Page 85 of The Treasure Hunt Hookup

Reeve squeezes me. “And now you’ve found the ending. Their story is finally complete.”

I exhale, smiling. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Sure you could,” Reeve grins, giving me a slow, heated kiss. “It just wouldn’t have been half as fun.”

I laugh, holding him tightly. Their story may be over, but I know that ours is just beginning.

And we’re going to do Earl and Madeline proud.

23

IVY

A FEW WEEKS LATER…

“More champagne,mademoiselle?”

“Oui, merci,” I say, happily offering my glass for a refill. It’s Saturday night on the Champs-Elysées, and I’m at the bar of the most exclusive hotel in Paris. All around me, glamorous people have their heads bent low, murmuring conversations in dark corners, as the lights of the snow-covered city twinkle outside the windows.

It’s mysterious, and sexy, and couldn’t be further from Milford Falls.

I love it.

Especially since I fit right in. I’m wearing an outfit tonight that would put Lola to shame: a plunging crimson cocktail dress and sky-high stiletto heels, courtesy of my morning shopping up a storm in the best boutiques in town.

I take a sip, savoring the bubbles as my phone buzzes on the polished bar. I ignore it. It’s just Jake calling me.

Again.

His whole treasure-fail implosion was a disaster for the ratings: the network cancelled the show, and apparently, Jessica quit in a huff and left him, too. I guess I should be a good winner, and not gloat over his epic downfall, but I can’t deny that the look on Jake’s face when we waltzed back into town with the treasure was truly priceless.Fortune Favors the Boldshut down so fast you could almost hear the record scratching … and now he’s calling and texting every day, begging me to come back and develop a new show with him.

I turned him down flat. After all, I have way better things to do with my time – like sip champagne in Paris, admiring the view of the Eiffel Tower as I wait for my date.

“Excuse me,” a familiar voice comes from behind me, as a hand comes to rest gently on my lower back. “Is this seat taken?”

I turn, and find Reeve standing there, looking drop-dead delicious in a designer suit; clean-jawed, dark-eyed, and still the hottest man I’ve ever seen.

“Hmm … I’m not sure,” I pretend to muse, taking another sip of my champagne. “You see, I’m supposed to meet my boyfriend here.”

“Then he shouldn’t have left you all alone.” Reeve smolders at me.

I smile. “Why? Can you make me a better offer?”

“Yeah, I think I will.” Reeve moves closer, his hand sliding lower, to rest possessively on my hip. “You finish that drink right now, and come back to my hotel with me for the night, and I promise, you’ll be screaming my name so loudly you won’t be able to look the bellhop in the eye when they bring us room service in the morning.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see the people next to us watching. They’re clearly tourists, middle-aged, with aBonjour Paris! pin on their backpack, and their eyes pop, scandalized at our steamy flirtation.

I grin. “That’s very forward of you,” I coo, reaching out to fuss with Reeve’s lapels. “Do you think I’m the kind of woman who would just leave for a night of passion with a total stranger?”

He smiles back at me. “I think that’s exactly the kind of woman you are. And if you’re very lucky … I’ll even let you play with my whip,” Reeve adds, reminding me of our Halloween adventure, just a couple of months ago.

One of the tourists makes a noise of shock, and I have to try and keep from laughing. It’s crazy how it feels like we’ve known each other forever, and I can tell exactly what that wicked glint in his eye really means.

I’m going to have fun tonight.

“You like it wild, huh?” I tease, hooking my finger over the top of his collar, and tugging him closer. “Do you think you can keep up?”

“I’ll damn well die trying,” Reeve vows. “What do you say? That dress is spectacular, but you’re going to come before it even hits the floor.”

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