The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the little surf shop by the shore, where JJ Maybank was making his way in with an air of nonchalance that didn’t match the buzz of anticipation Kiara had sparked in him earlier. She’d found out that the newest arrival to the Outer Banks—a newcomer who’d picked up a job at the market just down from the pier—supposedly had a lead on the treasure they'd been chasing. JJ had one job: charm them, dig up whatever info he could, and report back.

The bell above the surf shop door jingled as JJ stepped inside, the salt air fading behind him as he adjusted to the dim, cozy light. His eyes scanned the room, his usual confident smirk slipping as he searched for the new face Kiara had described. She hadn’t told him much—just that they were “interesting” and “probably onto something big.” Typical Kiara, keeping the best details to herself.

He rounded an aisle of beach towels and vintage surfboards before he spotted them standing by a rack of maps. They were thumbing through the options, totally absorbed in their search. JJ froze for a second, caught off guard as he took in the sight. They looked… way better than he’d expected. Kiara had really left that part out.

For a beat, he just stood there, stunned, heart thudding in his chest as he tried to compose himself. He wasn’t usually one to get tongue-tied, but somehow he couldn’t seem to find his usual swagger. Finally, he took a breath, put on his best casual expression, and sauntered over, picking up a map himself to cover his nerves.

He managed a half-smile, trying to make his voice sound relaxed. “Uh, hey,” he said, mentally cursing himself for sounding like a nervous kid. “You, uh, planning on hiking the whole island or just… looking for something specific?”