Page 355 of The Romance Adventure

Jolie turns to me, so close I can smell her citrus blossom scent over the waffle cones. “No, we are here.”

She looks up at me through her thick, dark eyelashes.

My fingers skim her hair.

Shifting closer, our noses brush.

We’re just a breath away.

“Hey, love birds, out here. We have something to discuss,” Royal hollers.

Like two teenagers caught by Dad, we jump apart.

“He’s all business and no fun,” I whisper to Jolie as we exit.

“I heard that. Don’t believe anything CJ tells you. It’s all tall tales and whoppers.”

Giving my head a shake, I wink. “Rumors of lies don’t make a dishonest man.”

Royal looks at me like I grew two heads. I’ll admit that I like to throw a few curveballs every once in a while. Keeps ‘em on their toes.

Jolie

CHAPTER 9

I play many roles, relatable gal pal, ingenue, mysterious femme fatale, the bombshell, and everyday girl next door, but two are new. Wife? Sister-in-law? I’m not sure how those work.

Granted, CJ and I have been married for nearly a year, but that time has largely been spent apart. Which version of me does CJ know?

For one night in Malaga, I let myself forget that I’m a covert operative. I was just me, carefree, Jolie. But it’s no longer those whirlwind romance days spent on the Spanish coast. Real life returned, and with it, consequences. I’m riding the struggle bus of what compromise to make. My career and identity or my marriage?

Either way, I’m afraid someone is going to get hurt.

CJ holds the door for me as we exit the Sip & Scoop. I glance over my shoulder at the mural. I can’t help but wonder if it has something to do with the fragment of the map I stole from Kent Von Dräger.

From years of experience, I know I have to play this slowly. A waltz versus a cha-cha. If I express interest in the other three pieces of the map too soon, I’ll arouse suspicion. But the map is burning a hole in my pocket. Though I’m afraid CJ sometimes stares into my soul. I worry he knows that I’m also looking for the crown.

I’m all too aware of what this looks like from the outside—he was my mark. Then I fell for him. Went so far as to get married. But the two are separate. It’s not a fake marriage, so I could get closer to the treasure. It’s real, yet not only am I so out of my depth being in a meaningful relationship, I’m tiptoeing over the tulips because keeping my true identity a secret is impossible.

This means I push him away or withdraw, whichever is easier given the situation, but I’m not sure how much longer I can keep up the ruse.

“I vote we talk to Glandman,” Royal says.

“Be my guest.” Ryan wears a flat smile because no one here likes the guy.

“Here’s what we know: Glandman never knew about or met his son. Aunt Lorena left to raise him on her own because Glandman wasn’t a good man.”

“Do we know why they had such a bad falling out, apart from Glandman being a jerk?” Lally asks.

“Aunt Lorena and Chip had different fathers. She received an inheritance and Glandman got hold of that money via the sale of his manufacturing business and built a rival to her brother’s resort,” Magnus explains.

“From what I’ve gathered, Glandman assured Lorena that he’d preserve her father’s legacy. More like sell out overseas.”

“Then she discovered she was pregnant and left?” Harley rubs her belly.

“I think I want to try the birthday cake ice cream.” Isla looks at her belly. “I’m eating for three—the babies and me.”

CJ takes the last bite of his cone.