“It’s a clue,” Darcy muttered as she stood up and looked around at all the happy faces.
“You were right. He left a secret message for his parents. You did it.” Wade grabbed her up and twirled her around as he laughed. Darcy hadn’t even breathed yet. Her mind couldn’t process it. After all these years and all of the research, she had been right.
“What does it mean?” Tinsley asked as Wade set her down.
“I don’t know,” Darcy said as she looked back down at the note. She pulled out her phone and captured at least twenty photos before standing back up. “But I will.”
* * *
Wade rested his hand on her hip as they read the note again. “When a ship rides low it means it has cargo on it,” he told them.
Darcy nodded next to him. “And lower shall it ride . . . I bet that means it’s going to be sunk.”
“The gold, silver, or gems line probably is telling his parents what is on the ship,” Ellery said.
“And one last gift is the location of the ship,” Gavin added.
“So, the rest of the message is how to find the ship,” Ridge said as he pinched his lips in thought.
They all leaned forward again. “As the snake’s tail sounds,” Darcy read aloud. “Does that mean anything to you?”
Wade grinned as he pulled out his phone. He didn’t have cell service, but what he was looking for was a picture he’d taken a year ago. “I think I have it,” he said as he scrolled through the photos until he found what he was looking for. It was simply a picture of the ocean depths off the coast of South Carolina.
“What is it?” Ridge asked him.
“It’s the name of a particular shallow off the Isle of Palms,” he said, shooting a grin to Darcy. She had mentioned the Isle of Palms before. It was a small island across from Charleston. “Here it is.”
Wade zoomed in and showed the picture to Darcy. He heard her suck in a breath as she saw what he was pointing to—Rattlesnake Shoal.
“What? What’s that?” Harper asked.
“It’s a shallow area about three miles from shore. Depths range from eleven to sixteen feet and it’s called Rattlesnake Shoal. There’s a long history of ships running aground there. But it’s a well-known place. I don’t think a ship could be sunk there and us not know about it,” Wade explained. He knew it well. He’d had to rescue people there before and it would be darn hard to not see a large boat sunk there. People would hit it all the time.
“So, the rest of the letter must be where to go after the shoal,” Ryker said from where he had taken his seat again.
“As the snake’s tail sounds, you spin me like a dancing master. He Loves Me So. As I love you. Goodbye and Godspeed,” Darcy repeated. “Godspeed is something said to someone to wish them success.”
“To find the ship,” Wade said out loud as he thought about the phrase. “But I can’t figure out the rest.”
“I have to get to Charleston. Tomorrow morning I’m buying a new boat since someone put a dead body in mine,” Ryker grumbled as he stood up. “I’ll think about it and see what I can come up with.”
“We’ll text you from our honeymoon if we think of anything, too,” Gavin said as Ellery gave Darcy a hug goodbye.
“I’ll slip the jacket back into the water as well,” Kord told them. “Unless you need it?”
“No, I don’t. Thank you.”
“No problem. I want to see that attorney again, so I’ll pop down in the morning as an interested citizen.”
“Thank you,” Darcy said to him as she gave him a smile.
* * *
Soon everyone was heading out of the tunnel. Wade had a hand on Darcy’s elbow as she held onto the box with both hands. Darcy hung back so Wade let his family leave first before asking her why she didn’t want to leave.
“Reverend, can you place this in the hidey-hole you were talking about so only the three of us know where it is and how to get to it?”
“Sure thing. Right this way.”
“Don’t trust my family?” Wade asked, slightly hurt. He had thought they had gotten along great. In fact, she seemed as if she were already part of them.
“No, it’s not that. It’s just that I want to get to it easily, and I don’t want to have to light all those torches every time I want to see it.”
“Understandable. It is a hike to get there.” Wade relaxed a little, knowing it wasn’t personal as Reverend Winston showed them a stone in the wall that was hollow. Darcy slipped the box inside and pushed it back into the wall. “Amazing. You can’t tell at all.”
Darcy looked relieved and that’s all that mattered to him. “Come on, let’s go home,” Wade said, taking her hand in his as they left the church.
14
“My house is just over there,” Wade said, pointing in the direction of his small cottage-style house a couple blocks away. “I have a spare room if you feel like sleeping on land tonight.”
Wade tried to play it cool. He wasn’t quite ready to let go of Darcy even if it was only for a night. “It has a nice shower and an iron if you want me to get some wrinkles out of whatever clothes Harper gave you.”
“You had me at shower.” Darcy laughed. “You don’t mind me spending the night? I don’t mind showering and then heading back to the boat.”
“No need for that. I’m sure after such a day we’ll crash as soon as we get back.”
Wade began to walk her toward his house when she stopped him. “Should we get my clothes?”
“I’ll drive down and get them when you’re in the shower,” Wade said as he laced his fingers with hers. He noticed she had already been holding out her hand for his. In just a day, they were already naturally reaching for each other. He liked it. He liked it a lot. It felt natural and comfortable and sexy. All these little touches and brushes of their bodies were driving him wild. As much as he wanted nothing more than to act on those wild thoughts going through his head, he was a gentleman, and he’d wait until Darcy gave him a sign that she was ready for more.
They walked hand in hand down the street and away from the marina as Wade pointed out the antique store, the courthouse, sheriff’s office, and the town diner named Stomping Grounds. “Then on the corner of Main Street and South Cypress is Lowcountry Smokehouse. Earl Taylor runs it and smokes all the meat with wood. Down by the marina end of Main Street is the Pink Pig. Darius Foster owns that and uses charcoal. It’s an ongoing debate in town. In fact, every Sunday they both make a batch of barbecue, and it’s served in church. You don’t know which is which. You take communion and then barbecue. Then place your donation to the church in either the A or B box. The winner is announced at the end, then it’s a race to get to the barbecue place of your choice.”
Darcy was laughing as they turned up South Cypress and headed the two more blocks to his house. “You’re making that up.”
“Nope. We take our barbecue very seriously in Shadows Landing. My family will go to both places, but some are so diehard they will only go to one and never to the other.”
“I feel transported here,” Darcy admitted.
“How do you mean?” Wade asked as they strolled past a law office and the beauty salon.
“This town is so close to Charleston, yet it seems as if you’ve stepped back in time when you come here. You all seem to know everyone.”
“We do know everyone. It’s a really small town,” Wade said with a laugh.
“With a pirate pastor and hidden tunnels and brawling barbecue,” Darcy said as she laughed harder.
“All true.” Wade smiled at her and then pointed. “That’s me.”
His cottage house was a light blue with white shutters and a small wooden front porch. On it were two rocking chairs and a plant that had died a year ago. He wasn’t the best at keeping plants alive. He could rescue a person in thirty-foot waves, but remembering to water a fern was beyond him.
Wade unlocked the door to his house. Small cottages lined the street until South Cypress turned into North Cypres
s. Bell Plantation’s land claimed one side of the road. The other side was lined with houses in the more rural part of Shadows Landing. His brother, Trent, and his cousin, Tinsley, lived in that direction. Trent made beautiful furniture and Tinsley painted. They both said the quiet nature of their surroundings inspired them. For Wade, it was a little too far from the community. When Tinsley and their family friend, Edie Greene Wecker, were attacked in her home, there was no one around to hear and come to their aid. Tinsley’s brother, Ridge, had begged her to move into town, but she had refused. On the other hand, Edie lived just a couple houses down from Wade now.
“There’s a guest bedroom upstairs, and at the end of the hall is a small guest bath,” Wade said as he closed the door.
He was nervous as he wondered what Darcy thought of his house. He knew she appreciated his boat, but his house was something he was even prouder of. He and Ridge had fixed it up. Trent had made most of the furniture from Wade’s own designs. Then Ridge had come in and built anything Wade and Trent hadn’t been able to do themselves. The result was what he called historical contemporary. He used historical designs and modernized them.
Darcy slowly turned as she looked around the house. “The lines are so clean, but you used old materials. It’s so beautiful.”
Wade let out the breath he’d been holding. “I’m glad you like it. I want you to feel comfortable here.”
“It’s great. Thank you for letting me stay.”
“Please, treat it like your own home. I’ll go grab your clothes and be back in a bit.”
Wade closed the door and walked over to his small one-car detached garage. As he drove down to his boat, he whistled to himself as he thought of coming home to Darcy.
* * *
Darcy walked around the house, feeling like a snoop. But what was a treasure hunter except for the ultimate snoop? The house was beautiful and not exactly what she expected. Wade was so easy-going she expected a messy kitchen and beer cans on the coffee table. Instead, she found a pristine house that also felt homey.
Darcy walked upstairs and easily found the guest room and bathroom. At the other end of the narrow hall was an open door that had to lead to the master bedroom. She knew that since she’d already opened the other door and found a closet. She paused a couple steps from Wade’s room. Should she go in? No . . . well, she did need something to sleep in. Surely Wade wouldn’t mind her borrowing a T-shirt.
Darcy pulled her shoulders back and marched into his room and fell in love. The master was way larger than she thought it would be and there was a one-of-a-kind king-sized bed against a wall with a whole wall of windows on the opposite side. Part of those windows were French doors that opened onto a balcony on the back of the house, giving her a view of open yards and plenty of trees. Darcy almost pressed her nose against the window as she saw the overstuffed outdoor furniture that begged to be curled up in with a good book.
She turned her attention back to the bed and found a neatly folded gray Coast Guard T-shirt on it. She probably didn’t really need it to sleep in, but when she picked it up it smelled like Wade and that sealed the deal. Darcy grabbed it and dashed down the hall for the bathroom as she clutched the shirt to her chest. She knew she was acting like a teenager, but she couldn’t help it. There was something about Wade Faulkner she couldn’t get out of her system. Darcy was afraid Wade was like diving. Once she took her first dive, she knew she’d never get enough. One touch of Wade’s hand and she knew she needed more. Once she got it, Darcy didn’t know if she’d ever be able to give him up. And she’d have to. She had a treasure to discover . . . if someone didn’t kill her first. Then, well, then she didn’t know. Could Wade be a part of her life then?
* * *
Wade came into the house through the back door. He placed Darcy’s borrowed clothes at the bottom of the stairs and headed into the kitchen to make a quick snack. The guys at work teased him because he loved to eat. He ate all the time since he swam so much.
He was putting the grilled cheese on a plate when he looked up and the grilled cheese plopped off the spatula and luckily, landed on the plate. Darcy stood in the doorway to the kitchen with wet hair, a squeaky clean face, and wearing his T-shirt. He’d never seen anything as sexy before in his life.
“Mmm. I could smell your cooking all the way upstairs. What did you make?”
Wade cleared his throat and sliced the grilled cheese in half. “I’m always hungry at night. I didn’t know if you were, too, but I went ahead and made you one anyway. It’s a smoked gouda and apple grilled cheese on sourdough bread.”
“And you just whipped this up?” Darcy asked as she walked into the kitchen.
Wade held out a plate for her. “Yes, but if you don’t like it—”
“No,” Darcy said, shaking her head and then grabbing the plate. “I just wondered if you were real. No man has ever cooked for me before.”
“Well, I will happily be the first.” And the last. “Do you want a beer?”
“Sure.”
“We can sit in the living room and eat,” Wade told her as he grabbed two beers from the fridge. He had a kitchen table that seated four, but he didn’t want a table between them.
“Do you have any movies?” Darcy asked excitedly. “Being out on the boat so much, I don’t get to see a lot of television or movies.”
Wade followed her into the living room and was happy to see that she took a seat on the couch before patting the seat next to her. Wade set the beers on the coffee table and handed her the remote.
“A movie, the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had, and a beer.” Darcy groaned happily after taking a bite of the sandwich. “This is better than sex.”
“Then he didn’t know what he was doing,” Wade said before he could stop himself. He’d been thinking of nothing more than ways to please her since he met her. “But I’m glad I can please you.”
Wade smiled as he bit into the sandwich. Darcy had blushed, but she’s also scooted closer to him on the couch. “Thanks for the meal and the movie.”
“Anything else I can do for you?” To you?
“This is perfect,” Darcy said as she rested her hand on his leg and snuggled closer. “Thank you.”
Wade set down his empty plate and wrapped his arm around Darcy’s shoulders. He smiled over her head when she tucked herself against him. Her head fit perfectly against his chest as she wrapped her arm around his waist and sighed with contentment. He wished he could make her sigh with satisfaction, but for now, this was perfect.
Wade put his feet on the coffee table as Darcy pulled her feet onto the couch and rested more fully against him. He reached behind them and pulled a blanket from the back of the couch and draped it over Darcy as they settled in to watch the movie.
15
The doorbell ringing had Wade’s eyes shooting open. He looked down and saw that he had his arm over Darcy’s with his hand cupping a full breast. Darcy was still asleep, but now the side of her head was on his thigh with her face facing his, well, his very happy to see you in the morning part. And why was it so happy? One of Darcy’s hands was resting on his very hard Mr. Happy.
The bell rang again and Wade cursed under his breath as Darcy grumbled in her sleep. Darcy gripped her hand around his even more swollen erection. It was all sexual torture until it turned into just torture when the bell rang for a third time and Darcy pulled his Mr. Happy toward her mouth, and not in the way he’d hoped.
“Hello?” she mumbled into his penis through his loose athletic shorts as if she were answering a ringing phone.
Wade let out a hiss as he involuntarily squeezed her breast.
“I don’t know what kind of phone call this is, but I like it,” Darcy muttered, her eyes still closed as she continued to talk to his Mr. Happy.
Well, Wade could put up with a little discomfort if she liked it. He’d do anything to please her, including letting her use Mr. Happy as a phone.
“Yoo-hoo!” an elderly voice called from the other side of th
e front door.
Damn.
Wade lifted his hand from Darcy’s breast.
“Hey, is anyone there?” she asked before blowing into the phone.
“Darcy,” Wade groaned as he tapped her shoulder. “It’s time to get up.” Gosh knows he was already up.
“Did you hang up on me? Asshole,” she muttered as she dropped her hold on him. Wade let out a breath of relief. He’d didn’t mind waking up to her touching him, but he’d bet she’d be embarrassed.
“Darcy!” Wade said loudly as Miss Winnie and now Miss Ruby were calling out at the door.
Darcy shot up. The top of her head hit his chin in the process. And there went Mr. Happy as pain shot up his jaw.
“Ow,” Darcy said before realizing what had happened. “Oh my gosh, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Wade said, rubbing his chin. “Are you hurt?”
“No, just a little embarrassed. Hey, did the phone ring?”
Wade pursed his lips to keep from laughing. “No, it’s the doorbell. We have company.”
“I should put some clothes on.”
Wade heard the key in the lock. “Too late.” The front door opened behind them and two old ladies teetered in with handfuls of food.
“Oh! We didn’t think anyone was home. We did ring the bell multiple times,” Miss Winnie Peel said as if she were surprised. She knew they were home. Wade knew this since her face showed no hint of surprise at all as she walked right in and sat down in the living room along with her best friend, Ruby Lewis. Similarly, Miss Ruby didn’t look one bit surprised either, probably because they’d looked in the windows before even ringing the bell.
Miss Winnie resembled a chicken somewhat. Her pale skin was wrinkled and she had a very beak-like nose. She didn’t weigh much more than a chicken either. On the other hand, Miss Ruby was her complete opposite. She was the rounded grandmotherly type that always had candy and cookies at the ready. Her reddish brown skin might be wrinkled, but she still had the same mischievous glint to her eye as Wade imagined she had as a child. Darcy was sitting up next to him with crazy hair, wide eyes, and the blanket pulled up to her chin.
Sunken Shadows Page 10
