Forever Treasured by Ellie Rhodes

Author:Ellie Rhodes [Rhodes, Ellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ellie Rhodes

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

After she returned home from girls’ night, Tory changed into her soft, comfy cotton shorts and tank. These spectacular women made her feel, for the first time in her life, like she was part of a group. She wanted to confide in them about the treasure hunt, but part of her wanted to keep it to herself for now, because it was her mother’s last gift. Confiding in Cole and not Cora felt deceitful. Once she figured out the first clue, she’d update Cora.

It was after midnight, but she was wired and couldn’t sleep. Sitting cross-legged on the bed with all the clues in front of her, she rummaged through the notes. She’d promised Cole she’d review the clues with him, and she yearned to hear his voice. Maybe she should call him? It was late, though. She hated being wishy-washy.

Her phone vibrated on the bed, alerting her to a text.

It sounds like you had fun at girls’ night, Cole had written.

I did, she typed back.

When can we meet to review the clues? he asked.

Are you busy now? she texted. I’m already in bed, but I can send you photos.

Three dots appeared immediately.

What are you wearing?

She decided to mess with him. Nothing, she typed, biting down on her lip to stop herself from laughing.

A laughing emoji appeared, followed by Cole’s response: For some reason I don’t believe you.

Then you shouldn’t have asked, she typed, followed by the same laughing emoji.

Tory attached photos of the notes to the text thread. Okay hot shot, help me out here.

She looked over the notes while she waited for his response. A light tap sounded on her window, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. She got off her bed and slowly pulled back the curtain. Cole stood on a large branch of the old oak tree. She opened the window and whisper-shouted, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to help. Now let me in before my brother drives by and arrests me.”

She laughed and helped him into her room. “I would have let you in the front door.”

“I know, but I didn’t want to wake Cora. This was more fun anyway.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Crazy about you.” He cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand and lowered his mouth to hers.

She kissed him back. The exchange was soft—slow and tender. A kiss like no other. A tremor of delight shot through her, but she pulled back. If she didn’t, she feared all the contents of the jars would be pushed aside and they’d make use of the bed.

“All I want is to kiss you again,” he said, his voice hoarse, “but we’ve got a scavenger hunt to solve.” He walked to the bed and looked down at the clues covering the bedspread. “Did all the notes include something with them?”

She managed to form words, her mind still on the kiss. “All but one . . . yes. Everything that came in each jar is next to its corresponding note. Here, I’ll move them so you can sit.

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