Page 38 of Kind of a Dirty Talker

“Me, too,” I say, never happier to be a nerd who follows treasure-hunting blogs. Like Tessa, I loved scavenger hunts as a kid and the idea that somewhere out there, mysterious treasures are waiting to be found. It isn’t about the money for me, it’s about the adventure.

“So, you really think we’ll have several hunts to choose from?” she asks as I open the passenger door for her. We’ve decided to leave Freya in her crate until we’re set up at the campsite, reducing the chances that she’ll run off while we’re hooking up water and electric and fetching wood for a campfire.

“Yeah, I think so. If we don’t mind driving a little.” Once I’m buckled in, I set off down the narrow road leading to the campsite, regaling her with tales of Montezuma’s cursed treasure, an evil Spanish priest’s ill-gotten gold, and Butch Cassidy’s outlaw stash.

“Wow.” She cracks the window, inhaling the sweet, grass-scented air. This area will be bone dry in a couple months, but for now, the grasslands are alive with smells and the sounds of insects humming in the cool night. “I think we’re going to need a wardrobe adjustment.”

I grin and tease, “Indiana Jones hat?”

She laughs. “I mean, yeah. Why not? I’d also enjoy a white linen shirt and some vintage khakis, but I can make do with my Gore-Tex hiking apparel, if needed. But the hat is non-negotiable. After we research treasure-hunting locations, I’ll do some research on where to buy matching hats.” She reaches out, her fingers lingering on my arm for a beat, even that brief contact making my blood pump faster. “You don’t mind matching, do you?”

“Mind?” I scoff. “I insist on it. Every good team needs a uniform.”

“We should get something for Freya, too. A brow ribbon or something. I doubt she’ll tolerate a hat, even if we could find one small enough. She has very little patience for dressing up aside from ribbons and the occasional stretchy vest. The one time I put her in a dress, I thought she was going to have an aneurysm. She threw herself on the ground and thrashed until she was exhausted, then refused to move until I took it off.”

“I think Christian did the same thing when our cousins dressed him up in their old pageant dresses when he was little,” I say, shrugging as I add, “I didn’t mind it, myself. Dresses are comfortable and good for airflow.”

She giggles. “Tell me someone took pictures.”

“For sure. Mom still has them in a family album somewhere. Me, Christian, Matty, and Melissa all dressed up in big floofy gowns. I don’t know who was angrier, Christian or Mel. She hated girl clothes when she was a kid.”

Tessa hums low in her throat. “I’m not surprised. She doesn’t love them now. I can count the times I’ve seen her in a dress on one hand. Including last night.” She runs a hand through her hair and leans forward as we near the gates. “Oh no, it looks like the check-in kiosk is closed.”

“It’s okay. I paid for our spot online and they sent directions for check-in and check-out. And there’s a caretaker on site if we run into trouble. We’re spot sixty-nine.”

“You’re kidding,” she says with a soft snort. “Sorry. I have the sense of humor of a teenage boy sometimes.”

I grin. “No, I’m not kidding. The website said it had one of the best views of…” I trail off with a chuckle. “Well, you’ll see tomorrow morning.”

“What will I see?”

I shrug. “The view. Unless the moonlight is bright enough to see it tonight.”

She glances outside. “Maybe. It’s pretty bright, but the moon won’t be full for another four days.”

“How do you know that?” I ask.

She shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s always just been something I keep track of. I don’t like to miss a full moon if I can help it. It’s a good day for tapping into cosmic energy.” She lowers her voice before whispering, “I’m a little witchy, but in a nice way. I don’t talk about it much, though. People in Bad Dog can still be kind of old-fashioned about stuff like that.”

I slow as we near the end of a long row of mostly empty campsites. “Afraid you’ll get burned at the stake?”

She laughs. “Um, yeah? A little? But that could just be PTSD from my mom finding all my crystals and spell book when I was a teenager. She threw everything away and made me have a meeting with Pastor Bob. Come to find out later, Pastor Bob was way more dangerous than my moon power spells. He was having an affair with one of the girls I went to school with, while she was still in high school.”

“Gross,” I say, my lip curling. “What’s wrong with men like that? The thought of being involved with a girl that young literally turns my stomach.”

“Well, we all know you prefer older women,” Tessa says, making my focus jerk her way. She grins, adding, “I mean, Darcy is older than you are, right? Binx mentioned that Daria was thirty-four. Seeing as they’re twins, I’m assuming Darcy is the same age.”

“Yeah. She’s about a year and a half older than I am.” I swing into the empty spot across from ours so I can back into number sixty-nine. “But age doesn’t really matter to me. As long as the woman isn’t too much younger. I wouldn’t trust that someone too much younger than I am is ready for a serious commitment.”

“And you are?” Tessa asks as I angle the camper into our spot, stopping once the front of the vehicle is well out of the road.

I shift into park and shut off the engine before giving her my full attention. “Yeah, I am. With the right person.” I nod outside. “I think I can see the view. Want to check it out before we hook up and set Freya free?”

“Yeah,” she says, unbuckling her belt. “She’s probably asleep, anyway. If she weren’t, she’d be scratching at the door by now. She’s had a big day.”

“We all have,” I agree. “We can still have an early night if you want. Save the treasure scouting research for tomorrow.”

“Hell no,” she says, making me smile. “I’m wide awake. Could be the coffee from earlier, but I think it’s the excitement. If we find treasure, I’m using my half to buy a food truck. I used to think I wanted to open a restaurant, but a food truck is way better. Lower overhead, increased flexibility with location, and you can park it and take time off without paying rent. It’s the perfect low-stress food service option.”

---