“That’s very understanding of you. It’s also exactly what I told myself at the start.”
Sarah giggled. “When I think of how you let me tramp all over the Fleetwood property and struggle with that darned map…Oh, Gideon, it’s too much. You must have been laughing yourself silly.”
“Treasure hunting is fun. I wanted you to have the thrill.” Gideon’s eyes turned serious. “And I didn’t want the adventure to end too soon. I wanted time with you. I couldn’t figure out what was going on between us, but I didn’t want to let you go out of my life too quickly. The treasure hunt was a way of stalling you for a while.”
“What about arranging for us to have to share that cabin? That was a deliberate ploy to try to get me into bed, wasn’t it?”
“I guess it could be viewed in that light,” Gideon said modestly.
“And virtually kidnapping me and forcing me to come back here instead of going home to Seattle? That was a ploy to try to keep me around, too, right? Protecting me from Jake Savage was just a convenient excuse.”
“For all the good it did me.”
“They were all terribly romantic gestures, Gideon, worthy of any true romance hero, but I would have to say that seducing me right on top of the white rock was the pièce de résistance.”
“I was rather proud of that move myself.”
She kissed him. “You were going to have great fun watching me discover the earrings in the strongbox in the morning, weren’t you? And now I’ve gone and spoiled your surprise. Sorry about that.” She kissed him again. “Gideon, you are so wonderful.”
His eyes held hers. “So are you. What did I ever do without you?”
“We were bound to connect eventually. After all, you’re the man of my dreams. How many times do I have to tell you?”
Gideon’s fingers tightened in her hair was sudden fierceness as he held her still for his kiss. “You can keep on telling me that for the rest of my life. I like being your hero. I like it very, very much.”
“Good. And you won’t mind if I continue to use you in my books? After all, I’ve built a whole career based on you.”
Gideon looked down into her warm, loving eyes. And for the first time since Sarah had known him, he laughed out loud. The cats, sitting side by side on the couch, flicked their ears at the unusual sound.
“Just so long as you change my name,” Gideon said.
“No problem. I always change your name in each new book.”
Gideon caught hold of her hand and kissed her fingers. “Now, about the wedding…”
“Yes,” said Sarah. “I was thinking of a quick trip to Reno or Las Vegas. What do you think?”
“I was thinking of something a little different.”
MARGARET LARK received the telegram at ten in the morning. Without stopping to calculate the time difference between Seattle and Amethyst Island, she dialed the phone. Kate Inskip Hawthorne answered at once.
“You got one, too, I take it?” Margaret asked without preamble.
“Reminds me of the one I sent,” Kate said cheerfully. “Looks like we’ve got a tradition going here. I guess Sarah’s intuition was right again, as usual.”
“She was sure of him from the first letter, wasn’t she? A Beast waiting to be saved with Beauty’s love.” Margaret smiled to herself. “The poor man didn’t stand a chance.”
“Neither did Sarah, if you ask me. That treasure hunter of hers must be very extraordinary.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Are you kidding? I would have bet good money that there wasn’t a man left on the face of the earth who could have convinced Sarah to go for a big wedding. Not after what happened the last time.”
“Good point. That settles it. It must be love on both sides. Will you be flying to Seattle for the festivities?” Margaret asked.
“I wouldn’t miss this wedding for the world.”
Margaret laughed. “We’ll get to be bridal attendants. That should be fun. I’ve never been one.” She hung up the phone a few minutes later and picked up the telegram on the kitchen counter. She reread it with a gathering sense of happiness for her friend, Sarah.
Pleased to report that my adventurer is even better in real life than he is in my books. He’s got everything, including a couple of cats. Wedding set for one month from today. Will need lots of help as Gideon insists on the works. Will return to Seattle on Monday to start interviewing caterers and shop for gown. Wait until you see the earrings I’m going to wear.
Love,
Sarah
The Adventurer (v2.1) Page 19