Page 348 of The Romance Adventure

“To argue with me about all the reasons I love you and whether I’m sorry for not telling my brothers that we’re married.”

“Are you sorry?”

“No.”

I can’t help my grin. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Meeting them was an adventure, right?”

I tip my head from side to side.

“I’m not sorry because we did things our way, and it worked out alright.”

I just hope we do, long term. Though I’m not counting on that.

CJ nudges his head toward the patio. “Come on, let’s have dinner.”

We settle at the table on an elevated area toward the end of the dock. Whoever built this place knew the exact position and angle for the optimal sunset.

CJ perfectly prepared a dish of lemon pepper chicken, rice, and a salad.

He doesn’t know everything about me, but one thing is for sure. He found the way to my heart. “This is romanti-licious.”

“Is that a French word? Moroccan? Spanish?”

“No, it’s Jolie-ish.”

His lips quirk. “Sounds like a love language.”

“Lucky for me, you’re fluent.”

CJ wipes his mouth with his napkin. “You met my family. Now you practically know everything about me or who to ask if you want details about the time I embarrassed myself in fourth grade. What happened when I lost my two front teeth? The ice incident. The duct tape debacle...I could go on.”

“Sounds juicy.”

“I’m an open book. But what do I know about you?” CJ taps his fingers on the table.

“That my weakness is home-cooked meals. That I love sunsets. You.”

“You love me?”

“After I forgive you, I’ll answer that.”

We said those words to each other one week after we officially met. It hasn’t changed, only grown, but I should fight it.

CJ is quiet for a long moment, like we both have unspoken sins to atone for.

“When will that be?”

“Do you want the date and time?” I tease.

“That would be helpful.”

As soon as I tell him the truth about my job, why I’m looking for the treasure, and who my father is.

But with the band of McGregors involved, this tiny island isn’t big enough for all this activity. With our relationship on the rocks, I have to be the first to find the treasure, and then we can forget this whole thing happened and go on a cruise—at least I think that’s what normal couples do.

Then again, my profession isn’t exactly normal, but I hope CJ doesn’t hand me over to the pirates when he learns the truth.