Page 10 of Kink in the Road
Warrick handed her a loaded plate, taking the seat beside her as Aiden, Finn and I took a seat on a picnic blanket spread across the warm grass.
“What do you do for a living?” Aiden asked, spearing a piece of pasta with his bamboo fork.
“I’m a supply chain manager.” Colleen chuckled at our blank looks. “Basically, I get paid a lot of money to work from home managing temperamental vendors, suppliers and developers. I handle projects for companies all over the country, working to ensure that they have what they need when they need it.”
I whistled low. “Sounds impressive.”
She snorted prettily. “It’s not.”
I tilted my head to one side. “What brings you to this weekend?”
I saw her gaze dart toward Warrick before she answered.
“My friend signed me up. Said it would be a good opportunity to meet new people who want the same thing I do.”
“And that is?” Warrick asked gently.
“A family. A home. Friends and community.”
“Not love?” Aiden asked, raising one eyebrow.
Colleen shrugged. “Love would be nice, but mutual respect and attraction would be fine as well. Love can always grow.”
“You’d be willing to move to the island?” Finn asked, reaching for my empty plate. “It’s quite a way from most of the major cities.”
Colleen shrugged. “As long as there’s internet, I can work from anywhere.”
“Lucky,” I said, climbing to my feet and brushing off my butt.
The bells began to chime in the distance, heralding the start of the competition.
“I’ll get it!” Aiden sprang to his feet, sprinting across the green to take one of the sheets.
Finn chuckled, shaking his head. “Be warned, Aiden’s ruthlessly competitive. He might seem laid back but he’s not a good loser.”
We slowly made our way over to Aiden, who’d already ripped open the envelope and was poring over the contents.
“It’s a riddle,” he said, handing the clue to Warrick. “We’ll have to decipher it to work out our first destination.”
“’I have a head and a foot that are both the same size. Where I go depends on good fortune.’ What do you think?” Colleen asked, peering over Warrick’s shoulder.
“A coin,” Finn and I said in unison. We grinned at each other, and I felt a flutter in my stomach.
“Right.” Aiden rubbed his hands together, glancing between us. “We’re off to the bank. Let’s go.”
“Wait,” I interrupted, halting him with one hand. “The fortune is a clue. I think it’s the wishing well.”
Aiden slapped a palm to his head. “Of course it is.”
We set off across the grass and I found myself walking between Aiden and Finn, their shoulders and hands casually brushing mine as we walked.
Around us, groups flowed, laughing and chatting—the women in their finery, the men appearing shiny. I glanced down at my worn and faded jeans and white, flowing blouse with a wry smile. I’d dressed for function and comfort, with just a hint of professional noting that I was meant to be working for Aiden and Finn—not attracting a potential mate.
“So, Riley,” Colleen said, glancing back at me. “How long have you lived on the island?”
“All my life,” I replied. “Except for a few years away at college.”
“It must be nice to have such deep roots. I’ve moved around so much, I sometimes feel like I don’t belong anywhere.”
