Page 40 of One Pucking Surprise
Blair crosses her arms, clearly unconvinced. “Let me guess. He told you how Clarissa’s the perfect match, right?”
I blink, startled by her accuracy. “Something like that.”
She sighs heavily. “Ignore him and all that about Clarissa. He’s always been tough on Zach.Part of it is because Zach didn’t fall in line with the family plan—he chose hockey instead of the business. But it’s more than that.”
“What do you mean?”
Blair hesitates, glancing around before leaning in slightly. “Zach believes our family is cursed or something. Mom passed when we were young, and Dad never really recovered. Noah, Cora, and Whitney are all divorced. I’m single—by choice, for the record.”
She smirks briefly before continuing. “But Zach? He thinks the ‘Darling curse’ means he’s destined for failed relationships or no relationships at all. That’s why he avoids dating seriously. Why he keeps things… casual. So I’m glad he found you.”
My stomach churns, guilt curling tight in my chest. It’s all fake. Zach didn’t find me. We found each other because of a stupid contract. But I force a smile, nodding as though I believe every word.
“Thanks, Blair,” I manage.
She grins, nudging me lightly. “No problem. Now, let’s go kick his ass in the scavenger hunt.”
When Zach returns, the buzz of excitement has reached its peak. Groups of people are gathering near the edge of the woods, clutching their lists and strategizing.
“Hey, baby,” he says, sliding his arm around my waist and pressing a quick kiss to my temple. “You ready for this?”
I laugh softly, his affection disarming me despite myself. “Depends. What exactly are we looking for?”
He pulls out a folded paper identical to mine and taps the list. “It’s pretty straightforward. Find one of these, and the dollar amount on the item gets added to your team’s total.”
I look over the list again.
Silver-painted pinecones ($1,000)
Gold-colored golf balls ($2,500)
Purple ribbons tied in bows ($5,000)
Small bronze medallions ($10,000)
Red glass marbles ($15,000)
Blue ceramic tiles ($25,000)
Small brass bells ($40,000)
Black and gold-painted rocks ($60,000)
Crystal sun catchers ($75,000)
Golden compass tokens ($100,000)
The estate logo marks each item, making them easy to distinguish but hard to find in the sprawling woods.
“You think we’ll find the big one?” I ask, nodding toward the golden compass token at the bottom of the list.
Zach smirks, his tone turning competitive. “Not if I find it first.”
“We’re not even on the same team?” I protest.
“Exactly why we need a side bet,” he says, leaning in close. “Whoever finds the highest-value item wins. The loser owes the winner a favor—anything they want.”
My eyes narrow, suspicion bubbling up. “Anything?”
