Page 20 of Married to Mischief

“The third cave has the biggest ledge. I’ll drop you off there,” the pilot says.

I attempt to look down at the ledge in question, but it’s directly below us, which means it's time to go. A thrill shoots through my veins. It’s been a while since I jumped out of something. Never mind. I literally did this last week when we broke into a weapons dealer’s lair.

Liam pulls open the door and I grip the railing, preparing to jump. “Are you sure you don’t want me to go first?” he asks.

“When have I ever wanted you to beat me at something?” I smirk, pressing a kiss to his lips.

“That’s what I thought.” He chuckles. “Ready?”

“I’m always ready.” Usually. Though I find this man takes me off guard more than anything else.

He raises an eyebrow. “That reminds me, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” He brushes a strand of my wildly whipping hair out of my eyes and gazes at me with a look full of meaning. “I have a very important question to ask you, Serena.”

My heart jumps to my throat, and my knees buckle. “W-what?”

“Will you m—”

My foot slips out from under me and I fall.

Chapter 8

Serena

Ibarelycatchmyselfand my bearings before smacking into the cliff face. Was Liam about to propose, and I fell out of a freaking helicopter? After we find this treasure, I’m going to make him finish that question.

I look up to find Liam clutching his heart above me in the helicopter. I shoot him a thumbs up then turn my gaze to the cave. The ledge is only a foot wide, but I can make it. I look around and locate a good rock hold before attempting it. I swing in, grabbing hold of the cliff and pulling myself in. The ledge stays, and I walk into the darkened cave a few feet before unhooking the harness. I toss it back into the wind, and it’s immediately whipped up. I step back farther from the edge, andthe noise of the helicopter fades. I should wait for Liam… or… I bite my bottom lip. I can beat him to his treasure.

It would be rude.

It would also be poetic justice. He stuck me in a coffin after all, and I have yet to achieve the perfect payback.

I hurry deeper into the cave, pulling my phone out of the dress pocket to use the flashlight. If I remember right, the other two caves are toward the south. I’ll head that way, but there’s no way a treasure would be buried in the open and subject to the elements. It will be somewhere in the shadows.

I choose my steps over the rocky surface carefully, shining my light up and down. For someone to have buried treasure here, they would have had to take a pickax to the wall or floor, make a hole, and then cover it with loose rocks. Or hide it in a crevice or a naturally formed hole.

I kick a rock, and it skitters deeper into the cave, echoing through the emptiness as it goes. The cave falls silent again, and I continue my search.

My eyes snag on something in the bottom corner of the wall. Intricate chisel marks create a picture of an eagle’s talon clasping a scroll. The Moore crest! But where is the treasure? I scour the walls and floor, then I find it: a small pile of rocks. I rip them up. I cut my finger on a rock, but I keep going. There it is—a thick canvas sack holding something that feels like a book, eight inches long at most. Mildly disappointing, but Liam was right. There was a treasure. And I found it! Or it’s another clue to something bigger and better. My heart pounds harder at the thought as I tug at the strings of the bag.

Then freeze.

Icouldput it back and let Liam find it. A good girlfriend would do that. But I’ve never claimed to be one of those. We will open it together.

Decision made, I hold up my flashlight, continuing down the cave with the sack in one hand. Dim light filters into the tunnel, and I head for the opening, needing a respite from the darkness. Excitement rips up and down my skin as I walk faster through the cave. I can’t believe we found a treasure, even if it is only a book.

The cave opens up with a large hole in the left wall, but more light comes from ahead of me.

I step around the bend, and the air disappears from my lungs.

Chapter 9

Liam

Istandintheopening of the third cave, waiting. I wanted Serena to find the treasure herself, if there even is a treasure, so I had the pilot drop me off here.

But there may also be another reason.

“Do you think she’s chickening out?” Caleb asks.

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