“What’s so funny?” Ryan asked. Here he was trying to play it cool and the girl of his dreams was laughing at him. On the bright side, Lara’s entire face lit up when she laughed.
“I had no idea you were such a fan of llamas.” Lara covered her hand. He could see she was struggling to hold back her laughter.
Ryan frowned. “What do you mean?”
“The books you just grabbed were all about llamas.” Lara covered her hand with her mouth. She looked as if she might just explode with mirth.
Ryan scratched his jaw. “Seriously?” He hadn’t even glanced at the books.
The sound of Lara’s giggles made him grin.
“Guess I’m busted.”
“Pretty much,” Lara told him, a sweet expression etched on her face.
“Okay. I’ll fess up. I did swing by on the off chance that you’d be here.”
Ryan felt his neck getting warm. He couldn’t believe it. He was flush with embarrassment. Even as a teenager, Ryan had rarely felt awkward in his own skin. Looking back on those years, he’d come to realize how picture-perfect things had been in his life. Athletic. Popular. A well-connected family. A close connection to Safe Harbor Church and Pastor Riggins. He’d been extraordinarily blessed.
“I’m flattered,” Lara said, her pearly smile only serving to enhance her good looks. He hoped he wasn’t staring, but she was making it incredibly difficult not to gawk at her.
“I wanted to see if you’d like to talk treasure for your series. I know you need to flesh out some details.”
“I’d love to, especially since I have my first article about the treasure due in three days. I really want to make a splash, no pun intended.”
Ryan shook his head and let out a low chuckle. “My brain works best when there’s food involved.”
“Why don’t we take off and have lunch at the beach.” Lara threw out the suggestion. “We can raid my fridge and bring a picnic lunch.”
“Sounds like a plan. Let me just go and pay for my llama books.”
Lara shook her head. “No way. Let’s break out through the side-door.”
“W-what about Avery? She seemed serious about my making a purchase.”
Lara chuckled. “Are you afraid of my sister? She’s harmless. Her bark is way worse than her bite.”
“I wouldn’t say afraid exactly. But I do have a healthy…umm, respect for her.”
The next thing Ryan knew, Lara was grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the door. Once they were outside, they began walking at a fast pace toward the lot.
“My car is over here,” Lara told him, pointing to a practical-looking dark car. “Pardon the mess. I tend to have notebooks, pens and research books all over the place.”
Ryan let himself in and settled in to the passenger seat. He had to move a few items from the seat—a few pens, a newspaper and a bag of chips. He let out a chuckle. Lara hadn’t exaggerated. Her car was a bit cluttered.
As Lara drove toward her condo, the stunning views of the ocean reached out and greeted them. For Ryan it never got old. He knew he’d live in this part of the country for the rest of his days. The Outer Banks of North Carolina soothed his soul.
Once they reached Lara’s condo they quickly prepared a picnic lunch of sandwiches, fruit, chips and soda. Lara put in a bar of dark chocolate in case either of them had a hankering for something sweet. They walked over to the beach, with Ryan carrying the picnic basket and Lara holding a big beach blanket in her arms.
They spread the blanket out and sat down, immediately digging in to their picnic lunch. Ryan couldn’t get over how easy it felt to be in Lara’s presence. The vibe between them felt natural and comfortable. The conversation flowed effortlessly. Perhaps both of them really hadn’t changed all that much since the good old days when they’d been best friends.
“So,” Lara said, looking out across the beach. “Are we anywhere near the area where the treasure turned up after the big storm?”
Ryan pointed down the beach. “About a mile to the left of us. Although I guess you haven’t heard the news.”
“What news?” Lara asked.
“Word came out this morning that the items that were found on the beach are not part of the notorious treasure trove. Seems it came from a different source. Dr. Victor Mendez, the individual hired to authenticate the pieces, is pretty well-known for his accuracy. He issued a statement saying that the gold pieces and jewels were not tied to Drake Burton or the Callahan treasure.”
“Wow. That’s fairly incredible.” Lara’s voice was filled with awe.
“I agree. Makes me wonder how long it will take for all these treasure seekers from out of town to pack up their things and leave? Every hotel in town has been booked solid for weeks due to all the traffic from out of town treasure enthusiasts. There’s loads of treasure hunters who seems to be banking on finding the treasure.” Ryan scoffed. “I’ve heard there’s even a group of teenagers from Florida on the hunt. They seem like they’re looking to score big. I suppose they want that ten percent of the treasure value if they find it.”
Lara frowned. “That’s really sad. People trekking here to Treasure Harbor on a whim. All in the hopes of material gain.” She shook her head. “Can you imagine? It’s really putting all of your faith in something that isn’t really tangible. I pray people didn’t leave family behind to chase a dream.”
“I’m sure some of them did.” Ryan shrugged as he swallowed a bite of his sandwich. “I’m not saying it’s the right thing to do, but people have sought treasure for centuries. It’s nothing new.”
“That’s true. The ramifications of Dr. Mendez’s authentication report might be pretty far reaching. For starters, it indicates that there may not be any direct evidence that the Callahan treasure is in this area at all. For all we know, he could have buried it in Jamaica or Bahamas or any one of his ports of call.”
“That’s unlikely due to some of the journal entries from Drake indicating that he stashed the treasure here in Treasure Harbor.”
“Journal entries?” Lara let out a little squeal.
Ryan looked sheepish. “My family has journal entries from Drake Burton. Sadly, some perished with him in the shipwreck, but we managed to archive a lot of written history. My family doesn’t like to publicize it due to the fact that there’s been such a lust to find the treasure. Mom worries that someone will try to steal the journal entries so they can glean information from them.”
“I understand, Ryan. I’d love to see some artifacts, but I can see why the Burton journals are off limits. There must be something in the public domain though, I would imagine.”
“I think you could find out a lot from my cousin, Bree. She’s a professor now at Carolina Harbor College. She’s quite a resource on the treasure. She’s made it her mission to clear up the Burton name since it’s been tarnished over the years by those who viewed Drake Burton as a shameless thief.”
“I remember Bree. She was a year ahead of us in school I believe. And I would love to talk to her and pick her brain if she’s willing.”
“She loves talking about the treasure from a historical perspective. And she enjoys discussing our famous ancestor, Drake. I think the two of you would have a great time talking about this stuff.”
Lara snapped her fingers. “You’ve just given me the best idea for another article. Drake Burton—the man, the myth, the legend.”
Ryan chuckled at the sound of it. “Sounds like a riveting piece. Just don’t make him the villain,” he warned. “My family will have a conniption.”
Lara shook her head vehemently, causing her gorgeous mane of hair to swing all around her shoulders. “Nope. I’m an unbiased journalist. I’m not going to slant any articles based on the Callahan-Burton feud.”
They continued their picnic until Ryan knew it was time to head back to work.
“Thanks for lunch. It really hit the spot. I’m going to have to head back to the office. We have a big shipment arriving this afternoon.”
/> “You’re quite welcome. You’re a fountain of information, Ryan Burton. I think my first article will be about the treasure that washed up after the storm and how it sent people into treasure hunting mode. Do you think Dr. Mendez would allow me to interview him and pick his brain? A few quotes from him would be a great tie-in to my article.”
“That’s a great idea. It gives real weight to what you’re trying to get across. Victor is an interesting guy and very knowledgeable about Drake Burton and the history of the Callahan treasure. I think you’d be fascinated by him.”
“Any idea how I can reach him?”
“I’ll call you later with his number as soon as I put my hands on it,” Ryan said. “I can put Bree’s information in your phone.”
Ryan stood up from the blanket and offered his hand to Lara. She grabbed ahold of it and he gently pulled her to a standing position. As they stood there face-to-face, Ryan couldn’t help but think of how it might feel to kiss Lara at this exact moment. If he moved just another few inches closer toward her he could just dip his head down and do the deed.
No way! A voice buzzed in his ear. It was far too soon. He didn’t want to ruin things by pushing for something like a kiss so early in their relationship. Ha! Relationship? They had just reconnected as friends. He was getting way ahead of himself by imagining a relationship. Lara was only in town for a relatively short period of time. There was no sense in dreaming of things that most likely wouldn’t come to pass.
But she was so incredible. Smart. Funny. And achingly gorgeous.
“So, can I take you out for dinner on Friday?” he asked her. He felt a little sheen of perspiration on his hands. Another first. Ryan Burton didn’t get nervous about asking girls out on dates, most likely because they always said yes.
“I’d like that,” Lara said, her face lit up with a smile.
“Perfect. Why don’t I pick you up at seven o’clock? I’ll make a reservation at the Harborview Inn.”
“Sounds good.”
As they walked across the beach back toward Lara’s car, Ryan rejoiced at his small victory. Dinner with Lara was a step in the right direction. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so invigorated in the presence of a woman. For quite some time Ryan had been out of sorts. He’d prayed to God that he might find someone who he could walk through life with, but those prayers hadn’t been answered.
Being with Lara made him wonder if God had finally answered his prayers. It was far too early to know for certain, but Ryan was eager to test the waters and find out if Lara was the one he’d been asking God to send his way.
Chapter Three
Lara navigated the streets of Treasure Harbor like a pro. It was funny how a person never forgot the layout of their hometown. From the pier to Bounty Beach to the quaint area where her favorite shops were located, she knew Treasure Harbor like the back of her hand. As she drove by Swashbucklin’ Sweets her sweet tooth began to nag at her like crazy. She made a mental note to head over there after her reunion with Jade.
She and Jade were meeting up at the Ocean Breeze for coffee and donuts. Coffee and conversation with Jade was high on her agenda today. Jade was a beloved friend who had steered her through some of the hardest years of her life. Without Jade her high school years would have been pure misery.
Beautiful and kind, Jade was the type of woman who had it all. Looks, smarts and a kind, giving heart. With her raven hair and brown skin, Jade was exotically stunning. And she had always been very humble. Gems, the local fine jewelry shop, was owned by her parents, Nate and Dahlia Sims. The Sims had immigrated to America from Barbados many years ago. Through hard work and sacrifice, they had opened their jewelry store, built a loyal clientele and thrived in town as the go-to jewelers in the area.
Lara walked into the restaurant and settled herself into a booth facing the door so she could easily spot Jade when she arrived. Lara had barely even sat down before Jade entered the establishment.
“Lara!” Jade came rushing toward her with open arms. Dressed in emerald green silk top and black fitted skirt, Jade looked like the quintessential businesswoman. A pearl choker graced her neck. As a jeweler, Jade knew her appearance was an important part of her image. Lara had never seen her looking anything but spectacular.
Lara stood up from the table and sank into an embrace. “Jade!” she cried out.
As they pulled away from their embrace Jade said, “It’s so good to see you.”
“You too. It’s been far too long.” Lara found herself getting a bit emotional. Mere words couldn’t convey what Jade’s friendship had always meant to her. Feeling alienated as a teenager was a terrible state of being. Jade had made those challenging years livable.
As they settled down into their seats, Lara asked, “How long has it been?”
“Let me think. I believe it was three years ago when I had that conference in Philly. It was so sweet of you to invite me to stay with you.”
“It was like old times. Watching movies in our pajamas and eating Rocky Road ice cream with whipped cream on top. Reminded me of the good old days.”
“Those were the days, weren’t they? You were the best friend a gal could have, Lara Callahan.”
“Right back ‘atcha. You saved me from loneliness and a host of other problems. I still can’t believe how lucky I was to be your best friend.”
Tears misted in Jade’s eyes. “You’re so sweet, Lara. I miss you terribly. Always have. Always will. You need to make it back here more than once in a blue moon.”
“You sound like my folks. They still hold on to hope that I’ll move back to Treasure Harbor.” She shrugged. “I can’t really see it happening though.”
“Never say never. That’s my motto.” She made a face at Lara. “I hate to be the bearer of town gossip, but people are already flapping their jaws about you and Ryan Burton. I heard some women talking at the bank this morning.”
“Oh no! Seriously?” Lara let out a groan. “We sat down for pizza together and then stood next to each other at Bounty Books for a few minutes. And then we had a picnic on the beach. That’s it.”
“You know it takes far less in this town to start the rumor mill percolating,” Jade said in a knowing tone.
The pretty, brown-haired waitress arrived at that exact moment. She looked back and forth between them with a sweet smile.
“Hey Mallory,” Jade greeted the young woman. “How are you?”
“I can’t complain. Would you ladies like to get started with some coffee?” Mallory held up a coffee carafe.
“I’d love some,” Lara said. “A morning without coffee isn’t any kind of morning I’d like to experience.”
Mallory grinned. “I agree. It’s the perfect kick start to the day.”
“Mallory, this is my good friend, Lara Callahan,” Jade said by way of introduction. “She grew up here in Treasure Harbor and she’s come back to write a series of articles about the treasure. Lara, this is Mallory Reed. She waitresses here but in a few weeks she’s going to be opening up her own antique shop—Buried Treasures.”
“Count me in as one of your very first customers, Mallory. Antiquing is one of my favorite sports,” Lara said. All three women laughed.
“Why thank you. I feel very blessed with this new venture,” Mallory said.
“Can we order an assortment of donuts to go with the coffee?” Jade asked.
“Sure thing,” Mallory answered with a nod. “I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
“So, getting back to Ryan...he’s still pretty easy on the eyes, isn’t he?” Jade asked, her caramel-colored eyes sparkling.
Lara let out a sigh. “He’s actually gotten better with age,” Lara said. “How in the world does that happen?”
“Good genes I suppose.” Jade chuckled. “You had such a major league crush on him in school.”
Lara covered her face with her hand. “Don’t remind me. I was so dorky about it, mooning over him like he would ever have given me a second look.”
“Why? You should never be embarrassed about feeling something for someone. That’s what God wants us to do. Love one another.” She let out a giggle. “And you sure did love Ryan back in the day. Remember the poster?”
Lara burst into laughter. When Ryan had been nominated for Homecoming King, a huge poster of him had been put up on display. Lara had taken the poster down after school one day and stuffed it into her gym bag. No one but Jade had ever been the wiser about her confiscating the poster of Ryan.
“He would have been lucky to have dated you…then and now,” Jade teased.
Lara waved her hand in Jade’s direction. “We’re just friends. I’m only in town for a short time. It wouldn’t make sense to delve into anything serious.”
“Morning ladies.” The rich timbre of the masculine voice caused goosebumps to pop up on Lara’s arms. She swung her gaze up to see Ryan standing at their table,
“Hey, Ryan. Long time no see,” Jade said, standing up to give him a hug. “I missed you at the class reunion last month.”
Ryan quirked his mouth. “The invitation must have gotten lost in the mail,” he teased. “You ladies are looking beautiful,” Ryan said, his eyes landing on Lara.
“Thank you,” she murmured, not knowing what else to say. Suddenly, Lara felt tongue-tied. Seeing Ryan when she hadn’t expected to had knocked her off-balance. She had no idea how to make idle chit chat with this stunningly attractive man who seemed to do everything with ease.
“Join us,” Jade invited Ryan with a wave of her hand.
Ryan looked over his shoulder. “I might just sit down with you for a few minutes if you don’t mind. I’m waiting for a client who wanted to meet up here.”
Jade scooted over, allowing Ryan to sit down next to her. He was seated right across from Lara, who couldn’t seem to look away from his brilliant blue eyes. They were so mesmerizing. She hoped he didn’t think she was staring, even though she suspected she might be.
“So,” Ryan said, his eyes alight with interest, “how is your research coming?”
“Really well. I’ve been fortunate to come across people who are very knowledgeable about the treasure. Thanks by the way for connecting me with Bree and Dr. Mendez. I’m meeting up with both of them tomorrow. I’m heading over to the college and having coffee with them.”
Some Kind of Wonderful (Treasure Harbor Book 1) Page 4
