to the surface.

Royal scoffs.

“We’re right on the brink. I’m missing something,” I murmur.

“Logic,” Royal replies.

I cast him a sour look.

Luke continues to ring the bell when I rush outside. “Wait, wait.”

“Dino!” he exclaims.

I get slightly distracted by our dinosaur roaring routine and am extremely thankful we don’t have neighbors because we’re altogether too loud for this early hour.