“Olivia and I never dated or anything,” I informed them.
Sylvie did not look convinced. “Our mid-November selection for book club isWhen Hairy Met Sally.” She eyed my voluminous beard. “It’s about a nerdy IT dude by day—”
“Who’s an amorous Sasquatch by night.” Frannie fanned herself. “He has a heart of goldandcan fix your Wi-Fi when it’s on the fritz.”
Sylvie crackled her gum between her teeth. “Sally’s a beautiful, type-A woman climbing the career ladder at animal control. They’re two wrongs who make a right. Two sexy ships passing in the night. Two opposites who unexpectedly attract.” She raised her eyebrows as if trying to send home a message. “Do you know what I’m saying?”
“Not really.”
Her voice lowered, and she poked her red nail right into the center of my shirt. “Sometimes love is found when you least expect it.”
Frannie gave a firm nod. “And so are fur balls.”
“I will take this under consideration,” I said as I held back a smile.
Sylvie stepped onto the party bus, then glanced back. “Best of luck to you on the scavenger hunt.” She leaned down and delivered a wink and a promise. “You’re gonna need it.”
* * *
Turnsout Iwasgoing to need that luck.
We tumbled out of the Smoky Rib restaurant, our last stop on the food tour and my least favorite. They’d served a nice mocha cheesecake with caramel swirl, but I firmly believed barbeque was a magic left to the true pit sorcerers, people who conjured epicurean magic with the right ratio of smoke, wood chips, and dry rub.
“Okay, guys.” Hattie adjusted the small veil her sisters had earlier placed on her head. It matched the sash that said Bride-to-Be. “Scavenger hunt time.”
“Bring it!” Frannie shouted. “I’ll takeallyou turkeys down.”
“We’re working in pairs for this one,” Hattie said. “Miller’s passing out your clue sheet. Take a photo of each location and text it to me. When you’re done, report to the Tropical Paradise Club. First team done wins bragging rights and a stay at the new Sugar Creek Bed-and-Breakfast, complete with spa package.”
She could keep the B&B stay, but I was all about those bragging rights. Then again, thoroughly trouncing Olivia would be enough win for me.
Speaking of Olivia, she stood as far away from me as she could, which suited me just fine. It made it even harder to notice how she looked beautiful tonight. Unlike me, she’d changed into something nicer for the outing. Her short dress hugged her curves, and her ever-present heels made her calves pop. Hair that she’d eventually tugged into a ponytail on the plane now hung in loose waves.
“Now for the teams,” Hattie called. “Frannie, you’re with Sylvie.”
The two high-fived then did some elaborate hip bump.
“Rosie and Miller will be partners,” Hattie said. “And I’ll be at the bar because I created the game.” She mimicked chugging a few drinks. “So sad for me.”
No. That left me with…
“Lachlan,” Hattie said, “you’ll pair with Olivia.” Hattie’s eyes landed on me. I didn’t know her well, but I was pretty certain I caught a flash of calculated mischief pass over that pretty face.
Olivia and I stared at one another, and what I saw on her face reflected the same annoyance I felt.
Okay, I could be a decent sport about this. Maybe not a good sport, but I could manage decent. Polite, even. Then I wouldn’t have to see Olivia again until the wedding next year.
There was no way out but in, so I made my way to Olivia, ready to tackle our list of clues and get this over with. “You should know I’m here to win,” I told her.
“That makes two of us.” Cerulean eyes sliced into me. “Try to keep up.”
Oh, was that how it was going to be? “I’m pretty sure I’m about to show you how it’s done.”
“Like you did in college?” she had the nerve to ask.
I consulted the sheet of clues. “Hey, do you think your raging bitterness can help us solve some of these riddles?”
Olivia opened her mouth to fire back, but one of the teams raced by, and she instantly shifted gears. “You help me win this thing, and I promise not to insult you one more time for the rest of the weekend.”
