The morning of the fourth dawned clear … and hot. When he pulled up the data on his phone, Colton saw it had already climbed to ninety degrees. One hunt. That’s all they’d do this morning. They’d already found the easy, close caches. This hunt would take them farther away from the condos and Osage Beach. The good news was that new possibilities showed up on the Rainbow’s End website each week. Maybe the organizers would add some closer spots soon.
When he hit law school next month, his body would go into shock with the sudden inactivity. Campus wouldn’t compare to the months spent at Lake of the Ozarks. No way to fairly measure the two against each other.
He laced his hiking boots and headed to the Grahams’ door. He stood, hand raised to knock, when the door opened.
Reagan took his breath away. Today she’d added a patriotic flair to her hiking ensemble with a red, white, and blue scarf holding her hair back. Her smile reached her eyes as she took in his ridiculous hat. Guess it was official. He’d do anything for her.
“Garrett said to go without him.”
“Not up to the hunt?”
She snickered. “Out too late last night with the festivities. He’s always loved fireworks, so I can’t be too surprised that he stayed out for all of them.”
“Those ended at ten thirty.”
“I know. Guess he found someone to spend time with after that.” She shrugged. “I know he thinks I pay too much attention to his life, but that’s what sisters are for. Anyway, he’s a big boy. If he wants to miss the hunt, that’s his choice.”
“Ready?”
She dangled the keys in one hand and a backpack with water bottles tucked in outside pockets in the other. “Yep. Let’s get going.”
She handed him the keys, and he followed the mechanical instructions from the GPS as they wound along the lake to the latest destination. An hour later, they worked their way around a small clearing.
“We’re on top of the cache.”
Reagan plopped her hands on her hips and glared at him as she puffed a strand of hair out of her face. “If I had a dime for every time you were certain the GPS had us right next to the cache …”
Colton glared at the device and clicked a button. Then he thrust it at her. “See? Right here.”
“It’s wrong.” She sighed then reached for it. “Maybe there aren’t as many satellites here. Let me read the clue. Maybe it’ll make sense this time.” He handed it over and watched as she read.
“Bird on the stand.
Bird in the bush.
You’ll want a hand
To beat the rush. “
She groaned and handed it back to him.
“What rubbish. Whoever wrote these is not a poet.”
“It has the right number of syllables and rhymes.” “But it doesn’t make sense!” “Poetry makes sense?”
“Well-written poems do.” She turned slowly around, repeating the clue as her gaze traveled to the trees. “It refers to bushes,” he said.
“Only because that rhymes with ‘rush.’ “She pointed toward a pine. “Do you see something in those branches? Two-thirds of the way up?”
Colton stood next to her and followed her finger. “Maybe.” But how to get up there? Whoever climbed up there would break an ankle if he fell. “Maybe this is one we’ll leave behind.”
“Nope. We’re here. We are definitely getting the credit.” Reagan tugged on a couple of branches then climbed the tree.
All he could see were branches swaying as she scooted up. A minute later she shimmied down with another artillery box tucked under her arm.
After they signed in, she tucked the box inside a bush. “Now the next group won’t have to risk the climb to find it.”
“I think it’s supposed to go back in place.”
“But now it matches the clue.” She thrust her chin out, and he held his hands up. Maybe he could return and put it back in the tree later. It would be easy to get here now. She must have read his intent. “Fine.” She grabbed the box and a few minutes later had it tucked back in the pine. When she climbed down, he pulled a few needles from her hair. She stilled then looked away. “My spot was better.”
He plucked another pine needle, enjoying the feel of her silky hair. “Let’s go back and get ready for the fireworks.”
Reagan took a step back before he could find anything else in her hair. Didn’t he feel the fireworks when they were together?
Maybe it was because of the holiday, but she had a strong suspicion the sensation would remain after Independence Day disappeared for another year.
They’d watched the fireworks from the park last night. Would tonight be any different? If it were just the two of them, it would. In ways that scared and excited her. “Okay.”
Her answer must not have met his expectations, because he frowned at her.
“What?” she asked.
“I won’t force you to come.”
She forced a smile past her nerves. “I’m looking forward to tonight, Colton. Truly.”
He frowned then nodded. “All right then.”
The walk back to the car passed in silence, a silence that was mirrored on the drive. By the time she walked into the condo, all Reagan wanted was a bottle of aspirin, a nap, and to forget she’d agreed to spend the evening with Mr. Silent. Instead, she spent the time giving her toes a pedicure so they wouldn’t scare anyone who spied them through her sandals. No hiking boots tonight.
Throughout the afternoon, she didn’t see Garrett. Wherever he’d disappeared, he hadn’t bothered to leave a note. She’d bet anything a young lady associated with the hunt had captured his attention.
Maybe he was ready to consider a future match. Nah, this was her baby brother.
She left a note on the island for Garrett and sat in the rocking chair on the porch, waiting for Colton to collect her. She bit back a whistle as he approached. He wore khakis and a navy polo. Boat shoes completed the relaxed yet sharp summer image. He looked like he’d stepped off the cover of a Ralph Lauren flier, a good look for him. His skin had the healthy glow of someone who’d spent the summer outside but avoided the overdone red hue it had carried earlier. The hat had been a great idea.
“What’s got you grinning?”
“You’re missing one thing.”
“A beautiful woman on my arm?” He raised a rakish brow.
Color flooded her cheeks, color she hoped her tan concealed. “No. The hat.”
He rolled his eyes. “I like my answer better.”
She stood, and he offered his arm as he escorted her to his compact car. A wonderful aroma filled the vehicle’s interior. “What do you have in here?”
“Supper. A little birdie told me you like fried chicken.”
“That must have been Garrett.”
“Yep.”
“Too bad he’s not observant enough to notice I really don’t enjoy chicken.” Reagan felt a teeny bit bad as Colton squirmed. “But if there’s a breast in there, I’ll take it.”
“I think there are a couple.”
“Perfect. Where are we eating this feast?”
“The lake shore. Figure we’ll find a spot to enjoy ourselves until the show.”
There was an odd glint in his eyes as he glanced her way.
“Okay. Did you send Garrett to hold it for us? That would explain why he disappeared.”
“Didn’t think of that.” As they neared the lake, she wondered if they’d get within a mile of the beach. Then Colton turned toward the pier. She bit her lip to keep from asking what he was up to. She’d already ruined one of his surprises. If it killed her, she’d keep her mouth shut on any more.
They found a small open square, big enough for the picnic blanket Colton had brought, and soon he had the basket unpacked. He handed her a plate loaded with a perfectly fried chicken breast, potato salad, a biscuit, and warm berry cobbler. She almost asked if she could bypass the rest and eat the cobbler. Instead, she picked at the chicken until she took a bite and decided it was delicious.
After the cobbler, Colton surprised her by packing everything up.
“Aren’t we staying here?”
“Nope. I’ve got a better vantage point for the fireworks.”
Reagan glanced around. Sure, they could be closer to the beach, but it wasn’t a bad location. And the area between them and the water overflowed with other people parked to watch the fireworks.
“Let me take the basket and blanket back to the car.” He laid a jacket on the ground where the blanket had been a minute before. “You wait here, and I’ll be right back.”
She nodded and sank on the jacket.
After awhile he returned with a big grin. “Follow me, mademoiselle.” “Yes sir.”
He walked her toward the Grand Glaize Bridge and to a pier. “Colton?”
“I decided the best place to watch the fireworks was the lake. So I got us tickets on the Queen of the Ozarks, that yacht down there.” He pointed at the yacht with such pride, she almost believed he owned the vessel.
“I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Even in St. Louis?”
She shook her head. The romance of the moment as they walked onto the boat almost swept her breath away. If she didn’t know better, she’d let herself believe Colton Ryan, the man who fascinated her, wanted to woo her. But he’d been honest from the beginning that he didn’t have time for a relationship, not with the new direction his life would take in August.
Until that moment, she’d been content with friendship.
Goodness, she hadn’t wanted to trust anyone but Garrett when they’d left St. Louis. Somehow in the intervening weeks, Colton had slid beneath her protective barriers. She needed to rebuild them quickly. Before he stole her heart with no intention of keeping it. If he kept planning amazing nights like this, she might not be able to keep her mind from agreeing with her heart that Colton Ryan was her Prince Charming.