Oh, quit with the mirror, Had. You look great. We’re only going for a free coffee.” Ava held the bedroom door open and tapped her foot. They made the short ride to Common Grounds in Norma’s little blue Prius. Hadley waited for a snarky comment from Ava. She sensed it was coming …
“I … uh … never had to … um, unplug a car before I drove it before.” Ava giggled.
“Don’t knock it. It saves on gas, and it’s better for the environment, I guess. Norma thinks she’s doing something good. So …”
“Uh huh.” Ava laughed. A city girl through and through. She’d rather take the el or hop a cab than own a car any day. “So do you, like, know any of these other gee-pers?” “Gee-pers?”
“Oh, that’s what I call these GPS hunters in my head. Gee-pers.”
Hadley laughed. “Yes. I know some of them.” Hopefully two of them wouldn’t be at Common Grounds that night. Ava would come unglued with all the meddling she’d been missing out on. She’d be setting Hadley up with Brad in no time if she didn’t claim him for herself first.
They stepped into the red-brick restaurant and glanced around the crowd. Hadley saw some regulars gathered in the normal place and headed in that direction. Madison was at Hadley’s favorite table—might as well join her. She at least seemed normal.
“Mind if we join you?” Hadley rested her hand on the back of a chair.
“I’d love it.” Madison beamed.
Hadley snatched the chair facing the door so she could keep an eye on things and motioned for Ava to sit across.
“There’s my doll.” Brad stepped around the corner and planted a gentle kiss on Hadley’s cheek, blocking their path.
Ava’s mouth fell open.
“And who is this lovely lady you’ve got with you tonight?” He picked up Ava’s hand and gently kissed the back of it. Hadley saw the goose bumps travel up Ava’s arm. Looked like even she wasn’t immune to the Hopper.
“Brad, this is my roommate from Chicago in for a visit. Ava, this is Brad, you know, that friend I’ve been telling you about.” Hadley gave Ava a just-go-along-with-it, I’ll-tell-you-later look.
In true best-friend form, Ava took the hint. “Oh, yes. It’s wonderful to meet you, Brad. I’ve heard so many nice things about you.”
Okay, don’t lay it on too thick, Ava.
A waitress appeared. “What can I get you girls?”
“Mint mocha latte for me. How about you, Ava?”
“Perfect.”
The waitress turned to her right. “Brad?”
“A Midnight Espresso and a smile.” He grinned. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, ladies. I see some business associates I need to speak with for a moment.”
Ava practically dove on Hadley the minute he walked away. “You’re keeping things from me, young lady. That gorgeous man is smitten with you—and himself, but that’s beside the point.”
Leave it to Ava to nail it on the first try. “I don’t know about all that. He’s nice, though. I think I like him.”
“Oh, honey. He’s not the kind of guy you fall for. Has Mama Ava not taught you anything? He’s the kind of guy you have fun with for a while. Let him take you fancy places, maybe have him around for a birthday or Christmas or two. But fall for? No. Nope. Never.”
“Why? He’s really nice.”
“He’s a player, Had. Nothing but a player. I think you know that, but you want to pretend differently. You’ll see. Hopefully before you get hurt.” Ava nodded at someone behind Hadley. “Now that’s the kind of guy you should fall for. The real deal.”
Hadley was afraid to look. “How can you tell without talking to him?”
Ava eyed her quizzically. “You know who I’m talking about?”
Gut feeling. “Oh, it’s probably Noah. But who cares? You haven’t even spoken to him.”
“I don’t have to, Had; he has kind eyes. And he’s coming this way.”
“Great,” Hadley muttered and looked for an escape.
“I don’t believe we’ve met.” Noah extended an arm over Hadley’s head and pumped Ava’s hand.
“I’m Ava, Hadley’s roommate, visiting from Chicago.”
“Ah. Great! I hope you’ll be around for our rally this weekend—it’s going to be a blast.”
“I’m going back tomorrow morning, but I’m sure it’ll be fun.” Noah glanced down at Hadley. “Hi.”
“Hi.” She inspected her fingernails and picked an invisible piece of lint from her jeans.
“Anyway.” Noah turned back to Ava and laughed nervously. “If you can put in a good word for me with your roommate, I’d really appreciate it.”
As soon as he was out of earshot, Ava leaned close to Hadley. “What is the matter with you? That was plain rude.”
“You have no idea what I’ve been through with him. I’ll tell you all about it sometime. But not now.”
Ava’s eyes grew wide. “Wait a sec. Is that the Noah?” She craned her neck to catch Noah’s retreat through the front door. “Huh. Who’d have figured he’d still be here after all this time?”
Hadley sighed. “Yeah. Who’d have figured?”
Ava nodded. “What’s that old saying? Something about how you can only really know someone if you hate him before you love him?”
“Welcome to the Rainbow’s End Midhunt Rally. Be sure to sign in with Lyssa at the registration table to have your attendance points recorded.” Noah smiled down on the buzzing group. “There’s a schedule of the day’s events on the table, so grab one of those, and be sure to participate in everything you can.”
Hadley let Noah’s voice fade to a drone in the background. He was cute in a Woodstock sort of way—always had been. His voice had grown so much deeper over the years since she’d last seen him. That deep voice didn’t really go with the long, lanky body. And the wavy hippie hair didn’t seem to suit a pastor-type. Too many riddles about that man. Then there were the real riddles to consider, like the one he’d used to guide her to the cache. What was he trying to accomplish with that? What did he want her to do with that information? Did he even know she’d found it yet?
Shaking her head, Hadley wandered over to the registration table and signed in then grabbed a schedule printed on a halfsheet of blue paper. Ugh. They weren’t going to announce the prize package until four o’clock? Nothing like keeping everyone in suspense. Relay races, food, a dunk tank—ooh, maybe Noah would get in there—more food, a water balloon fight. Who scheduled a water balloon fight? Weren’t they supposed to just happen? A watermelon-eating contest. Hot dog lunch. An afternoon ice cream bar. Then the announcement. Then s’mores over a bonfire. Didn’t these people do anything that didn’t involve food? She could handle the wait until four for the news, but there was no way she was going to stand around and eat all day. She could go hunt for a cache or two while waiting. Maybe she could even hook up with Madison for some girl talk.
“Oh, folks, I forgot to mention—all cache hunting is canceled for today, and any found will not be credited to your name. We want you to stay and participate with the group, so no big ideas of sneaking off.” Noah laughed when the crowd groaned. “You see—I knew what you guys were thinking.”
Oh, goody for you.
Hands reached around from behind her and covered her eyes. Hadley squealed and grabbed the forearms of her assailant. She whipped around to face him. “Oh, Brad, thank goodness it’s you.”
“Who did you think it was? And how did you know it was me and not some hot stranger?”
“I didn’t think it was anyone in particular, but I knew it was you by your forearms.”
“Oh? What is it about my forearms that gave me away?”
Hadley felt a blush creep up her neck and onto her ears. She couldn’t tell him she’d studied his muscular arms. “Oh, you know.” She giggled in nervousness, and Brad leaned in for a kiss.
Tongue like sandpaper on the roof of his mouth from watching Brad with his hands—and lips—on her, Noah reached for his water on the picnic table beside him and took a big gulp. The heat seared his throat, and the liquid spewed out across the table. He’d grabbed the scalding coffee instead. He barely noticed the pain in his throat over the searing of his heart as he watched Brad kiss Hadley a second time.
A few minutes later, the burning in his throat had risen to the surface of his consciousness, and he couldn’t ignore it any longer. He shook his water cup until some ice fell into his mouth, and he let the cool water melt over his burns.
Why couldn’t Hadley see through Brad’s good looks? Was she stupid? Or did she find men like Brad attractive? If that were the case, Noah knew he had no chance with her. Not as though he’d want one if that was the kind of girl she’d turned into. But he wasn’t buying it. Something kept niggling at him … pricking his soul with memories of her. There was something about Hadley. Otherwise, he was an idiot for keeping up with his hope in the face of her disdain. But no. Something rich, something real, lay beneath that protective barrier she kept in place. Noah could feel it.
She’d found his cache. It was gone, and there was no way anyone else could possibly have figured it out. She knew where she sat that day, and she knew he had feelings for her. So she could figure what he saw when he looked in her direction … and the cache was gone. Also, the coin hadn’t been returned. Noah didn’t expect Hadley to show up at the church with it. If she had, she’d risk him actually confronting her and addressing the poem and his feelings. Hadley wouldn’t chance that for anything.
Should he let her know that he knew she knew? Why did he suddenly feel like he was back in junior high? Maybe he’d pass her a note after study hall. Do you like me? Circle yes or no.
It was time to lay it on the line. He’d mention the coin in a few minutes when he announced the prize package. If she didn’t acknowledge it, then he’d take that as her final answer and let her go. Would he actually be able to do that? But did he have a choice?
“Can I get everyone’s attention, please?” Noah hopped up on the picnic bench he used as a platform. “I hope you’re all having a great day just relaxing and letting go of the competition for a few hours. I know that’s difficult for some of you … cough … Chuck … cough.”
The crowd laughed.
“I have a few announcements to make then we’ll get to the big one.” He searched the crowd to be sure that Hadley listened. It took a moment to find her, and then he wished he hadn’t. She was leaning against Brad, who had his arms wrapped around her. “S–so, the thing is … well …” Come on, Noah. It is what it is. Let it go. Say what you came to say, and move on.
“Well, I’m pleased to announce the Rainbow’s End geocoin has been retrieved.” He caught Hadley’s gaze and held it. “But it hasn’t been returned yet. This could be due to one of two things. Either we’ve got a real game player who has a plan. Or someone wants a five-point souvenir. My guess? We’ve got a game player in our midst.” The crowd booed.
Noah laughed. “Now, now. She, or he, has every right to hang on to the coin. It’s strategy, folks. I just wanted you to know it’s been retrieved. We’ll see if it gets turned in at some point or not.” He nodded at Hadley and then looked away.
“Now for the announcement you’ve been waiting for. The prize package.”