by Jill Monroe
“Hello?”
She sucked in a breath. Damn, how could just one word and his melted caramel voice make her lose her train of thought? “I won’t take less than a million five.”
“Once I have the map in hand.”
“I need some cash now. Call it good faith.”
“Five thousand.”
“Ten.”
“Done.”
The air rushed from her lungs. Really? That easy? Not so easy—you may have just sold your legacy up the river.
“I’ll pick you up after school.” His words rolled across the ether sounding both eager and satisfied.
* * *
Molly’s breath caught when she spotted the shiny black Aston Martin. The car door opened as she crossed the parking lot. He ambled toward the passenger door, his long legs in khakis. The man looked amazing in a casual lightweight polo. Actually, he looked amazing every way she’d seen him—drenched in seawater and muscles straining as he hauled lines on a salvage boat. Muddy and hot trekking through the Amazon. Or yesterday, eager to pass along his knowledge as he explained to children the importance of responsible archeology.
“Good afternoon, Molly.” Then he tugged open the door for her.
She caught the scent of him, all sunshine and sea air, as she glided past him to sink into the softness of the leather seat. Molly had never thought of herself as someone who chased luxury, but she could get used to the occasional visit.
“Where to?” he asked as he slid into the seat beside her and fastened his seatbelt.
“The Mimosa Community Credit Union.”
Understanding lit his dark gaze. “Ahhh, you keep the map in a safety deposit box. Good thinking.”
She shook her head. “Nope. My bank account. That’s where I’m going to deposit your check.”
Cooper’s lips twisted, but he nodded. “Ten thousand now. The rest when I get the map.”
“Now might be a good time to tell you I don’t know where the map is. Exactly.”
Cooper’s face blanked and became unreadable. “How much is exactly?”
“My grandma should know. She’s at a rehab center in Naples.”
Cooper put the car in gear. “Figured the hunt would begin when we started looking for the treasure, not looking for the map. Any more surprises?”
“Nah,” she said as he rolled the top down, and the warm air sifted through her hair. “You know, I could have waited until after I deposited the check to let it slip about the map.”
“No, fundamentally you’re one of those honest kinds of people.” His gaze dropped to her mouth, and her lips grew warm like it was his mouth on hers instead of his eyes. “Besides, I like surprises.”
Twenty minutes later, his check already gaining interest in her savings account, they were jetting across the causeway that connected Mimosa Key to Naples. “The first causeway was wooden, can you imagine? When my grandma crosses this bridge, she drives in the middle until another car approaches.”
“She would have hated some of the places I’ve had to go. Accessible only by a rope bridge. Infested with poisonous snakes. And the bribes I’ve had to pay to men who’d be just as happy to kill me as take my money.”
“Yet I don’t see you backtracking and rethinking your career choices any time soon. You love the danger, don’t you?”
He shifted in his seat. “The kill me part isn’t as fun anymore.”
“Yeah, but how many times does that really happen?”
“Once is all it takes.”
Molly almost giggled.
“Surprisingly, some people consider me not the most likeable guy.”
Silence stretched between them, and Molly grew distracted by the scenery outside her window. Did expensive glass somehow make the view better? The landscape never looked so great from the windshield of her old beater.
“Molly?” he prompted.
“Oh, was that my cue to reassure you? That you’re likeable?”
The beginnings of a charming smile tugged at his lower lip. “Sort of.”
“Guess you’ll have to do something likeable then.”
Cooper laughed, and the masculine timbre sounded genuine and honest. The rich sound coursed through her veins and burned her inside. Igniting, full of life and fire.
He pointed to her left. “Is that it?”
“Naples Rehabilitation Center. That’s it.” He dropped her off at the front of the door and left to park the car. Cheerful spring flowers of pinks and yellow greeted her in the lobby, and she crossed to the sign in sheet, fishing a pen from her purse. The receptionist hung up the phone and waved Molly over to the desk. “Hi Molly. Your grandmother just completed her physical therapy and she’s settling back in her room now. So did you th—uh…”
Mr. Hot and Devastating must have arrived. The prickling of the hairs on the back of her neck confirmed it.
“Hadley, this is Cooper Overton.” Hadley was not only happily married but also had three kids, the oldest in junior high. Still a light blush tinted the receptionist’s cheeks. “Uh, hi.”
“How are you this fine afternoon?” he asked, bestowing his best TV smile.
“I well, yeah…good.”
Molly tried not to groan, and flashed Hadley a big smile to help her over the hump of awkward giddiness Cooper evoked in women everywhere. “Thanks, Hadley. We’ll head down there now.”
“What is it with you?” she asked as they strolled side by side down the narrow hallway. “It’s like you drop these flirt bombs wherever you go.”
His eyes twinkled. “Just being friendly.”
“Well, maybe scale back the assault when we get in the room with my grandmother. She can spot charm at the first hint of attack.” Then she swung open the door and stepped inside. She’d tried to make the sterile rehab room feel like Gram’s home away from home, but there hadn’t been a lot of knick-knacks left after the hurricane, so Molly had printed off tons of pictures from her phone and posted them all over the room.
Abigail Waiter sat in a recliner near the window, and her eyes lighted with joy as she spotted her granddaughter. Molly’s heart squeezed tighter than an orange. “There’s my girl. Perfect timing, too.”
Molly leaned over and kissed her weathered cheek. The familiar scent of honey and peaches filled her nose, and Molly missed Gram being nearby all over again. “I brought you that hand lotion,” she said, placing the bag on the bedside table and fluffing up the pillows on the bed.
“Thank you, Molly. I was almost out. The air in this place really dries out my skin.”
Molly reached for her Gram’s fragile, spotted hand. They were once so strong, picking her beloved oranges. But they were growing stronger. “Can’t wait to have you home again.”
“Won’t be long now. I’ve been dreaming of working the grove then relaxing on the porch as the sun sets. So is everyone in the room going to pretend I can’t see or are you going to tell me who that man is?”
Cooper snorted.
“Gram, this is Cooper Overton.”
Her grandmother’s eyes narrowed. “Wait, I’ve seen you on that show Molly likes to watch. The World’s Over.”
Cooper offered his hand, which Gram ignored. “The World Overton.”
“Well, that’s what you say,” she said with a sniff. “All right. Spill, young man, and make it quick. I’m old, so don’t waste my time.”
“I’m here to help Molly find Le Cœur Surveillé.”
Her hazel eyes hardened behind her glasses. “Well, of course you are.” Abigail turned in her chair to face Molly. “Honey, we’ve talked about this. You can’t trust any—”
“I have the other half of the map. Sorry to interrupt,” he said with a shrug.
Her grandmother faced him again, frowning this time. “Didn’t I say make it quick? You buried the most important detail.”
“What can I say? I’m in TV. I like to draw out the suspense.”
“And you’ve seen this map Molly?” Gram asked, her voice filled with skepticis
m. Her grandmother rarely softened when it came to people edging in on the Waiter legacy.
She shook her head. “Not yet. We’ll share when we both have our piece in our possession at the same time.”
“A bit of ‘I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours?’ I don’t like it.”
Molly sighed. This wasn’t going well.
Abigail cupped Molly’s face. Her hands shook, but it was such an improvement from before. “Never thought you’d wish to see that map.”
“Honestly, neither did I. But thing’s have changed.”
“He the reason for the change?”
Molly couldn’t prevent a conspiratorial smile. “Now Gram, you know you raised me better than that.”
Cooper pulled a chair over to Abigail’s recliner and sat so they could be eye to eye. “Mrs. Waiter, before I came out here to Florida, I did a little research on the jewel and your family. I know that you Waiters don’t see yourself as just the keeper of Le Cœur Surveillé, but its protector. I know you lost your son and daughter-in-law as they tried to find it. I’ve never lost a child, but my parents did and every day I saw their pain.” His gaze shifted to Molly for a moment, and the sadness she caught there made her heart contract. Then he focused once more on Gram. “I also understand that Molly’s more important to you now than the legacy.”
“I wouldn’t care if that stone ever saw the light of day again.” Gram’s firm voice was resolute.
“With both our pieces of the map, and the treasure found, no one in your family will ever have to worry about it again. The curse won’t hang over Molly or her children or her grandchildren. I can give that to you. If you trust me.”
Gram fiddled with the hem of her sleeve. “You tell a convincing tale.”
“Then let me try and convince you that I would never let any harm come to your granddaughter as long as she’s with me.”
“Now that I almost believe,” Abigail said, and she placed her hand on the back of Cooper’s.
Cooper gripped Abigail’s hand in his for a moment, gave her a reassuring pat then stood, the force of him filling the room. His gaze locked with Molly’s and she couldn’t stop herself from searching his eyes. Trying to sort the truth from the tales. She spotted only warmth in the brown depths. And determination. And maybe understanding, but she glanced away quickly because she didn’t want to see any of those things.
“Young man, you’re either the sneakiest son of a gun around or you’re telling the truth.”
“I could be both,” he said with a wink. He glanced over at Molly. “I’ll give you a few minutes alone together. I’ll wait for you in the lobby.”
“You know your grandfather was like that,” Abigail said after they no longer heard Cooper’s footsteps. “He could take over any room. Stronger than any hurricane.”
Molly studied the doorway Cooper just exited. “No matchmaking. It’s not like that.” Isn’t it? They kissed! So, it sort of was. But Gram didn’t need to know that.
“Molly dear, I do have eyes in my head. I saw the way the man looked at you. And the way you looked right back.”
She shook her head. “It’s just the rush of excitement of the chase. The challenge of finding the treasure.”
“Just keep the curse in mind. It’s called The Guarded Heart for a reason.”
Molly plopped down in the chair Cooper had used, still warm from his body. “Gram, as a woman of science, I know you don’t believe in myths or superstitions. And even if I did, you and grandpa evaded the curse.”
Her expression grew thoughtful and far away. “Because we didn’t chase after that jewel. If I’d allowed it to happen, that necklace would have taken everything away from me.”
“Why are you warning me, Gram?”
Abigail reached for the locket she wore around her neck. Molly had never seen her without it. She lifted it over her head and handed it to her granddaughter. “Open it.”
Molly pried the two halves apart with her fingernail. Inside rested a small key, one she recognized. Her hands began to tremble.
“It’s to your granddad’s chest.”
Her heart began to pound. “Is the map inside?”
“I don’t know. After your mom and dad died, I told your grandpa to get rid of the thing. A week later he handed me the key and told me when I was ready only I could unlock the secret. I was never ready. I’m still not ready. But I think you are.” She returned the key to the locket and snapped it closed. Then she placed the pendent inside Molly’s palms and pressed her hands closed.
“Molly Waiter, you’re the keeper of the jewel now. It’s your turn to decide.”
* * *
As promised Cooper waited for her in the lobby. He sat rigid, on the edge of his seat with his muscles tense. Who was this man? The charmer at the restaurant and on the beach? The jaded TV personality? Or the man who promised her grandmother he’d protect Molly from danger?
He rose when he saw her. “You okay?” he asked.
“Thanks for not asking about the map first.” Some of the stiffness in her shoulders lessoned, and the strained muscles of her face eased. Keep it light. “Careful, someone might think you’re actually likeable,” she teased.
“Damn. I must close that perception down.”
She laughed as they headed for the door. Her problem, he was too likeable. “I haven’t been exactly forthcoming about the state of the cottage with my grandmother. I forgot to warn you. Thanks for keeping my cover.”
“Not a problem.”
“Gram worries too much about the money, but this place was worth every penny.” She swallowed. “The stroke robbed her of so much, and it took a long time for her to get where she is now. Knowing Gram, she’d probably search for every DIY physical therapy video on the Internet to save the cash. I want her to get the care she needs, not what she thinks we can afford.”
They weaved through a few rows of cars together. “That’s why you’re the first Waiter to ever consider outside help.”
“Exactly.” Maybe not the sole reason. But she wouldn’t examine that thought too closely.
Cooper didn’t fire the car right up when they were inside and alone together. Instead, he rotated in his seat and studied her for a moment. “You’ve had a lot to deal with since the hurricane, haven’t you?”
His question, loaded with empathy and concern, caught her off guard. Oh, she could arm herself against his winks and charm-filled smiles, because none of the sentiments behind those were genuine. But this moment was real. Her heart beat faster and her thoughts raced, until they all centered on the man beside her. Molly met his gaze.
His dark eyes were narrowed but brimmed with understanding. Compassion. Molly fought the overwhelming urge, the great need, to lean on someone else for a change.
Her throat tightened, and she nodded her response to his question. Then she shrugged. “Yeah, it’s been rough, but no more than anyone else on the island.”
He touched her face. “Don’t do that.”
“What?”
“Belittle your own struggle. Just because your climb up the mountain isn’t as steep, doesn’t make it any less important as long as you respect the journey of others.”
She blinked at him. “Wow, that’s really empathetic. Insightful even.”
“Well, I did have the hippy parents,” he drawled. “Some of it must have rubbed off. Okay, interpersonal relations out of the way, I’ll ask—did your grandmother give you the map?”
Molly shook her head. “She gave me the key to my grandpa’s chest.”
“The chest is at the cottage?” he asked.
She nodded, and ran her finger along the line and grooves of the key. Her grandpa had worn this key on a chain around his neck. She’d never seen inside his chest, although he’d brought out different things from time to time. His wedding picture. A robin’s egg they’d found together on a walk in the trees. Her throat ached, and tears pricked the back of her eyes. She missed him so much.
The powerful car roared to life
, and Cooper back out of the space. “How about we grab take out, go back to your place and crack open that chest?”
“Let’s do that tomorrow after school, then we’ll have the whole weekend to work,” she suggested, returning the key to the locket and placing it around her neck.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to be a part time treasure hunter?”
“More like full time teacher. I still have some IEPs to work on tonight. I promise I won’t open it without you.”
“Trustworthy Molly. I didn’t expect you would.”
His fingers tapped an impatient pattern on the steering wheel. Adventure Man wished to start right away, and so did she, but the maps could wait one more day before being reunited.
* * *
Cooper walked Molly to her car in the school parking lot and watched her drive away. How could she wait? His adrenaline pumped and blood hummed through his body. The last time he’d felt this kind of exhilaration and anticipation was…well, not in the last couple of years. Not even when his show took off.
Actually it was when he followed a perceived trespasser and she’d slowly stripped.
He’d ignore the obvious if the compelling answer didn’t possess stunning legs, a dazzling smile and he couldn’t force his gaze away, not even for the million five he’d promised her for her half of the map. Molly was the difference.
Resilient Molly who didn’t feel sorry for herself. Who’d put off her own chance at a million dollars for another night because she had to help a few kids. He liked that about her.
There was way too much to like about her.
You’re a loner, remember?
Coop turned on his heel and stalked back to his rental. Don’t like her. Don’t try to know anything about her life. Getting personal muddied the waters. Get her half of the map, get the jewel, and then get the hell back to your life.
Coop dropped into the car and punched the button to turn the air-conditioning on full blast.
One final “don’t” hit him, and he cursed under his breath. Don’t hunger to taste her lips again.
Chapter Five
Why had Molly insisted they wait until today after school to open the chest? Every single one of her classes had been a nightmare. Not because the children had behaved poorly, no they were great. She was the problem. Her concentration was shot.
