Page 45 of Another Man’s Treasure

Bluebell, Lemon and Willa sit opposite us, their heads together like a little trio of investigators. Willa looks up at her brother, who’s silent next to me. I’m getting used to Wilder’s brand of quiet, though. It’s not that he doesn’t care what’s happening; he’s just observing it all. He’ll remember everything everyone said later on.

Will tugs at her dark green braid. “I didn’t sleep at all last night… I couldn’t stop thinking about this and what it might mean.” She glances at me. “And why now? Why deliver this to us last night? I assume you’ve all been to the bar many times without her doing something like this.”

Bluebell shakes her head . “A million times. Never seen anything like this. It’s new, for sure.”

I’m still playing catchup on what I missed last night, and I’m honestly shocked to shit over it. The bar gave them some long-lost note? Who? Why? How? It’s a mystery for sure.

Willa sits up and rolls her shoulders, straightening as she cocks her head from side to side, stretching. After a moment, she looks around the table. “I think we should go to the Keeper’s mansion. If anyone in this whole haven might have a clue about this, it would be her, right? She and Sipan Varian would have been close.”

Lemon nods, eyes springing wide. “Of course! She’s been empty since his death. If he left this to be revealed one day, she’d probably know about it…”

“Is that what we assume is happening, for sure? And what are we even expecting to find?” I grab the small paper and read it for the millionth time this morning. It’s not like there’s hidden treasure in Pine Gulch. This isn’t a real-life Goonies story. I mean, that would be cool, but…

Willa reaches for the paper, taking it and scanning it anew. “Don’t know. What I do know is that this haven has never kept a Keeper since Sipan, and now she’s sending us on this goose chase, and I can’t help but feel like it's really important.”

“So we’ll go to the Keeper’s house,” Wilder says simply. He glances at me. “You’re off today, you mentioned. Want to come with, or do you have plans?” His thigh officially touches mine then, and it zaps every conscious thought from my brain. Instead, I flash back to last night and his supreme, delicious dominance.

Blinking rapidly, I force a nod. That’s an appropriate response, surely.

The barest hint of smirk tips Wilder’s mouth upright, which is when I remember his sister’s incredibly unique ability to read other monsters.

“Sure, I’d love to go.” I clear my throat and grab my latte, then take a few more sips as Willa rises.

“Let’s go now.”

Wilder looks at me with a full grin this time. “You might have noticed that Willa doesn’t let things go.”

“Tell me about it,” says Bluebell with a groan. “You should have seen her last night playing poker with us. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over this hangover.”

Willa claps Bluebell on the shoulder. “Carbs, girlfriend. Grab some biscuits from Skylight and bring them with you. We’ll meet you at the mansion, alright?” Then she turns and heads toward the front of the coffee shop.

I smirk at Wilder, reaching down to place my hand on his thigh. “I see what you mean,” I say with a laugh, squeezing his leg through the jeans. It’s a test to see if he’s into it after last night. Part of me still doesn’t believe that what happened happened, and I’m not sure what’s real in the light of day.

But his grin grows mischievous, and he leans in closer.

“Y’all are cute as shit,” Bluebell says as she stands. “But I think your sister’s right. If I don’t get some carbs, I’m gonna barf everywhere. See y’all in a bit.”

She disappears too, leaving us with just Lemon, who’s smiling as she stares at us over the edge of a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

When she says nothing and the moment stretches long, I stare at her over the table. “Cat got your tongue, Lem?”

She stops sipping and looks at me. “Nope. I was just considering how many things are changing in Pine Gulch lately. Headquarters folks showing up to tell us about a whole paper Sipan wrote right after Shadow moved here to try to pick up some of his known-about projects. Wilder showing up and you two connecting. Now this thing with your sister. It almost feels like Pine Gulch is coming alive in a way, doesn’t it? Lots of love these days. Lots of connection. It’s interesting, don’t you think?”

I hadn’t considered that, but I think about it as I put my notebook back in my bag, careful not to jostle Ginger too much.

“We’d better go find Willa,” Wilder says. “My sister has a penchant for getting into tight spots simply by virtue of being herself.”

“And that’s what I mean,” Lemon says as she stands. “This whole town is a haven for folks who fit outside the normal mold. Furyon told me it was a lawless place of misfits when I first came here, and I think that’s proven to be true. Seems to me like perhaps Willa’s just another Gulcher, even though you’re not from here.” She sighs, but it’s a happy sound. “It’s like the more you don’t fit in, the more you do, if that makes any kinda sense.”

Wilder grunts noncommittally as he stands and moves so I can slide out of the booth.

“This is cute, you two.” Lemon waves a finger between us, a sexy little smile on her face. “I’m happy for you. You should come to Bluebell’s tonight for dinner. Might be nice to not have to fake it, ya know?” Her expression is pure mischief as Wilder looks over at me.

Shit, Lemon opened this door, and I might as well shove Wilder through it. I smile up at him. “I’m down if you are?”

His returning smile seems genuine, bringing out his dimples and drawing my attention to the adorable cleft in his chin. He turns to Lemon. “We’ll be there.”

She flashes him a bright smile as she leads us toward the door. We leave BrewHaHa together, hooking a left up Main Street. The clang of a train bell echoes from the direction of the portal station south of downtown. By the time we reach the crook in Main, Mabel the train cruises into view and pauses in front of the Welcome Inn.