Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Caesar leaned back so he could meet her gaze. His eyes were wide, and his mouth was hitched up on one corner.
Isla blushed as he stared at her until she finally looked down and leaned into him closer, embarrassed.
Her Daddy rubbed her back. “That can be arranged,” he whispered, but she noticed Magnus had left them to wander back to his wall of computers where Juniper was working.
She smiled, feeling suddenly shy. She couldn’t believe she’d asked him to spank her.
“Here’s what we’ll do,” he said. “We’ll dive down there this afternoon while the tide is high. I’ll show you what the entrance to the cave looks like, and we can explore the area a bit. We’ll need to assess if that area was affected by the explosion. We won’t enter the cave. You need special certification for that kind of dive. We can go back into the cave from the tunnels later when the tide is low and look around some more on the inside.”
She grinned, excitement making her bounce on her feet.
“You know the chances there’s a buried treasure in or around that cave are slim to none. Even if it had been put there all those years ago, it could’ve washed out to sea at any time. The tide is very disruptive to the sand and rocks. It could have easily been dislodged and floated away.”
Isla sighed. “Yeah.” She knew he was right. “I don’t really care. I came here to explore because my grandfather never got to. I had no idea I would meet someone like you on the first day of my trip. I’m so excited to dive with you because we share a love of scuba, and I know we’ll have fun seeing if anything on that map could possibly be real, but it’s all in good fun. If we don’t find a single thing, I already consider this vacation the best decision of my life.”
Caesar grabbed her by the hips and hauled her onto his lap. “I’m so damn glad you came to Danger Bluff, too.” He cupped her face and kissed her until she grew dizzy from lust and lack of oxygen.
Magnus cleared his throat, causing Isla to flinch as the two of them broke the kiss. “Sorry,” he muttered, “but I just want to point something out before you two head down to the boat.”
“What’s that?” Caesar asked as he rose and stood Isla on her feet.
Magnus’s brow was furrowed. It was hard to tell with the ballcap covering his forehead, but Isla was short enough to see up under it. He narrowed his gaze. “Kingsley didn’t arrange for you to protect Isla from a fake treasure hunt.”
Caesar winced. “You’re right.”
Isla cringed. “Maybe, this time, he’s just a really good matchmaker, and he thought the two of us would be perfect for each other.”
“I have no doubt he’s an excellent matchmaker. The man is omniscient,” Magnus said, “but after what we’ve been through with the other five women, I’m not buying that some kind of danger isn’t lurking.”
Caesar nodded as he threaded his fingers with Isla’s. “He’s right. We need to stay aware of our surroundings at all times. Kingsley doesn’t play matchmaker without a reason. He may not have any idea what sort of danger you’re in, but somehow, he knows you are absolutely facing something ominous. Perhaps it has nothing to do with your map. Maybe there’s a disgruntled family member who’s pissed because their loved one died in your care.”
Isla flinched. Caesar was right. That occasionally happened to nurses and doctors. She couldn’t recall any particular patient who’d died during her shift and left behind a furious relative, but it was possible.
Magnus nodded. “Well, go enjoy your day. I’ll keep a close eye on every camera both inside the tunnels and around the dock. I don’t have eyes out on the water or around that cave, of course, but I’m glad we put some in the tunnels.”
“You and me both,” Caesar agreed. He looked down at Isla. “Ready to go diving?”
Some of the wind had died down around her mental sails, but she pulled her shoulders back and nodded. Diving always made her feel alive. She couldn’t wait to get under the water.
Chapter Ten
“Ready?” Caesar asked Isla two hours later when they’d dropped anchor near the cave.
She nodded and held up a thumb.
Caesar could tell she was excited to get in the water. Sure, it was partly because she had the treasure-hunting bug, but she also had incredible joy for diving. He’d seen that in her on both of their dives the day he’d met her. She hadn’t been looking for a treasure that day.
Jack stood by the anchor. He would stay on the boat while the two of them explored. It was much safer having another staff member with them. “You two have fun. The water looks calm and clear. I bet you’ll see some amazing fish down there today, and hey, if you happened to find a buried treasure while you’re down there—bonus.” He chuckled.