Page 49 of For the Love of Lilah
“I guess the Calhouns have been lining a lot of bird cages lately.”
He rocked back on his heels and laughed. “Pays to keep a sense of humor. I guess it’s a hassle, but it gives people like me a lot of vicarious excitement. Missing emeralds, jewel thieves.”
“Treasure maps.”
“There’s a map?” His voice sharpened and he worked hard at easing it again. “I hadn’t heard.”
“Sure, you can pick them up in the village.” She reached in her pocket and drew the latest one out. “I’ve been collecting them. A lot of people are spending hard-earned money only to find out too late thatXdoesn’t mark the spot.”
“Ah.” He had to fight against clenching his jaw. “Capitalism.”
“You bet. Here, a souvenir.” She handed it to him, careful for reasons she couldn’t quite place not to brush his fingers. “Your students might get a kick out of it.”
“I’m sure they will.” To give himself time, he folded it and slipped it into his pocket. “I really am fascinated by the whole thing. Maybe we can have that sandwich soon and you can give me a firsthand account of what it’s like to look for buried treasure.”
“Mostly, it’s tedious. Enjoy your stay in the park.”
Knowing there was no safe way to detain her, he watched her go. She had a long, graceful body, he noted. He certainly hoped he wouldn’t have to damage it.
“You’re late.” Max met her on the trail when she was still twenty yards from the parking area.
“It seems to be my day for teachers.” She leaned into the kiss, pleased with how warm and solid it was. “I was detained by a Southern gentleman who wanted information on flora for his geography class.”
“I hope he was bald and fat.”
She didn’t quite manage the laugh and rubbed the chill from her arms instead. “No, actually, he was quite trim and had an abundance of hair. But I turned down his request that I become the mother of his children.”
“Did he make a pass at you?”
“No.” She held a hand up before he could rush by her. And did laugh. “Max, I’m kidding—and if I wasn’t, I can dodge passes all by myself.”
He didn’t feel as foolish as he might have even a day before. “You haven’t been dodging mine.”
“I can intercept them, too. Now what’s behind your back?”
“My hands.”
She laughed again and gave him a delighted kiss. “What else?”
He held out a clutch of painted daisies. “I didn’t pick them,” he said, knowing her feelings. “I bought them from Suzanna. She said you had a weakness for them.”
“They’re so cheerful,” she murmured, absurdly touched. She buried her face in them, then lifted it to his. “Thanks.”
As they began to walk, he draped an arm around her shoulders. “I bought the car from C.C. this afternoon.”
“Professor, you’re full of surprises.”
“I thought you might like to hear about the progress Amanda and I are making on those lists. We could drive down the coast, have some dinner. Be alone.”
“It sounds wonderful, but my flowers’ll wilt.”
He grinned down at her. “I bought a vase. It’s in the car.”
When the sun was setting behind the hills to the west, they walked along a cobble beach that formed a natural seawall on the southern point of the island. The water was calm, barely murmuring over the mounds of smooth stones. With the approach of dusk, the line between the sky and sea blurred until all was a soft, deep blue. A single gull, heading home, soared overhead with one long, defiant cry.
“This is a special place,” Lilah told him. With her hand in his, she walked down the slope of cobbles to stand close to the verge of water. “A magic one. Even the air’s different here.” She closed her eyes to take a deep breath of it. “Full of stored energy.”
“It’s beautiful.” Idly he bent to pick up a rock, just to feel the texture. In the near distance an island melted into the twilight.
