Page 122 of Flirting with Trouble

“Is he staying through the holidays, or will we see him when we come to the island?” Seth asks.

Victory and I spent Thanksgiving with her family in Ridgeport, and my family joined us there. We’re heading back to the island for Christmas with my family next week, and Seth and the rest of their family are going to celebrate with us. I’m looking forward to it.

“He’ll be back by then. I told him he should stay until after New Year’s, but he hates being away from the island. Jared, do you have plans for the holiday?”

He stops pacing and rakes a hand through his dark hair. “I’m going to Jace’s in Maryland to see my nephew, Maximus. He’s the cutest little fucker.” He heads for the glass doors.

Seth laughs and shakes his head. “I’m pretty sure Jace and Dixie wouldn’t want you calling him that. Are you seeing Izzy while you’re there?”

“Depends if she’s talking to me or not.” Jared paces again.

“Is that the girl who came to see you in October?” I ask.

“Yeah,” Jared says. “I was on her shit list then, too.”

The entrance door opens, and a young guy steps inside. “Excuse me. I’m from Expediate Couriers. I’m looking for Wells Silver.”

“That’s me.” I head over to him.

“Great. This is for you.” He hands me a scroll of aged paper with a piece of twine tied around it.

“Thanks. Who is this from?”

“I don’t know, man. I’m just the delivery guy and driver. I’ll wait for you out front. Take your time.” He heads out the door.

Wait for me? I untie the twine and open the scroll, taking in the burnt edges of a hand-drawn treasure map. My heart soars. Start here is written next to a drawing of a car and waves, indicating water. A dotted line snakes and curves around pictures of a tree and buildings, leading to a cocktail glass. More sharp turns and arrows lead to flowers in a vase. The dotted line whips and curls, landing on a cupcake, which leads to some kind of cart. The next line leads to a musical note, and after more jags and turns, the treasure map ends with a heart.

I glance at Seth. “Did you know about this?”

He shrugs, shaking his head.

“Bullshit.” Jared hikes a thumb at Seth. “That’s his lie face.”

“I don’t have a lie face,” Seth insists.

“My ass you don’t…”

As they argue, I say, “Are we good here? Can I take off?”

“Yeah, man, g—”

I’m out the door before Jared finishes his sentence, racing up to the parking lot where the delivery guy is leaning against the car, his arms crossed. “Hi. I’m supposed to go with you?”

“That’s right.”

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“You tell me.” He opens the back door and points to an envelope on the seat. Then he climbs behind the wheel.

I get in and open the envelope. Inside is a sliver of paper with Go to the place where you took my widow cherry. I chuckle and give the driver the name of the hotel where Victory and I first got together. I can’t believe she did this.

When we get to the hotel, I take out my wallet to pay, and the driver says, “It’s already paid for. Don’t take this wrong, man, but I’m supposed to tell you, Good boy. Now go to the place where I first flirted with trouble. That’s from her, not me.”

“Yeah, I got it. Thanks.”

Adrenaline rushes through my veins as I climb out of the car and head around the corner, passing a tree on the sidewalk that I hadn’t remembered was there. When I get to the bar where I first saw her through the window, I glance through the glass, expecting to see Victory sitting there. She’s not.

I head inside to look for her. As I walk by the bar, the bartender calls out, “Hey! Are you Wells?”