Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
“I’m finished,” Isla blurted.
Magnus looked at Juniper to make sure she’d eaten her fill. When she nodded, he set his fork down and said, “Let’s go look.”
To Isla’s surprise, everyone clustered around the bank of monitors to see. It made sense. Treasure hunting fascinated many people. “You all want to see this, too?”
“Of course. New Zealand’s history is filled with dangerous and valiant tales of explorers. You can see monuments all over the coast,” Celeste said, smiling.
“That makes sense. It is an island. It’s so pretty here. If I were an explorer, I’d give up the sea life and stay here,” Zara confessed.
“Me, too,” Sadie chimed in.
“You get seasick on the dock,” Rocco said wryly.
“Well. There is that reason, too,” Sadie admitted with a laugh.
“So, getting back to the treasure…” Magnus drew everyone’s attention back to the map. “Given the tides, if the chest was placed in the caves and has remained safe and secure there throughout the years, this is the path it most likely would’ve taken.”
He touched a button, and a colored swath appeared on the screen from the scanned version of Isla’s map. “It could be anywhere along this line. Hurricanes have hit the coastline throughout history. If one hit this area while the treasure was on the ocean floor, it’s possible that the course has changed slightly.”
Another color appeared on the map, overlapping the first one but further south. “There are also other possible factors that have affected it.”
“Where are you going to start?” Rocco asked. “It’s possible we could use the tunnel system under the resort to reach the caves in that area to make sure it isn’t still there. I have the day off. Sadie and I were going to the beach to swim. We could do some exploring.”
“Can I come?” Isla asked eagerly.
“Of course. It’s your treasure map. But you both have to promise you’ll do exactly what I say,” Rocco warned.
“I can do that,” Isla said eagerly. She’d liked rock climbing with Rocco. He was really good at what he did.
“Me, too,” said Sadie.
“Can I come? The caves are my childhood playground,” Juniper stated.
“No.” Magnus nixed that idea. “This isn’t a sight-seeing mission. We don’t know what Rocco will find down there, and he doesn’t need more Littles to keep safe.”
Juniper sighed but nodded. “You’re right. You’ll take me exploring sometime…?”
“I will, Little girl,” her Daddy promised.
“If you find the treasure, you’ll signal us?” Celeste asked.
“Of course. We all need to celebrate if it’s sitting there waiting for us,” Rocco assured her.
Chapter Fourteen
Waking up in her Daddy’s arms was the best way to start the day, Isla decided. Lifting her head from his chest, she studied the handsome man who’d become so important to her in such a short time. She started to lean in to kiss him awake but stopped. He needs his sleep.
As she straightened, his full lips parted to say, “What’s wrong? Do I have a black hair sprouting on top of my nose?”
Automatically, she looked at the top of his nose. “No. Does that happen often?” she asked.
Opening his eyes, Caesar confessed, “The only arguments I’ve ever heard between my parents are when she’d chase him down to wax the top of his nose. It started when he was sixty. I thought I should warn you in case that’s a hard no on your list.”
“Am I going to know you when you’re sixty?”
“Definitely.” He pulled his hand out from under the covers and rubbed the top of his nose. “Whew! I’m safe today.”
She couldn’t help but giggle. “You’re planning on having a hairy nose when you’re sixty?”
“You can’t foil heredity. But no, my nose will be gorgeous because you’ll chase me down to wax it.”
Isla stared at him with wonder. “You’re not joking, are you?”
“I’m not. I waited a long time to find you. I’m keeping you.”
He reached up to wrap his hand around the back of her head and draw her lips to his. Instant heat burst inside her. She’d never experienced anything like this before. Opening her mouth to welcome his exploration, Isla responded fully. His mouth moved on hers, tasting and teasing.
When she raised her head to look down at him, they both breathed heavily. She looked directly into his eyes and said, “I love you.”
With a roar, he wrapped his arms around her and rolled their bodies so he was on top. “Say that again.”
“I love you, Caesar…Daddy.”
“I love you, my Little Fish.”
He captured her lips in a hard kiss that made Isla wrap her arms around his neck to squeeze him tightly. The desire that always seemed to lurk when he was around flared into bloom. She threaded her fingers into his hair, holding him close.
“You’re wearing too many clothes,” he growled, reaching a hand down to pull her nightie up.
Eagerly, Isla helped him drag it over her head. Once free, her gaze landed on his broad chest. She pressed her hands to his lightly furred skin and caressed his chiseled body as she leaned forward to kiss his neck. His groan encouraged her, and she explored his honed body.