Wilde One

by Jannine Gallant

  “Get in before someone rear-ends me.”

  “Just like that?”

  “Do you have a better offer?”

  His mouth curved. “No.” Opening the rear passenger door, he hefted his duffle bag onto the pile of miscellaneous odds and ends. He slammed it shut then climbed into the front, giving Rocky a nudge. “Move over.”

  The dog complied, and Ainslee pulled back out onto the road. They drove in silence for several minutes.

  “Thank you.”

  She glanced his way. “For what?”

  “Not running me down. I wouldn’t have blamed you.”

  That got a smile. Not much of one, but something.

  “The thought crossed my mind for about two seconds. Since you saved Rocky, I gave you a pass.” She shot him another look. “Just so you know, you’ve used up all your credit. Next time, I’ll flatten your ass.”

  “Duly noted.” He leaned his head back against the seat. “I won’t give you a reason. I’ve finally come to my senses.”

  “Oh?”

  “Your skepticism is warranted.” He let out a breath. “I’m sorry. Honestly and truly. I didn’t mean to insult you. I didn’t mean to belittle our friendship or what we’ve shared. I suck at talking about my feelings and other girly crap, and what I said came out all wrong. I’m an idiot. Still, I hope you’ll forgive me, though I know I don’t deserve it.”

  Her grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Look, you have a right to feel the way you do. You made it clear you don’t want a long-term relationship. Fine.”

  “It’s not that, exactly.”

  She held up a hand. “Whatever. You obviously have issues. Since I don’t want a quick fling, we’ll go back to being friends. Sleeping together was a mistake I won’t make again, but we can still travel together.” Her voice caught. “When I found you gone this morning, I realized I didn’t want to continue the treasure hunt without you.”

  “Yeah? Me, too. I was headed up to the interstate to catch a ride toward Wyoming when you came along.” He touched the tense muscle of her forearm before withdrawing his hand. “I’m not against working on a real relationship. I just…” He let out a sigh. “My reaction last night was pure gut reflex. I didn’t think.”

  “Reflex to what?” Her voice rose. “What the hell did I say wrong?”

  When Rocky growled, he stroked his sleek, quivering back. “Nothing. You mentioned looking for a place on the California coast. I’d told you my next job would be somewhere in the area. I guess it scared me a little.”

  “First of all, the area you just mentioned is hundreds of miles long. Talk about paranoid…” She cleared her throat. “After five years in New York, I was thinking about settling in a western state, either a small town in the mountains or near the ocean. I made that decision long before I met you. Maybe your talk about the California coast influenced me to some extent. Sounded really attractive, but I’m not basing my decision to move west on you. We’ve known each other for a few days. How stupid do I look?”

  “Obviously, not nearly as stupid as me.”

  “Do I strike you as desperate?”

  “No.” He dropped his hat on his lap and shoved his fingers through his hair. “Neither did Johanna, at first.”

  Ainslee flipped on her blinker to pass a slow-moving sedan. “Who?”

  “The last woman I dated for any length of time. I was working out of South Carolina on a job that lasted nearly a year. Johanna efficiently ran the office for some corporate attorney in Charleston. She was all business, until our relationship turned a little more serious.” He let out a breath. “She was so worried about making me happy, I swear she couldn’t choose what to wear without first asking if I liked it. We ate where I wanted and hung out with my friends. When I told her to make a decision, she’d panic. Finally, I ended it. I didn’t need that kind of pressure.”

  Ainslee rolled her eyes. “Must have been rough having a woman care so much about pleasing you.”

  “It was rough, all right.” His lips tightened.

  “What happened?”

  An image of Johanna lying on the floor flashed through his mind. His stomach rolled, and bile burned his throat. After a few deep breaths, the nausea retreated. “I’d rather not rehash it. Let’s just say I don’t want to be responsible for anyone’s happiness.”

  “Fair enough. Rest assured I won’t make you responsible for mine.”

  “I realize that. Last night I knew I was reacting badly, but I couldn’t seem to control myself. That’s why I left. You didn’t need to take any more crap from me.”

  “I don’t intend to. You flip out on me again, and I’ll boot your ass out for good.”

  “Perfect, but can we get something to eat before you do? I skipped breakfast.”

  * * * *

  Ainslee walked slowly around the grain elevator, neck craned. Nothing out of the ordinary struck her about the tall metal cylinder. “This can’t be right.”

  Griff stopped beside her. “No names anywhere. I thought maybe there’d be some kind of plaque attached, a dedication or something.”

  “Well, damn. Now what?”

  “You’re sure there’s no other tower anywhere in town? Maybe on a kid’s play castle?”

  Ainslee frowned. “I suppose there could be, possibly in someone’s backyard. I guess we could ask Mrs. Granger at the general store. She knows everything about everyone in the area.”

  “Doesn’t seem very likely Victor would lead us to a place like that, but I don’t know what else to suggest.” He turned in a slow circle. Lifting an arm, he waved toward a small stand of trees on the far side of endless wheat fields. “What’s over there?”

  Her gaze followed his pointing finger. “A little hill with a few oak trees and a spring. When we were kids, we’d go there to cool off in the summer.”

  “I thought I saw something white.”

  “Oh, my God, I’m an idiot. You probably saw the water tower.”

  “Do you think it could be the one we’re after?”

  Ainslee nodded. “Without a doubt. The thing’s covered in graffiti.”

  “How do we get there? Fight our way through a maze of wheat?”

  “We drive. Toss me the keys.”

  He pulled the ring out of his pocket then handed it over. With Rocky trotting along at her heels, she headed back to the parking area. Griff followed, settled on the passenger seat and smiled.

  “Easy pickings this time. Old Victor’s slipping.”

  “Not so easy. Unless someone’s painted it recently, there must be at least twenty or thirty years’ worth of names scribbled on the tower. Finding the ones we want will be a challenge.”

  “Good thing we still have plenty of daylight left.” He rolled the window down so Rocky could stick his head out. Ears blowing in the breeze, her pup planted his paws on Griff’s thigh. “Hopefully we won’t be late for dinner.”

  “I told Mom not to expect us before six, so we still have a couple of hours.” She turned off the paved road to follow a winding dirt track between fields. They bumped along for several minutes then emerged in a cleared area below the copse of trees. The tower stood in their midst.

  He glanced over. “Can Rocky come?”

  “Sure.” She stepped out of the car and slammed the door. “No one will be around.”

  Griff set the dog on the ground. “Unless our competitors are smarter than I think they are.”

  “Doubtful. There’re no other vehicles in sight. Not even a bike, so kids won’t be lurking in the trees. We have the place to ourselves.”

  They followed a well-beaten path up the hill to the tower. Squat and dingy white, the round metal tower atop a wooden structure was covered in writing and artwork in every conceivable color.

  “Told you it would be a challenge.”

  He grunted. “What names are we looking for again?”

  “Suzie with a z and Jenny.”

  “Let’s
hit it. We can start here and go in opposite directions.”

  Over by the trees, starlings gave a few lazy chirps in the afternoon heat. Ainslee yawned as her gaze moved over the myriad of names. She’d barely slept the night before, not falling into an exhausted slumber until just before dawn, which was why she hadn’t heard Griff leave the campsite. Her teeth clamped together. Anger still simmered deep in her gut. Problem was she couldn’t be certain if she was mad at him—or herself. He’d stirred feelings to life she had no business nurturing after such a short acquaintance. And maybe—just maybe—he was on target with one of his accusations. She had been thinking about extending their relationship when she’d decided moving to California held a lot of promise. Not that she intended to tell him. Not in a million years. Let the man stew in his guilt. He deserved it.

  “Find anything yet?” His voice came from around the side of the water tower.

  Crap! She hadn’t moved two feet. Time to quit agonizing over her nonexistent romance with Griff and solve the rest of the damned clue. “Not yet. You?”

  “I found a Susan.”

  “Let’s stick to the exact names for now. I’m just worried we’ll have multiple Suzies and Jennys.” Tilting her head back, she squinted at the graffiti toward the top. Was that a Jenny? No. Janey and Tim Forever proclaimed in faded orange paint. She wondered if the two were still a couple.

  “Am I going to find your name on this tower? Ainslee hearts some pimple faced wannabe quarterback?”

  She choked on a laugh. “Guilty, but he played basketball, not football. His nickname was Stretch. Not very original—like the boy. When he dumped me, I came out here with a couple of girlfriends and some paint thinner and obliterated the evidence of my youthful infatuation. Afterward, we wrapped his precious Mustang in toilet paper, and then I drank my first beer. Well, part of a beer. Hated the taste.”

  “That’s hilarious.”

  “Now it is. Then, not so much.” Her gaze stalled. “Found one.”

  A moment later, Griff hurried around to her side. “Who?”

  “Suzie.” She pointed to pink lettering midway up the tower. “Suzie loves Greg 1985. Victor’s a genius.”

  “He is?”

  “I was wondering how this would lead us to a post office box. Bet you ten bucks the year is the box number we want.”

  “Victor isn’t the genius. You are.” He let out a whoop, clamped his hands on her shoulders and planted a smacking kiss on her lips. “You’re so smart it’s scary.” He backed off a step. “Oops. Sorry, I forgot. I’ll keep looking for Jenny.”

  Five minutes later her heart was still beating faster than normal. She let out a long breath. Rocky looked up from the stick he was chewing to give her a curious stare then wandered over to poke his nose in a gopher hole.

  “I found another Suzy, but this one is spelled with a y instead of an ie, and there isn’t a year.”

  “Then the one I found is probably the correct name.” She pushed perspiration dampened hair off her forehead. Getting all hot and bothered over a single, impulsive kiss was ridiculous. Pull it together, Ainslee. Thank God sleeping arrangements wouldn’t be an issue once they got to her parents’. No way in hell would her mother put them in the same room. For once, having her mom treat her like she was still a girl instead of a grown woman who made her own decisions—right or wrong—would be a relief.

  “Found her!”

  The shout jerked her out of her thoughts. She hurried to Griff’s side of the tower.

  He pointed to the faded writing. “It’s hard to read, but you can still make out the words. Jenny loves Dean 1972. That one’s really old. Way before my time.”

  “Practically antique.” She nodded. “Should we keep looking, just to make sure we didn’t miss another Jenny or Suzie?”

  He shrugged one shoulder. “I say we try these first. If the keys don’t work, we can always come back.”

  “True.” Ainslee shaded her eyes with her hand. “Where’d Rocky go?”

  A bush near an oak tree quivered, and the dog emerged. Tongue hanging, he trotted over.

  “He looks hot.” Griff whipped off his shirt and used it to mop his face. “It’s scorching today. Let’s hope the post office is air conditioned.”

  Forcing her gaze away from well-defined abs, she swallowed. “It never used to be, but we won’t be there long enough to notice.” She turned on her heel. “Let’s go.”

  Fifteen minutes later, they reached the post office in the heart of downtown Cloverdale—all three blocks of it. Pushing open the main door, Ainslee turned left to make her way through the rows of little boxes. “This should be the right bank of numbers…yes.” She held out her hand. “Keys, please.”

  He laid both in her palm. “I don’t know which is which. We mixed them up.”

  “Shouldn’t matter.” The second one she tried opened box 1972. A thick manila envelope addressed to Griff had been shoved inside. She pulled out the package and handed it over. Box 1985 produced an identical envelope with her name on it. She shut the door, removed the key then rose from her crouched position and waved the padded package. “Tada! Mission accomplished.”

  “Do you want to open them now?”

  She pulled out her phone and glanced at the display. “It’s almost six o’clock. Let’s save the pleasure of Victor’s next riddle for later.”

  Griff grinned. “Good idea. No point in raising my blood pressure right before we eat.” He held the door for her. “Are you sure your parents want me busting in on a family get-together?”

  “Positive. Anyway, with company present, my mom won’t nag me about moving home. She’ll focus on you instead.”

  He stopped beside the SUV. “I’m up for the challenge.”

  Heat radiated from the pavement as she opened the car door. “Good thing we left the windows down. Poor Rocky would have roasted.”

  Griff gave her a hopeful glance. “Does your farm have air conditioning?”

  “Fans and a cross-breeze.”

  “At this point, I’ll take what I can get.”

  Sliding onto the hot seat, Ainslee turned the key in the ignition and let out a sigh. When it came to Griff, she didn’t want what she could get. Only all or nothing would do because she was pretty sure she couldn’t erase this man from her life with paint thinner. Given his brand of charm, despite his shortcomings, Griff’s name would be etched on her heart in permanent marker if she didn’t watch out.

  Chapter 11

  “Your dad really likes Griff. So do I.” Ainslee’s mom shut the dishwasher door and turned to face her only daughter. “I’ll admit the way you two met is slightly—unconventional, but he seems like a well-brought-up young man.”

  Ainslee suppressed an eye-roll. “We’re not dating, Mom. As I already told you. Three times.”

  “Leave the girl alone, Barb.” Grandma Nell patted her daughter’s arm. “They only met a few days ago. Give them a chance to get to know each other before you plan the wedding.”

  Ainslee shot her grandmother a grateful look. “No wedding. We’re going to claim the treasure Victor Talbot left then go our separate ways.”

  “Maybe by then you won’t want to part company.” Her mother scowled, hazel eyes bright with irritation. “It could happen. After all, Ainslee is pretty and funny and smart. Why wouldn’t any man want to date her?”

  “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but Griff isn’t looking for a relationship.” Ainslee hung the dishrag over the faucet and wiped her hands down the sides of her shorts. “For that matter, I’m not, either. All I want right now is to find a new job and get settled in before winter starts. Maybe I’ll substitute teach this year or set up a tutoring service. I’ll have to get accredited in California before any district will hire me, and that might take a while.”

  Her mother’s brows knit. “Doesn’t seem very stable.”

  “Honestly, I don’t care. I’ve never been anything but responsible my entire life, alwa
ys doing exactly what I should. I wouldn’t mind having a little more freedom for a change.”

  “Good for you.” Grandma Nell gave her a thumbs-up. “You need to have some fun.”

  Ainslee grinned. “This scavenger hunt has certainly been a deviation from the norm—and I’m having a great time. Who knows, maybe when the search is over I’ll be independently wealthy and can travel the world doing exactly what I want.”

  Her mother snorted. “What exactly is this treasure? Seems very odd, the way that man set up a game to play, especially if it involves something valuable.”

  “Griff thinks it’s stolen Nazi loot, and the winner will have to fork it over to the real owners.”

  “Then why even bother to get involved.” Her mother fisted her hands on rounded hips. “If you ask me, the whole thing is likely to be one huge waste of time.”

  “Not to me. Because deciphering the clues is a challenge, and I’m enjoying myself. Anyway, Griff could be wrong.”

  “Did I hear my name?” Griff pushed open the screen door into the kitchen. Ainslee’s younger brother followed close behind.

  She eyed their sweat-drenched T-shirts. “I didn’t know it was that hot out there. What’ve you been doing?”

  “Brushing up on my basketball skills. I don’t want to make a fool of myself if I get the chance for a little one-on-one with Parnell Jones.”

  Gage used his sleeve to wipe sweat off his forehead. “That’s not going to happen. Making a fool of yourself, I mean. You kicked my…” His gaze settled on his mother. “…uh, butt.”

  “Thanks for shooting around with me.” Griff rocked back on his heels and grinned. “After being cooped up in the car most of the day, getting some exercise felt great.”

  “You bet.” Gage draped an arm around Ainslee’s shoulders and squeezed. “I’m going to take off. I meant to leave when Peyton’s clan did, but I’m glad I stayed for the b-ball action. Good seeing you, Ains. Don’t be such a stranger.”

  She hugged back, despite his smelly, damp shirt. “I’ll try to make time for a longer visit soon.”

  “You’d better.” Her brother stuck out his hand. “Nice meeting you.”