Page 9 of Impossible Treasure

“Good for you, Brylee.” Mercedes laughed and shot Shawn another warning look. She focused back on them. “Ah, you two are so beautiful together. You’ll do amazing!”

“Our lovely host sure is a cheerful soul,” Brylee drawled, sounding just like Eeyore fromWinnie the Pooh.

Cash and Mercedes both laughed at that. Shawn scowled.

“Ah, I hate to leave you. I just want to be part of this adventure and all your fun and flirtatious banter.” Mercedes scurried to them on her heels, Shawn shadowing her. “I need hugs.”

She gave Brylee a hug first, whispering something in her ear. Brylee’s cheeks went pink, and Cash felt a moment of discomfort. What was Mercedes scheming? Probably matchmaking was more like it. He’d tried to tell her he didn’t want some romance angle to be part of their shows. She’d only laughed and never really answered or reassured him it wouldn’t be.

Mercedes turned to him and threw her arms around his back. “Take good care of her,” she said. No secret message for him, apparently.

“You know I will.” He glanced at Brylee. Her blue eyes focused on him, and his words became a promise, like a warrior of old swearing to protect the queen. He brushed that away.

Mercedes pulled back. “Okay, you beautiful people. Make me proud. I won’t see you until you secure the treasure. Oh!” She snapped her fingers. “There is a satellite phone in the bigger backpack if you encounter any emergencies or when you find the money. Give us a ring.” She put her pinkie and thumb out and imitated a phone to her ear. Then she brought both hands to her lips, kissed her fingertips, and flung them toward them. “Blessings and prayers and all good things, my friends.”

Shawn rolled his eyes, grasped her around the waist, and escorted her toward the helicopter. Cash had no idea why she put up with that guy, but that was her issue, not his. His loyalty to Grayson made him want to make it his issue. Maybe after this week was up, he could confront Mercedes about Shawn.

Garrett followed them, videoing every step Mercedes took in her formfitting dress with those too-high heels. The poor thing was so fragile. Cash hated that she was dying.

Shawn easily lifted her into the helicopter, then loaded up with her. Garrett stowed his gear and followed. Mercedes, the cameraman, and the pilot all waved. Shawn did not. Good riddance to that guy leaving. Why was Shawn the one who would come check on them? Cash would think he wouldn’t want to leave Mercedes’ side. As her top security guy, heshouldn’tleave her side.

The helicopter lifted straight up. After brief tornado-strength winds, the rotor wash dissipated, and Cash watched the helicopter retreat. The sound was gradually replaced by the comfortable steadiness of the waterfall.

Cash turned to Brylee, running his thumb along the back of her hand. It was insane that they were holding hands as if they were some couple. He didn’t even know her, and it was very unusual for him to touch anyone willingly.

He needed to let her hand go lest he give her the wrong idea. He wanted to support her emotionally and physically this week, but it would be a jerk move to pretend there could ever be anything more between them. If she was even interested in him and not simply a friendly, sweet woman.

“That went well,” he teased. Soon they would go to camp, where the cameras would watch and listen to their every word. The thought made his stomach churn.

“Cripes. I could’ve handled that a bit better,” she teased back in a perfect English accent. “The cheek was a barmy move on my part.”

“I liked your cheek. Scrummy.” He winked.

What was he doing? He needed to keep his distance from this appealing lady. He released her hand and eased half a foot away from her.

Glancing down at their now not-joined hands and then back up at him, she bit at her lower lip. His stomach gave an odd lurch. She had very enticing lips. Not that he should notice details like that. He needed to focus, and details were important, like how they would accomplish this mission, not how he could get a sample of her lips. Why were her lips so shiny?

“I do feel a measure of regret at my underhanded mocking of Shawn,” she said. “I try not to get snarky, and I have to remind myself far too often that everyone is God’s child and needs my love and understanding. Though I do wonder what Mercedes sees in him.”

Cash agreed.

“I will choose to believe he was only trying to do what the show producers wanted and trying to make the show successful because of his deep love for Mercedes.” She nodded decisively at her positive interpretation of Shawn being such a jerk. Then she glanced up to the heavens and said in the most sincere tone he’d heard out of her, “Please forgive me. Help me to have Thy love in my heart, to look for the best in others, and to bridle my too-sharp tongue.” She focused back on Cash with those enticing blue eyes.

He stared at her, enthralled. For the first time, besides admitting to her fear of heights, she didn’t seem to be teasing. “Did you mean that prayer?”

“Of course I did. Smarmy bloke.” Now she sounded Australian. “Forgive me, mate. That wasn’t snark. Cross me heart. I’m going to do better. It’ll all be brilliant.”

Cash couldn’t stop smiling around her. He hadn’t had much to smile about since he’d been forced to retire early from his Green Beret unit and leave behind his men and his future. “Your repentance and humility are impressive, but I think Shawn deserved a lot more snark than you gave him. I really like your sense of humor and your accents. Please don’t stop.”

“All right, if I must. I’ll simply be kinder about it. Except maybe to Shawn when he gets mouthy.”

Cash was impressed by and drawn to her. Shawn had been the instigator of the verbal battle and Brylee had easily won it, yet she felt badly and had even prayed for forgiveness. She’d tried to see the best in Shawn.

If Cash was in the market for romance and a lasting relationship, he’d definitely be interested in her. Unfortunately, his prognosis wasn’t going away. The doc had taken part of Cash’s pancreas, but the cancer had already spread to his liver, stomach, and lymph nodes. The treatments could slow the progression, but remission in cases such as his were rare. Even remission didn’t mean cancer-free. It meant a few more months, or if a miracle happened, years on the clock. No way would he involve this unique and enticing lady in his bleak future of chemotherapy, surgeries, and hospital stays.

“Do you think Shawn and Mercedes are a couple?”

“I do.” He shrugged. “He’s her bodyguard, but they definitely have an intimate relationship.”

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