Page 23 of The Deal Maker

“Click on the profile picture in the upper left corner and then tap on the Summer Scavenger Hunt button. Once there, you should see who your partner is.”

The group around me starts whispering and chatting, some calling out to those they’ve been paired with. I hear a few people saying how that’s who they’d suggested as their partner and I can’t for the life of me remember if I saw that on the application or put anyone in. Probably not, because I don’t know that many people still.

My phone is still trying to download the app, and I’m wishing I’d upgraded it several months back when the phone company had a deal going. This one is several generations old and apparently moving at turtle speed to use the internet.

Finally the app opens and I follow the directions. Once I’ve clicked on the button for the hunt, my stomach drops.

My partner is Duke Jacobson.

TWELVE

DUKE

I’ve been excited about this hunt since the phone call from Russ. But once I see that Maggie Dean is going to be my partner, I’m both excited and nervous that it will be a fight with every task we have to do. I have a good view of her from where I’m standing in the back, and I can tell she hasn’t seen my name yet either.

Is she a competitor? Is she willing to do what it takes to win the prize?

No, it’s not life or death, but I need to get out, to get rid of this itch I’ve got to see the world. But before all that, I need to honor my word and pay Grandpa back. Once I’ve gone somewhere, I’llbe good for at least six months. If we lose, I’ll just have to save all my pennies to get me somewhere after the busy season is over.

I wait, and wait, wondering what’s taking her so long to see that we’re partners. And then it happens.

Color drains from her face and her lips pinch into a deep frown. I didn’t know I could elicit feelings like that from someone I barely know. Sure, I’d been teasing her daily for a bit, but I didn’t think there was that much animosity between us.

Maggie glances around, probably to search for me. Instead, I slink back behind King, grateful he’s a bit taller and wider than me. I might as well give her a few minutes to stew over the selection process before I become the subject of her ire.

I still don’t quite get why she hates me so much. Sure, my employment is something she’s not a fan of, but that’s only one aspect of my life. And I don’t even know the person responsible for hurting her family. I’m just trying to make a living so I don’t have to talk about different types of fabrics that would go well with certain colors and what kind of accessories would complement the dress. You know, wedding things.

“You’re acting kind of strange,” King says, turning to give me the side-eye.

“I don’t think my scavenger hunt partner is happy about me being the person she’s paired up with.”

Georgie gives me an odd look. “Didn’t you request your partner? I think that’s why King and I are together.”

I shake my head. “Georgie, I’d hate to see someone even try to come between you and King. It would be like the old gladiator games.”

King tries to keep his laugh to himself but Georgie’s eyes could probably zap me completely if they were lasers.

“Who’s your partner?” Georgie asks.

“Maggie Dean.” Even saying her name confuses me. Like I’ve never felt this way before but I’m definitely not crushing on her. It’s more like irritation meets terror.

“Is she one of The Candy Jar owners?” King asks, rubbing a hand over his face as he thinks about it.

“Yeah,” Coop says, joining us in the back.

“What did you do already, Duke?” Georgie asks.

I raise both hands in the air. “What do you mean? I’ve been all sorts of polite.”

King and Georgie both raise their eyebrows at the same time, disbelief thick in their expressions. I don’t know how they do it, but maybe it’s because they’ve been together for a while. Is that what happens when you find a soul mate?

“Obviously not,” Coop says, folding his arms and acting like he’s paying attention to the mayor, who’s taken over the mic again.

“Did you ruin the proposal?” Georgie asks. “I heard there was a flash mob or something.”

Shaking my head, I say, “No, but I did witness that. Looked like a lot of work to put together.”

“Will you just spill it already?” Coop asks.

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