Page 12 of Hiding out with a Royal Billionaire

“Really?”

“Totally. That and the relic would be priceless to the Catholic religion. It would go on display in St. Padres Cathedral.”

“Or in Spain. They have a relic of Peter on Mallorca.”

“The other problem we have is that the cross has become a major prize to some gamers.”

“Wait, what?”

“Yeah, unfortunately a game designer, The Green Dragons, created the ultimate quest to find the cross. And when you get to the end, the story continues, citing its history and encouraging all the followers to go in search of the actual cross. There is apparently the promise of great wealth, prizes from the gamers and of course, designated winner of the game.”

“Who are these people? How do they know?”

“Everyone can know the basic details. Even your google search you wanted to do would tell you the cross has been lost for three hundred years. And that they suspect it went down as part of a fleet of ships, travelling from the new world to Spain.”

“With the jewels of my ancestor, Terezia Falapogas.”

“Possibly. The crest of the Mosqueda is a clue too. His family line, if I’m correct. I wish we could study it closer.”

“It’s at the top of my list. As soon as we can get the chest off your island.”

He nodded. “True.”

“So, what else do we know about the cross?”

“Without sounding too much like Davinci Code, people suspect the relic to be Mary Magdalene. Or Peter.”

Skye swallowed twice. With difficulty and then cradled the cross more carefully. “Seriously?”

“Legend has it.”

Brooks watched her mind grasp all the myriad of issues involved.

“This is crazy. I feel like I’m living in a novel.” She sat back then narrowed her eyes. “Is this for real?”

“Totally for real.”

Brooks watched the dip above Skye’s lip move as her mouth became fuller and tighter depending on which fascinating expression she made next. Her thoughts were always so visible if he watched the movement on her face, but this time, he found her lips drawing his attention for another reason. He shifted, putting some space between them so that she wouldn’t notice his heart picking up pace.

5

Skye noticed Brooks shift away, and she also noticed the coldness in the space now created between them, as if she missed his closeness.

She could tell that when Brooks shifted away, it was pointed. He shifted because of her. She felt it. And an awkward sort of silence descended between them. She tried to ignore it, but she didn’t like this weirdness that had developed between them. They just needed to knock some sense back into each other and they could carry on as before.

But she’d never seen this other side of Brooks before. Whatever made him stand in front of her to shield her body deep below the sea, whatever it was that made him shoot a canon at the pirates to defend his friend, or build this hideout. She had noticed his muscles earlier, like really saw them for the first time. A small thrill coursed through her at his strength, at his protective stance. He was sexy. Her Brooks was sexy. When had that happened? And his mystery excited her. What was Brooks hiding from? The other side of Brooks was incredibly enticing. And she found herself looking at him in a new way.

His jaw line was suddenly interesting. The way his hair fell down on his forehead fascinated her. She had never noticed how broad his shoulders, and he’d been watching her mouth. She saw him do it. And then he’d moved away. What was this crazy new turn? After twenty years they were going to all of a sudden start seeing each other as attractive? But the thought didn’t seem at all unappealing. And all of a sudden she didn’t know what to do with her hands. So she stood, quickly, and Brooks joined her, just as quickly.

“So.”

“Okay.”

Skye rocked back and forth on her shoes. “So what’s the move?”

“The move?

“Yeah, what do we do next, about the cross and everything?”

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