Page 55 of Recipe for Temptation (Madewood Brothers 4)

“Cole!”

She didn’t slow down, but she barreled into him, almost tackling him to the floor. She panted like she’d just completed a marathon.

“Did you get all your items?” he asked.

She nodded and choked down a breath. “Yes.”

Hallelujah. Without knowing how far along the other teams were, he had no idea if they were ahead of the winning time or behind it. But he guessed that was the point of different meeting places.

“You?” she asked.

He held up his bag. “Locked and loaded. I might have trampled a few kids to get them.”

“That’s my man.” She backhanded his chest in appreciation, then looked at her watch. “I know how to get the bonus item.”

He groaned. “Please don’t tell me we’re wrestling a dolphin.” He had no idea how they were going to take a selfie with something that swam.

She laughed. “No. I’ve thought of something much easier and faster. The hut.”

Her eyes were wide and excited, as if he was supposed to know what she was talking about. But he had no idea where she was going with this.

?

?The koi pond by the hut.” Her eyebrows lifted. “Koi fish? Something that swims?”

He stepped back and surveyed her confident stance. “You’re brilliant.”

“Get your cell phone ready, Murphy.” She winked. “We’re going koi hunting.”

Four minutes later, there was one more selfie added to his photo gallery.

They raced back to the finish line—the concierge desk in the hotel lobby. A familiar face was waiting for them when they arrived.

“Jason. Good to see you.” Cole held out his hand and smiled.

“Mr. Murphy. I trust your scavenger hunt was successful.”

“You know it.”

He wondered if this was the most unusual request Jason had ever gotten while working at the hotel. He hoped Harold had tipped him well. “Please tell me this is the first time you’ve ever had to be the point person for a family scavenger hunt.”

Jason laughed. “You’d be surprised what people ask you to do.” He checked his watch and wrote down the time on a piece of paper. “Eleven forty-three.”

“How did we do? Did we win?” Penn asked anxiously.

Jason shook his head. “Sorry, Miss Foster, you know I can’t tell you that.”

“I know. I just— I’m really nervous.” She placed the bag filled with their items on the counter. “It’s all here.”

“And the bonus item?” Jason asked expectantly.

Cole pulled out his phone and showed him the selfie.

“Excellent.” Jason smiled and noted it on the paper. “Thank you. I wish you the best of luck.” He picked up their bag, placed the piece of paper inside, and walked off with it.

“We make a damn good team,” Cole said proudly.

Penn sagged against the counter. Cole rubbed his hand up and down her back, trying to reassure her. “Now, all we have to do is wait for the results.”

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