“Sounds like a plan. There are some interesting caverns I’ve been studying on this local map.” Roman gestured to the seat across from him. “Why don’t you sit down. Join me for breakfast. I can vouch for the blueberry pancakes. They’re scrumptious.”
A hint of a smile tugged at her lips. “No, I can’t. I have to get back to Gems. But thanks for the invitation. Enjoy those pancakes.”
With a turn of her heel she was walking away from him. The gentle sway of her skirt lent a romantic air to her appearance. Was she always so graceful and demure? Something told him that she wasn’t. Perhaps it was a mask she wore, one that protected her from the slings and arrows of life. He couldn’t blame her. Life was hard. And sometimes it was cruel. He knew that better than anyone.
Before he went about the business of finding Treasure Harbor’s hidden jewels, he had to make a call to his sister. Marissa was the reason he was here. She was everything to him. And even though Jade was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever laid eyes on, he couldn’t take his focus off what had brought him to this place in time. His number one priority was getting a big payday from Buddy Keaton so he could help Marissa with her medical bills. Without the rehabilitation therapy, he didn’t know what would happen to his sister. He’d already lost his best friend. He refused to let Marissa get swallowed up by depression and hopelessness.
It wasn’t happening. Not on his watch.
**
Saturday arrived, promising to be a perfect September day for treasure hunting. Although Jade had spoken with Roman a few times over the phone, she still didn’t have a clear idea of the day’s agenda. Roman’s enthusiasm about all matters pertaining to the lost treasure amused Jade. He didn’t seem too interested in the monetary aspects of the treasure, which was quite different from most of the treasure hunters who’d arrived in her hometown. Roman talked about the treasure from an archeological perspective. He seemed to be intrigued by the Star of Imara and the centuries old Burton-Callahan treasure.
Hmm. What on earth did a person wear to go treasure hunting? Jade clearly had no clue. She almost picked up her cell phone and called her best friend, Lara, to ask her that very question. But then she would have to explain about being hired by a gorgeous archeologist to help him find the Star of Imara. She had a feeling Lara might not even know about the elusive piece of jewelry. But, as a journalist, Lara’s curiosity would be over the top and hard to extinguish. No way did she want to stir anything up. For the moment she was going to keep her mouth shut about Roman Sant’Angelo.
By the time she figured out that jeans and a long sleeved T-shirt were proper attire, it was time to meet Roman at the pier. From what she’d gathered during their phone conversation, Roman wanted to explore the possibility of the treasure being stashed at caverns, and, if they had time, head over to the historical society. He’d also mentioned wanting to check out the masthead for Drake Burton’s ship. Knowing how protective the Burton family was of anything related to their ancestor and the treasure, Jade felt pretty certain they wouldn’t allow him to inspect it. She’d made a point to tell Roman that the Burton family, as well as the Callahan family, were extremely invested in finding the treasure themselves.
Jade felt good about earning a little extra money on the side by working with Roman. She still felt terribly guilty that because of the man she’d fallen in love with, her family had been a target of a financial scam. They were still trying to get the business out of a bad financial situation. It was a great source of shame to her that she’d led trouble to her family’s doorstep.
Working with Roman provided a means to an end. Little by little she would repay all the money that Kristoff had stolen. Although her parents had told her numerous times that they didn’t expect her to pay for his crimes, she still felt duty bound to do so. After all, she’d been the one to trust Kristoff.
As she walked toward the Harbor area and toward the location of The Flying Dolphin—Max Triton’s commercial boat—Jade felt a surge of anticipation at the thought of coming face to face with Roman again. She couldn’t deny the mighty attraction she felt toward him. It made her palms sweat to acknowledge that he too might feel something toward her. Perhaps God had brought Roman into her life for a purpose other than hunting down the infamous treasure. She shivered, remembering how once upon a time she had thought the same thing about Kristoff.
Once The Flying Dolphin came into view, Jade spotted Roman standing on the pier next to it. His arms were folded across his chest and his gaze was focused on the ocean. He suddenly turned toward her and gifted her with a smile that made its way straight to her solar plexus. Talk about being hit by a lightning bolt! Jade now knew what it was like to be struck dumb by the sight of someone.
He met her half-way, still smiling. “Hey, Jade. Ready to go exploring? I figure we can talk about local lore on the way over to the caverns.”
“Hi, Roman. I know a lot about local lore. Sometimes too much,” Jade said in a light voice. There was something about Roman that made her want to laugh and smile. Being so serious all the time was over-rated.
“Hey Jade,” a voice called out from the deck of The Flying Dolphin. Max was standing there waving at her, his handsome face lit up with a grin. Standing next to him was his fiancée, Kori James.
“I hope you don’t mind my tagging along,” Kori said sheepishly. With her cute figure and winning smile, Jade thought Kori was adorable. She’d love to catch up with her.
“Of course not,” Jade answered. “The more the merrier.”
Roman took her hand and helped her step on board The Flying Dolphin. Once again, he was impressing her with his thoughtfulness and gentlemanly manners. It was thrilling to be heading out on an adventure. It would be a nice change of pace from servicing customers all day. Although she loved being a jeweler, sometimes the monotony made her yearn to get out in the sunshine.
“Hey Max. How are you?” Jade asked as she walked past Max, patting him on the shoulder. They’d been in school together growing up. She’d known Max for as long as she could remember, and he was a kind, decent man. She was thrilled that he’d found love with Kori.
“I’m blessed, Jade,” Max responded. “Can’t wait to take you guys over to the caverns. It’s a great day to be on the high seas.”
As they settled in for a nice ride across the Harbor, Jade sat between Roman and Kori. Even though Max was at the helm, he still managed to carry on a conversation with them, adding comments here and there about the treasure and the influx of people who’d come to town to try and find it. Roman pulled out the map and began pointing excitedly at the area he wanted to hone in on.
“It’s just a suggestion, but I think the caverns have already been searched pretty extensively.” Jade narrowed her gaze as she studied the map. “One of the benefits of being a local is that I’ve been privy to more of the treasure hunting sites than I care to remember.”
Kori laughed along with her. “I plead the fifth on that. I’ll admit I was lured by the treasure at one point. It’s hard not to get distracted by it.”
“So where do you suggest we look?” Roman asked, his voice tinged with disappointment. “I’ve already done some looking around town based on my research notes, but those sites have already been inundated with treasure seekers.”
Jade reached out her finger and tapped it against a spot on the map. “This area right here is about twenty miles from here. There’s a little island—uninhabited—that would have been something Pirate Drake Burton passed on his way to Treasure Harbor. It’s always seemed reasonable to me that he might have stopped at this little island and stashed his treasure.” She shrugged. “It’s worth a try.”
Roman’s entire face lit up. “Of course it is! You’re a genius, Jade. I saw that little blip on the map but I didn’t even consider the fact that it’s en route to Barbados.” He slapped his hand on the map. “You’re right. He would have sailed right past that little blip coming and going.”
“Are we chang
ing course?” Max called out.
“Let’s do it!” Roman yelled above the roar of the ocean.
The vibe in the air was one of unbridled excitement. Jade felt like a little kid again. Zooming across the choppy waves and heading toward a secret island felt like pure adventure. Maps and treasure hunts! Jade couldn’t remember a time when she’d felt more energized or stimulated.
One of the main reasons she’d agreed to work with Roman was out of a desire to break free from her comfort zone. Ever since she’d been betrayed by Kristoff—a man she’d deeply loved—she had lived a very small existence. It no longer seemed right to punish herself for his actions. She wanted to live a little!
Once they landed at the tiny island, she and Roman separated from Max and Kori, who decided to explore on their own. They gave themselves two hours to scour around the island. They all agreed to meet back at The Flying Dolphin in two hours.
As the scoured the island, Roman made sure not to walk too far ahead of Jade. He made a point of checking in with her periodically to see if she was getting overly tired or wanted to take a rest. It endeared him to Jade. She couldn’t think of the last time someone had been so solicitous of her needs. Of course her parents cared about her deeply, but that was a whole different type of thing. It felt good to have a man watching over her.
After a good deal of walking, they discovered a cave that was rather shallow on the inside. Roman went inside with his flashlight and told her to keep back in case there were bats hanging out. Although Jade’s adventurous spirit had been stimulated by all this talk of treasure, she hated bats with a passion. There was no way she was going inside the cave once Roman mentioned bats. When Roman came out he shook his head and said, “I didn’t see anything that looked like it could be a hiding place, but I did see a lot of bats on the cave’s ceiling.”
Jade shuddered. “I have to admit I’m pretty ecstatic you stopped me from going inside. Bats are one of my biggest fears.”
“Even if you had gone inside, I wouldn’t have let anything happen to you. Trust me. I have your back.” The way Roman was looking at her—his green-hazel eyes as intense as laser beams—made her feel good. Suddenly, Jade felt all warm and fuzzy inside. She barely knew Roman, but she trusted him.
Once they finished looking around and the two hours came to an end, they headed back to The Flying Dolphin. She and Roman sat down by the water’s edge, waiting for Kori and Max, who had taken a little stroll around. Jade wondered if they were poking around in the hopes of finding buried treasure. She wasn’t about to put those thoughts into words. People tended to get a little competitive when it came to finding the treasure.
“Are you hungry?” Roman asked.
“A little bit. Do you have snacks?” He reached into his backpack and pulled out two chocolate bars and a few protein bars.
“Take your pick.”
She reached out and took a chocolate bar. She felt a slight electricity as her fingers brushed against his.
“Ah, you picked chocolate,” he said. “You have a sweet tooth. A woman after my own heart.”
Although Jade knew it was just an expression, it made her wonder what kind of woman would appeal to a man like Roman. Smart? Sophisticated? Or sweet? Old-fashioned?
She raised a finger to her lips. “Shh. It’s my secret vice. Swashbucklin’ Sweets is my weakness.”
“That’s a great shop. I’ve been spending way too much money in there.” Roman shook his head ruefully.
Jade stretched out her legs. “So, why me? Why did you hone in on me to help you find the treasure?”
Roman swallowed a bite of his chocolate bar. He waited a few moments before answering. “You’re the only one in this town who has the knowledge that I need to make progress in my research. Your expertise on gems alone is impressive. And once I realized that you’ve studied the historical aspects of this whole treasure saga, I knew it was a no-brainer. Let’s just say you’re the whole package. Might I add that finding out you adored Princess Eloise was a bonus.”
Jade flushed with pleasure at the compliment. “Roman, I have to be honest with you. This treasure might never see the light of day. Sometimes I seriously think it wasn’t meant to be found.”
“Have faith!” Roman said in an encouraging voice.
She immediately spoke up. “Oh, I do have faith, Roman. It’s a huge foundation on which I’ve built my life.”
He nodded his approval. “Well then, that makes you the perfect person to help me on this quest. Because something tells me we have a lot of ground to cover. Pirate Drake Burton was a very tricky man. Clearly, he didn’t want the treasure to be found.” Roman held a finger up in the air. “But I still have hope of finding it.”
“So now you have faith and hope.” Jade chuckled. “I love your positive outlook. Many a treasure seeker has come to Treasure Harbor with gold dust in their eyes, only to discover that reality didn’t mesh with their dreams.” She softened her voice. “I hope that doesn’t happen to you.”
Roman looked over at her, his expression thoughtful. “You’re a sweet woman, Jade. When we first met I detected a little bit of a wall around you, but up close and personal you’re different. You have a soulfulness that radiates. It’s very attractive to me.”
He reached out and brushed locks of her hair away from her face. Jade sucked in a breath as his face came closer to her own. He was mere inches away from kissing her. The expression etched on his face was intense. Soulful.
“We’re back!” Kori’s sweet voice rang out in the stillness. Roman backed away from her. He turned toward Kori and Max, giving them a wave by way of greeting. Jade let out a huge sigh. Although she wasn’t sure she’d been ready to kiss Roman, her heart was beating a mile a minute at his close proximity and the almost kiss. She truly didn’t know how to feel about being interrupted by Max and Kori.
And she couldn’t help but wonder if the opportunity would present itself again for her to be kissed by the very appealing Roman Sant’Angelo.
Chapter Four
As the weeks passed by, Jade still continued to help Roman out with his search during her off hours from Gems. Her parents had returned from their Caribbean cruise in great spirits. Nate and Dahlia Sims deserved a break from the business. They had devoted their lives to running the successful jewelry store. Although Jade was happy to see them back in town, she wished they could have extended their vacation. If she could afford it, Jade would have gifted them with a trip around the world that lasted months.
“Have we told you what a fantastic job you’ve done in running the store?” her father asked her as they closed up shop.
Her mother squeezed her shoulders and pressed a kiss on her cheek. “Yes, Jade. You’ve made us so proud.”
“Thank you,” she said, with tears pooling in her eyes. She couldn’t believe that they were thanking her after the huge mess her love life had created for the family business. Their encouragement and love knew no bounds. It always made her emotional.
Nate Sims looked at her with his brows knitted together. “What’s wrong, my love? You should be grinning from ear-to-ear right now.”
“I don’t feel worthy of praise for reasons we’re all well acquainted with,” she said in a voice clogged with emotion.
“Jade. How many times do we have to remind you that the past is in the past? Revisiting it like this isn’t healthy. You made a mistake. And of all the mistakes you could make, that one is understandable. You cared for Kristoff. He is the one who should bear the shame for deceiving all of us.”
Jade knew her mother was right, but she hadn’t yet let it all go. She still blamed herself. And until she was able to make things right financially with Gems, she would still harbor these feelings.
“You’re right,” she said with a nod, reaching out to hug her mother. “I’m trying really hard to put it all behind me.”
Her father reached for her hand and squeezed it. “The law dealt with Kristoff. We mustn’t allow o
urselves to dwell on financial losses. We still have Gems and it’s doing beautifully. We’re almost done paying off the debts. We have each other.”
“That’s great news, daddy,” Jade said. “I have to run. I’m meeting up with someone in twenty minutes.” She cast a quick glance at her watch, then reached for her purse. She would have to really rush in order to meet up with Roman at the historical society.
Her father’s eyes twinkled. “A date?”
Her mother crossed her hands in prayer-like fashion. “Oooh, Jadie. A date!”
She held up her hands to ward off their enthusiasm. “It’s not a date. Let’s just say I’m helping out a friend.” Jade didn’t dare mention Roman’s name to her parents. They would let their imaginations run wild and assume he was a potential suitor.
Jade let out a sigh as she caught her parents smiling at each other. No matter what she said, they tended to believe what they wanted to believe. And Jade knew that her parents desperately wanted her to find her match.
She kissed each of her parents before heading toward the door. “I love you, mom and dad. See you tomorrow.”
As she headed toward her car, she acknowledged how deeply blessed she was to have such loving parents. God had given her the best gift by making her the child of Dahlia and Nate Sims. She was truly blessed!
As she pulled up to the historical society entrance, Jade took a moment to enjoy the beautiful, brick structure. It was one of her favorite buildings in town—rich in history and brimming with documents and official records. The building was lit up like a Christmas tree. After parking her car, she began walking up the steps toward the entrance. Roman stood at the entrance, looking eager and a tad impatient.
“Hey, Jade. I thought for a second you might have forgotten.”
“Not a chance. I was locking up the store with my parents and catching up with them a little bit. Sorry I’m late.”
His Precious Jewel (Treasure Harbor Book 6) Page 4
