Page 17 of Another Man’s Treasure

“Your pit hell ain’t what I’d have thought,” Wilder finally grumbles as we turn the corner in front of the newly renovated Keeper’s mansion.

I shrug and wave at the big house. I don’t owe anyone an explanation on why Ginger isn’t some tough-as-nails huntress. It’s just not her way.

“So, did you know Pine Gulch has chased off every Keeper we’ve had since our first one, Sipan Varian? This house has been dormant since his time, except, for reasons no one understands, she adores my friend Lemon. My theory is it’s Lemon’s sass. All of downtown is pretty sassy, actually.”

I give him a quick once-over. “You know you’re moving to such a sassy town? It doesn’t seem like your vibe, exactly.”

He shrugs and pushes his hands into his pockets, hunching his shoulders against the cold. “Not sassy, exactly, but I love the wildness of this place. I actually visited quite a few times when I was still on the buckin’ circuit, you know. I didn’t pick Pine Gulch by throwing a dart at a board.”

Well, okay then.

I fall silent as we start walking again.

Main Street’s pretty busy this morning, full of couples and groups milling around, chatting, drinking coffee and the like. Saint Ashbourne stands in front of the Welcome Inn, flirting with a blue-haired pixie. As if he can feel me, he turns and glances our way.

Remembering my fake boyfriend, I thread my hand through the crook of Wilder’s arm to rest my fingers along his forearm and do my level best to be interested in his silence and totally uninterested in Saint.

When we reach BrewHaHa Beans, Wilder grabs the door, shooting me a soft smile that’d have my ass puckering with need if I didn’t know it was fake. Still, I blow an air kiss at him and sail through, wrapping my tail around my thigh. Ginger follows, and then Wilder joins us. As a happy little faux trio, we trail to the back and slide into my—I mean our—booth. Ginger hops up next to me and assumes her usual position, head on my thigh. Wilder grabs his computer out of his bag and opens it, preparing to start his work, I assume.

I’m actually kinda glad for that, because I’m nosy, and I’m sorta dying to know what on his computer always has him so intent.

After removing my notebook from my pocket, I open it up to the page where I’ve started my business plan. I suppose this might change now, though, if Wilder comes through with the rest of the money.

Glancing over, I nudge his side with my elbow. “Pst, Wild or Wilder, I’ve got a question.”

He sighs, glancing up at the ceiling before looking over at me with his trademark frown. “What is it, Oz?”

“You really good for the twenty K? I haven’t deposited it yet.”

He snorts and looks back at his computer. “Guess you should have asked before you agreed to this, huh? ‘Cause now you’re gonna have to just wait to find out.”

“That’s not comforting,” I manage as Saint Ashbourne walks through the door and heads for the counter. Ruby eyes flick to where we sit in the back, and I smile at him.

Just behind him, Lemon and Bluebell come through the door with arms linked.

Oh shit, this is gonna get tricky because Bluebell saw me on that date literally two days ago. The girls are gonna spoil this whole thing. They look back in unison like the creepy twins from The Shining, then Bluebell cocks her head to the side with a quizzical look.

I shake my head, shooting her a warning look. Her expression goes neutral as she drags Lemon over to wait for their drinks. A few minutes later, they join us, sliding into the chairs across the table.

“Spill,” Bluebell murmurs, looking between me and Wilder.

He clears his throat, looking at my besties over the top of his computer.

Moments later, Willa appears to his right and flashes us a huge smile. “Oh my gosh,” she says, looking at the girls, “you must be Lemon and Bluebell! Oz was telling me all about you last night. We had a little sleepover, and I’ve just been hearing about you for ages.”

Bloob looks baffled, and Lemon just lifts her coffee to her lips. “Is that so?”

I reach over and pat Lemon’s forearm. “Yes, y’all are gonna love Willa, Wilder’s sister. She’s in town for a couple of weeks; she’s a lawyer. So badass.”

“Oh, I love a lady in charge,” Lemon says amicably.

“I’m sad you didn’t invite us to this mysterious sleepover,” Bluebell snarks. Her expression screams for me to spill the beans.

I chuckle. “As if either of us could pull you out of Hadrian’s nest. Are you kidding?”

Wilder still hasn’t said a word while she laughs.

Bluebell shrugs playfully. “Facts. It only took me two decades to get into that nest, and you couldn’t bust me out with dynamite.”