Cressida’s pale skin turned rosy. She had a great blush, he thought inanely, then shook his head.
“What do you mean by ‘help’, exactly?” Hailey pressed.
He glanced at the three of them. They were all in their twenties, he’d guess. Cressida looked a little young, but still easily an adult.
“I mean just that,” he said, looking at Cressida. “Help you find the treasure. Because the agoraphobia probably makes it too difficult for you to go find it yourself, but you’re one of the smartest women I know, we’ve got a verified clue and Henry Curton himself saying you’re close. I wanted to talk about how we could work together and get it.”
Cressida’s eyes lit up. “I’ve been thinking about it,” she said. “I think I’ve narrowed down the location…”
“He knows about your agoraphobia?” This from Rachel, who sounded surprised. “How long have you known each other?”
“About, what, two years?” Noah said, looking at Cressida. Cressida nodded, her cheeks still tinted pink. “We text just about every day, and just started talking recently.”
“You started talking when she got closer to the treasure, huh?” Hailey said, her full lips curled in a sneer. He was starting not to like this girl, sister or not.
Cressida’s gray-green eyes widened. “No, that’s not when he started talking to me,” she protested. “He called me because I missed our regularly scheduled chat, and he was worried about me. We didn’t come up with the location until after we’d been on the phone for a few hours!”
That shut Hailey up, at least. Noah smothered a grin.
“I understand that you’ve got online friends,” Rachel said, much more gently. She seemed like a gentler version of Hailey, although her expression was still protective. “But I’m surprised that you told him where you live.”
Noah winced. He should’ve seen this coming.
Cressida’s expression fell, and she turned to him, her gaze cautious. “I didn’t tell you where I lived,” she said slowly. “How did you find out?”
He sighed. “You told me your family ran a collectible shop,” he said. “You said you sold Mystics memorabilia especially. Mystics is based nearby in North Bend. I did some research and found the shop.”
Of course, getting her last name from Killian had been the lynchpin, making that a lot easier. But he wasn’t ready to tell her about Killian – not yet. It sounded too crazy, and he needed to sound sane if he was going to get her help.
“You went through a lot of trouble to find her,” Hailey said, her voice still sour.
“Yeah, I did,” Noah said, letting some crispness creep into his own voice. “She’s worth finding.”
“Because of this treasure you suppose she knows the location of.”
“Because she’s awesome,” Noah said. “But yeah, like I said, I want to help her find the treasure.”
“What’s in it for you?”
“Hailey!” Cressida snapped.
“What?” Hailey said, putting her hands up. “It’s a fair question. This guy just crossed two states to meet a woman he’s never laid eyes on. And I know you’re obsessed with this treasure hunt, and I’ve heard about how crazy these treasure hunters can be.”
“What are you accusing me of?” Noah said, his voice low and simmering with anger. “Because it’s not like I’ve come here under false pretenses. I don’t want to hurt Cressida, I want to help her.”
“Out of the goodness of your heart?” Hailey said.
“Hailey, that is enough,” Cressida said. “I know you guys are trying to protect me, but I’m not a child!”
Rachel’s beautiful face was… well, pitying. “Cress, you don’t have a lot of experience with men,” she said softly.
“And I won’t get any if you two keep cockblocking me!”
Hailey’s mouth dropped open, and Rachel’s eyes went wide. Noah barked out a laugh before he could stop himself.
Cressida went rosy red now. “That’s not exactly… well.” She cleared her throat. “I would love to discuss this with you further, Noah, but now’s not a great time. Is it okay if I call you tonight?” She glared at her sisters. “When I get a little more privacy?”
He nodded, feeling a clench of tension. He didn’t have a lot of time, but he agreed – he wasn’t going to get anywhere in his discussion with Cressida while her sisters were acting as watchdogs. “I’ll talk to you tonight,” he said, then felt himself smile. “It really is great meeting you. Maybe we can have a face to face talk again, before I go.” Without your sisters in tow, he thought, glancing at the two of them.
“Definitely,” Cressida said, her voice firm. Then she shot him a shy smile that hit him right in the gut.
He turned and left the store, heading back to his car. He’d call her tonight, and hopefully be back on the road in the morning, with either the precise location or at least a deal with her to work with him, maybe over the phone, to track down the treasure once and for all. And even though he felt a twinge of guilt at pressuring her, there wasn’t any way she could find it herself. This would help both of them.
But especially you, he thought, and cursed himself.
Chapter 3
Cressida was still burning with humiliation that evening, long after Noah had left. She’d worked the store, and aggressively dusted all the window displays.
“I know you’re pissed,” Hailey had said, “but you’ve got to understand. This guy came up from California, or so he claims. How does that not make you nervous?”
“Because I know him,” Cressida retorted angrily. “But beyond that, you didn’t give me the chance to feel him out myself. You just jumped in like some kind of militant parent.”
“I’m just looking out for you,” Hailey protested.
And that was always the way of it. Rachel and Hailey, protectors of poor, frail Cressida, who couldn’t be trusted to take care of herself.
She felt like she was locked in a tower, kept cut off from the “real world.” That’s why she loved being online so much. It was freeing. But right now, just being online was stifling.
I have a chance at finding a real treasure.
I have a chance at going on a real adventure.
The thought had her heart beating a mile a minute, but at the same time, after this afternoon’s episode, she also felt a cold resolve cover her.
What would River Song do?
She’d break out of her own prison and go on a damned adventure, that’s what River Song would do. So she’d come up with a plan to do just that.
It would involve Noah. She felt her cheeks heat a little just thinking of him. Him showing up now was the perfect opportunity, but it didn’t hurt that the guy was hawt.
If Hailey hadn’t been so bulldoggish and protective, she probably would’ve said the same, maybe even nudged Cressida towards him. It wasn’t that Hailey and Rachel didn’t want Cressida to have a boyfriend or a life outside the store. Every now and then, they’d nudge her at a male customer, and Rachel had even tried setting her up with one of her study partners – which was a disaster, since it was obvious the guy was just interested in Rachel and was using the opportunity to find out more about her. Hailey had even considered getting her a “male escort” to give her “experience.” (Cressida had turned it down and instead simply ordered a vibrator from an online store.)
Not that Cressida was looking to sleep with Noah, necessarily, she thought as she felt the blush intensify. This was strictly business. He said he was here to help her find the treasure. And he might just be the perfect person to do that.
All she needed, she thought, was Kyla’s help.
She called Kyla, asking her to come over. Hailey had gone over to Jake’s house for the night, and Rachel had gone to work at some event over at the Casino, which wouldn’t be over until well after midnight. Which gave Cressida just enough time to set things in motion, if she worked quickly.
Kyla showed up, shivering. “What’s the hubbub, bub?” she said with a smile and a
warm hug as she took off her coat.
Cressida had a hot chocolate ready and waiting. “It’s kind of a weird story,” Cressida said, gesturing to one of the overstuffed chairs and turning the “closed” sign in the store window. “You know that treasure hunt I follow?”
“Sort of,” Kyla said. “Some author said he buried like a million-dollar treasure or something, right?”
“Yeah. Four million,” Cressida corrected. “Anyway, it’s been, well, a hobby of mine. I have a lot of online friends who are also looking for it, and we exchange information sometimes. And you can email the author with your guess, and he’ll tell you if you’re close… or ignore you if you’re not.”
Kyla looked at her over the rim of her mug, green eyes expectant. “Mmm?” she hummed questioningly.
“So, well…” Cressida took a deep breath. “I submitted a clue. Or rather, I told a friend, and he submitted the clue. For both of us.” She paused for dramatic effect. “And the author said publicly that nobody else had gotten closer to the location than the two of us. That our clue meant we could get to the treasure in less than a day.”
“That’s fantastic!” Kyla said, with a bright smile. “Now what? What does that mean?”
“That means actually going and checking out the location,” Cressida said. “I didn’t pinpoint it exactly, but I’m close – really, really close.”
“Where is it?”
“The Mojave Desert.”
Kyla let out a low whistle. “That’s a long way away, Cress.”
Cressida felt nerves skitter up and down her spine. “I know. That’s where you come in, I hope.”
Kyla’s smile weakened. “I wish I could help,” she said, “but I’ve got WonderCon coming up, and I’m just a little bit behind on the costumes I need to make. Otherwise I’d drive you down in a heartbeat.” She paused. “But there isn’t a time limit, right? I mean, it’ll still be there. Or do other people know about your clue?”
“Just Noah. A friend of mine,” she said, and damned if her cheeks didn’t heat again. Which of course, Kyla noticed.
“Noah, huh?” Kyla repeated with a sly smile. “This the guy who submitted the clue?”
“Yeah. We’ve been talking to each other for about two years now. We text almost every day. He’s a good friend,” she emphasized. “The thing is, Mr. Williams wants to sell the house.”
Kyla gasped, putting the cocoa mug down on a nearby end table. “You’re kidding!”
“No. And it’s got me… well, you can imagine,” Cressida said, a note of pleading entering her voice. “I’ve lived here for almost half my life, and it’s been the place I’ve felt the safest. He won’t let Jake buy the house, and he’s going to want more than Rachel, Hailey and I can qualify for. We need cash in a hurry.”
Kyla’s expression was sympathetic. “How can I help?”
They were lucky that Kyla was such a good friend, Cressida thought. She was totally selfless, and willing to offer anything to help out. Cressida didn’t want to take advantage of that, but right now, she couldn’t think of what else to do.
“I need to borrow your RV.”
“Done,” Kyla said.
“But,” Cressida said, “I need Noah to drive it.”
Kyla looked shocked. “You want me to loan your RV to your friend?”
“I’d have you loan it to me,” Cressida said, “but I don’t know how to drive, and I don’t know that I’d feel comfortable going down to California alone anyway.”
“Wait a minute,” Kyla said, if possible looking even more shocked. “You’re telling me you’re driving down to the Mojave Desert with this guy?”
“Yes,” she said resolutely. If I can get him to agree to it. “I am. Rachel is too busy with school work, and Hailey has to mind the store. They can’t afford to go. But I can, and I want to.”
Kyla bit the corner of her lip, her expression clouded. “And you want to go with this guy,” she said hesitantly.
Cressida sighed. “I know it seems crazy. But I’ve known this guy – online, granted – for a few years. I trust him,” she said, then shrugged. “As much as I trust anybody but family, anyway. He wants to help me find the treasure.”
“There’s that,” Kyla said. “People get crazy when big sums of money are involved.”
“That’s why I want to go with,” Cressida countered. “I could just tell him where I think it is, but what’s to stop him from taking the whole treasure?”
“What’s to stop him from taking the whole treasure and abandoning you?” Kyla said. “Or – and I hate to put it this way – what’s to stop him from taking it and leaving you in a shallow ditch somewhere, you know what I mean?”
Cressida shivered as her anxiety started to paint that picture. “I’ll bring my bear spray,” she said. “I’ll be sure to let you guys know where I am. I’ll get a photocopy of his driver’s license. And I’ll have him sign a contract saying that he has to split the treasure with me. I’ll get it notarized.”
“You’ve thought this through, huh?”
Cressida nodded.
Kyla sighed. “I hate to bring this up, but – what about the agoraphobia? You do well in the RV, I have to admit, but you haven’t really gone on long trips. You’ve only spent the night in the RV a handful of times. Aren’t you afraid you’re going to have a panic attack?”
“If I do, I’ll deal with it.” Of course it was something Cressida was worried about. But the thought of losing the house was pushing her to desperate measures.
Kyla sighed. “Are your sisters on board with this?”
“I don’t need their permission!” Cressida snapped, then pulled back. “Sorry. Noah came up here today, to see me, to talk to me. You should’ve seen Hailey.”
“I can imagine,” Kyla said wryly. “Went in full battle mode, huh?”
“Like I was a six-year-old getting bullied,” Cressida said, her voice bitter. “I hate it when she treats me like a child. So no, they’re not going to be on board with this.”
Kyla sighed again, then sat pensive and silent for a long moment. Cressida held her breath.
“I believe you’re old enough to make your own decisions,” Kyla said slowly, and Cressida felt a bubble of triumph. “But there are some conditions.”
“Anything,” Cressida agreed quickly.
“You need to call your sisters every night, to ensure that you’re okay. You do need to make a copy of Noah’s driver’s license before I’ll let him leave with the RV.”
“Done.”
“And if things get hairy, you need to turn around and come right home,” Kyla said. “Seriously. I know how much this house means to you, and I’m glad that you feel confident that this treasure thing is serious. But you have to know it’s a long shot.”
“I know,” Cressida said, even though she felt so confident… surer than she had in a long time, about anything. “But it’s my risk, and it’s worth taking, I think.”
Kyla nodded somberly. “Okay,” she said. “I know you feel you know this guy, and want to trust him, but… bring pepper spray or something, okay? Just in case.”
Cressida bounced over, hugging her and almost knocking the cocoa over. “I’ve got bear spray from our camping trip. I’ll make sure to bring it. Thanks, Kyla!”
“Oh, one other condition.” Kyla smiled. “Bring condoms.”
Cressida blinked. “Sorry?”
“The way you said Noah makes me think that maybe he’s more than just a friend,” Kyla said. “Maybe he’ll make a move that you’re actually open to. You two are going to be stuck in a small place for at least a few days. You might consider what close proximity does to people.”
Now Cressida’s cheeks felt like they were on fire. “We’re just friends.”
“So were Jericho and I, until we had to share my apartment,” Kyla said, with a small, dreamy smile. Now, she and Jericho lived together and were ridiculously happy. “I’m just saying.”
Cressida nodded. She hadn’t thought about tha
t. Granted, she had a small – okay, burgeoning – crush on Noah.
That’s not the point of this jaunt, she thought, as she dialed Noah up. Still, she knew where Hailey kept extra condoms. Even if she wouldn’t use them – and of course she wouldn’t – it was a simple enough condition to fulfil.
“Fine,” Cressida agreed. “Condoms and bear spray. I will be prepared for anything.”
Now, she just had to get Noah to agree to taking her. On the trip, she quickly filled in. He wasn’t “taking” her in anyway other than that, even if she was bringing condoms.
When Noah returned to the store that night, it already had the closed sign out – not surprising, since it was nine o’clock. He knew from previous conversations that the store closed at eight most nights, unless they had a special event.
This afternoon’s excursion had gone poorly. Cressida had assured him that her sisters weren’t going to be there, and that she wanted to talk with him face to face. He felt nervous, which was kind of stupid. If anybody, he’d think she would be nervous – she was the one who had an anxiety disorder, after all. But here she was, inviting him to her store and home. Trusting him.
He wasn’t trying to betray her, he assured himself. He wasn’t coming here empty handed, either. She couldn’t leave the house. He could. He would be her man on the ground – she’d be his control tower, his leadership and guidance. Between the two of them, he felt deep in his bones that they could find that treasure, especially with Curton assuring them that they were closer than ever.
So why do you feel so unnerved?
Maybe it was because of Cressida herself. He’d found himself mooning over her delicate features all day. The dreamy cast to those gray-green eyes of hers. The rosy blush high on her cream-pale cheeks, gently dusted with freckles. That gently curving smile. The miles of rust-red waves tumbling down her back…
You’re gonna start reciting Shakespeare if you keep this up.
He gritted his teeth as he walked up to the door and knocked. He had to keep focused if this was going to work. He had to convince Cressida to trust him, to work with him… and to split the treasure with him, fifty-fifty.
Playing Doctor Page 4