The Treasure (23 page)

“Just walk,” Brit ordered lightly.

Shaking her head at their odd behavior, she followed along, weaving her way toward the more private tables in the back. When the hostess stopped to turn and smile at them, Amelia waited for her sisters to move so she could sit down. They were blocking the table and she really wanted to get this night over with so she could pine some more.

Brit touched her arm. “Mel,” she said. “We just want you to know that we heard what you were telling us. About your trip. And we get it. Even if Caroline still has her doubts.” She cast a glance at Caroline who shrugged.

“What are you talking about?”

Brit smiled and she knew for sure they were up to no good. “I don’t like that smile,” she said warily.

“You will. Trust me. This is our way of accepting you as the beautiful, courageous woman you are. And our way of admitting that we were wrong. We love you, sis.”

Baffled, Amelia blinked back tears. She never thought she would hear those words from her sisters. Never thought they would see her as anything but that clumsy, troublesome girl they had to babysit and watch over.

Caroline hugged her, showing her what she could not say. It was worth more than words to Amelia, just to have her support. And when Brit hugged her and whispered, “Let him explain, sis. He’s hot.”

“What are you talking — ?”

The words died in her throat when her sisters parted and she saw their table already occupied. And suddenly everything fell into place. Tears welled in her eyes anew as she stared at Brody, who rose to his feet, looking rugged and handsome in slacks and white shirt, open at the collar.

“Brody … ” she murmured. “What … ” She turned back to her sisters, but they were gone. Brit gave her a thumbs-up from the doorway before disappearing around the corner.

In disbelief she turned back to face Brody. “You’re really here.”

He came around the table and pulled out a chair for her to sit before she fell. Slowly, she sat, still disbelieving that he was here.

“Your sisters can be very persuasive,” he said quietly, pushing her chair in for her and moving back to his.

“My sisters brought you here?”

“Yes. Brittany tracked me down and was very insistent that I come to Michigan. I thought it was to hang me out for the buzzards.”

Shocked that her sisters really did get her, she picked up her napkin and unfolded it in her lap to hide her shaking hands.
Brody was here.

“I got the treasure,” she said, looking up to meet his eyes, longing to touch him. Feel him. Kiss him.

“I’m sorry I took it from you. I’ve never regretted anything more in my life.”

“Can you tell me why you did it? It’s haunted me.”

“I was trying to protect you. I thought as long as I carried it you would be safe. I switched the gold to my bag while you were sleeping.” He scowled. “Jeremy was my business partner. He’s the one who convinced me to move to the jungle after retirement and open a charter business. I wasn’t aware of his gambling habit until he gambled away all our profits, cleaned out our bank accounts and hit the road with it. The man who shot you was his bookie’s muscle. Jeremy wanted the treasure to pay his debt.”

She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Those men in the bar the night we met? They were there because of Jeremy’s gambling debt?”

“Yes.”

Relief bubbled in her chest as the pieces fell together. She knew Brody wasn’t that man. Deep down, she’d known. “I would have given it to you if you asked.”

“That’s exactly why I couldn’t.”

Her heart swelled. For a gruff man he certainly knew the right words to say. He looked away, took a sip of water, glanced around the room.

“You risked your life to get it back,” she guessed, knowing Brody.

He shrugged and she knew it to be true. “I owed you.”

She smiled. “Yes, you did.”

His gaze snapped to hers and he scowled. “You were a fool to take a bullet for me.”

“Foolish, maybe. But, I would do it again if it meant saving your life.” How she missed that scowl.

“And you call yourself a coward?” he growled.

Her smile grew. Lord, she missed this man. “Not anymore. I learned a lot about myself in that jungle. And, if you can believe it, my sisters did, too.”

“I believe it,” he said softly, his gaze wandering over her like a caress. “You look incredible.”

“Thank you. I’ve had plenty of time to heal.”

His mask slipped and she saw pain, deep and troubled, flash across his handsome face. He still blamed himself for her getting shot.

“Brody,” she said. “I don’t blame you for what you did. You were protecting me. It all worked out in the end. I have my treasure. You’re alive.”

“You shouldn’t be so trusting.”

“And you should forgive yourself.”

They stared at each other across the table.

“Why did you come here, Brody?” she asked softly. “Just to make a confession?”

“No.”

Her belly fluttered with hope. “No?”

“I have a plane.”

Not what she had expected. “A plane? You came here to tell me you have a plane?”

“Turns out my biological father was a pilot who died a few years ago and left me an old Cessna and a small inheritance. No one could find me so I never knew about it. That information, by the way, was courtesy of your sister, Caroline. She had me investigated and found the information during her search.”

That sounded just like Caroline. But it turned a bad thing into a good one. She would take it up with her sister later. Right now, she was deflating like a balloon. A plane. That meant he could start his business up again.

“Oh. Well, congratulations.”

The corner of his mouth tilted and it was her turn to scowl. “Why are you smiling?”

“Because I’m opening a new business. A flight school.”

“Good for you.” She couldn’t help her annoyance. She wanted a vow of love. Something besides his new life away from her.

“Amelia.”

She looked up and saw he was smiling. It made her want to leap across the table and kiss some sense into him.

“I bought a hangar.”

“Good,” she groused.

“In Cedar Falls.”

Her head snapped up. “What?”

“I’ve decided to settle here in Cedar Falls. If you’ll be my wife, that is.”

Did he just say … ?
Leaning forward, she pinned him with a hard stare. “Brody Kern, are you proposing to me?”

In response, he rose from his chair, circled the table, and dropped to a knee in front of her. Meeting her eyes, he said softly, “Yes, I am. Amelia Sawyer, you are the most stubborn, courageous, willful and beautiful woman I have ever met. I want spend my days with you at my side, in my bed.” His hand unfolded and there sat a twinkling diamond ring. “I love you, Amelia. Will you marry me?”

Amelia stared at the diamond, her every wish coming true. The man of her dreams was here and now he was making her life complete.

“Come with me,” he said quietly, “for the adventure of a lifetime.”

With tears shining in her eyes, she nodded. “I love you, Brody Kern. Yes, I will marry you.”

He slid the ring on her finger and pulled her in for the kiss she had been waiting for. As he lifted her out of her chair and off the floor, she knew she just embarked on the adventure of a lifetime …

Jennifer Lowery grew up reading romance novels in the back of her math book and on the bus to school, and never wanted to be anything but a writer. Her summers were spent sitting at the kitchen table with her sisters spinning tales of romance and intrigue and always with a tall glass of ice tea at their side.

Today, Jennifer is living that dream and she couldn’t be happier to share her passion with her readers. She loves everything there is about romance. Her stories feature alpha heroes who meet their match with strong, independent heroines. She believes that happily ever after is only the beginning of her stories. And the road to that happy ending is paved with action, adventure, and romance. As her characters find out when they face danger, overcome fears, and are forced to look deep within themselves to discover love.

Jennifer lives in Michigan with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

In the mood for more Crimson Romance?

Check out
Dancing with Detective Danger
by Lynn Crandall
at
CrimsonRomance.com
.