Deadly Race (8 page)

“Under the circumstances, I’m fine. Of course, it can’t be more than ten o’clock in the morning and I’ve already been strip-searched, held prisoner, shot at, and in a plane crash. Not to mention falling from a tree and nearly being crushed to death. I would have felt a little better if I’d had time this morning to put on some makeup and eaten a good breakfast. Otherwise, what could be wrong?”

A humorous twinkle sparkled in his eyes as he lifted a hand and brushed her hair from her cheek. “I like your attitude. And I like your earthy look.”

Her heart had to be beating faster than his ever had. When he laid his palm against her face, all she could think of was the warmth that radiated from the contact, warmth that surpassed the heat in the air. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, wishing they were anywhere but in the middle of a jungle, miles from civilization.

“This isn’t quite how I pictured my departure from Bella Isla.”

Ellie forced a throaty laugh, leaning away from his touch. “That’s certainly an understatement. Right about now I should be in a jet heading home, listening to my music, and trying desperately to forget how many miles I’m off the ground. I have a confession to make. I’m scared to death of heights.”

“Then I suggest that when we start climbing that mountain you don’t look down.”

“
Mountain!
” In her book a mountain was definitely classified as a high place.

“That’s the shortest route out of here.”

“Can’t we wait until someone comes along?”

“Oh, for their Sunday stroll?” One of his brows arched.

“No, I mean to rescue us.”

“Who? The people who shot us down?”

“Well—” She chewed on her bottom lip, knowing they couldn’t wait but not wanting to go mountain climbing, something she thought mountain goats were better equipped to do than humans, especially one Ellie Winters. That had always been way down on her list of favorite things to do, right before going to the dentist and right after cleaning the bathroom.

“We’d better hope they think we died in the crash. That’s probably our only chance of getting out of Bella Isla in one piece, other than in a pine box.”

“A pine box? You don’t think we’ll make it out alive!”

Slade muttered something under his breath, cupped the back of her neck and brought her flat against his chest. “I’m sorry I got you into this mess.” He pulled back, captured her face between his hands, and tilted her head back to force her to look him straight in the eye. “I promise you we’ll get out of this somehow.”

“Not in a pine box?”

“Not if I have a breath left in me.”

His thumb rubbed gently over the smooth planes of her face, and Ellie felt all her taut muscles relax as though his touch were slowly drugging her. She had to admit it was nice to have a man take care of her for a change. And strangely she felt Slade would get them out of Bella Isla in one piece. He had an air of strength and determination about him that could be a potent combination in the face of danger. Again she wondered where he had learned to be so capable in unusual situations.

As he continued to caress her face, she wanted to close her eyes and give in to the melting sensations he was creating in her. She knew it wasn’t a particularly wise thing to do, but sometimes it was nice just to feel, not think about the future.

Her eyelids began to slide close, her body leaning into him even more, when Slade murmured into her ear, “Am I forgiven?”

She opened her eyes. “For what?”

“For getting you into something I’m sure you didn’t bargain for when you sat down at my table last night.”

Ellie remembered King Kong and Godzilla, both knocked out and tied up in Slade’s hotel room. She had been responsible for that, not him. She had brought danger to his doorsteps, not the reverse. “Yes, of course,” she answered, pulling back so he was no longer touching her.

Quickly she moved a safe distance from him and just as quickly decided a safe distance would be halfway across the Caribbean. Maybe. The air between them continued to pulse heatedly with their emotions. Ellie was determined to get hers under control, because they would only complicate a situation that was already complicated enough. Her first priority had to be getting off the island alive.

However, she couldn’t help but feel like the time she had been riding on a runaway horse, galloping over rough terrain and desperately trying to control the animal enough to stop him. Finally, the horse had come to an abrupt halt on his own. This time she couldn’t wait for the horse to stop on his own; somehow she sensed it would be much more difficult to halt her runaway emotions than a crazed animal.

“You know, this reminds me of the time I went to see Aunt Molly in Maine,” she began as she pulled herself together.

Grinning, Slade sat back on his haunches with his arms folded across his chest. “Now, let me guess the connection.” He thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. “I know! Maine has pine trees and you thought about that when we talked about a pine box.”

“Why would I do that?” With a frown creasing her brow, she shook her head. “Are you sure you didn’t hit your head?”

“No, so why does it remind you of Aunt Molly?”

“When my aunt and I went blueberry picking, I came back with more dust and dirt on me than was in the field. Just look at me! I’m a sight! I’m not in to the earthy look.” She gestured at her body and immediately regretted drawing attention to her figure.

His gaze flared as it skimmed over her, taking in the fact that her skirt revealed more of her legs than it hid. She quickly shoved the material down to conceal as much of her body as possible.

Ellie decided clear to the United States wouldn’t be a safe enough distance for her. “I mean …” She tried to stand, but her legs were shaky and she felt dizzy from the dull throb in her head. She instantly sank back down and stared, with what she hoped was helplessness, not longing, at Slade. The combination of everything that had happened to her in the past few days and the mind shattering look that he was sending her was just too much. She wasn’t going to win this battle. She didn’t want to have a casual affair with anyone, and with Slade she got the strong sense that was all he would offer.

“Don’t rush yourself, Ellie. A lot’s happened. We’ll sit here for a while and still have a few hours of walking before nightfall.”

Against her better judgment she found her gaze straying to him and taking in his rugged features, carved with strength in mind. She had to think of something safe to talk about before her hand wandered to his face to explore its planes, much as he had hers. All her firm resolutions would be for nothing.

“How did you break your nose?” she asked, hoping the question covered the fact that she had been staring at him way too long.

“Nothing heroic. I walked into a door.”

“You’re kidding!”

“I wish I was. When I was eleven, I got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and didn’t turn on the light. I forgot I had closed my door and walked right into it. I never forgot after that. I only make a mistake once.”

The vehement way he had spoken the last statement made Ellie realize he wasn’t referring to walking into doors. Her natural curiosity bubbled to the surface. “What kind of mistakes have you made?”

His expression went blank. “The usual.”

Normally Ellie would have pursued the question, but she knew when someone was totally closed off from her and that impression radiated from Slade. “Well, if I were you, I wouldn’t tell people how you got the broken nose. It gives you an air of mystery. Let them think you got it by defending a lady’s honor in a fight.”

“Ah, you must be a romantic at heart.”

“In my heart, soul and mind. Romance is what makes life worth living.” She didn’t tell him that most of her experience with it came from reading books.

“Then why aren’t you married?”

Ellie laughed. “Romance and marriage aren’t the same thing. In fact, usually after a woman gets married there’s very little romance left.”

“Romance is a two way street. The woman should give as much as the man is supposed to. How often do you hear of a woman sending a man flowers?” He didn’t give her time to answer but continued, “I bet you never have.”

“Does it count that I sent my uncle flowers when he was in the hospital for a knee replacement operation?”

“Nope.”

“Then you’re right. I haven’t.”

“You see. The woman expects to be romanced but doesn’t do her fair share.”

“Duly noted.” She inclined her head. “But I have a feeling there are women who have. I just don’t know them.”

“Do you feel up to walking now?”

“I think so. There’s only one way to find out.”

Slade rose, towering over her. She looked up the long columns of his legs, past his narrow hips and waist to his broad chest, before her gaze finally came to rest on the firm outline of his full lips. She could go no farther. Her throat went dry, her face was covered in a thin layer of perspiration. She couldn’t honestly blame it on the climate.

The corners of his mouth quirked upward in a half smile while he held his hand out for her to take. She fit hers within his as though she were in a hypnotic trance. With one tug he had her on her feet and flattened against him. She grasped onto his arms to steady herself and lifted her face so she could stare into those piercing, jade green eyes.

“I realize this won’t be easy for you, Ellie. Our accommodations will be about as primitive as they come, which I’m sure you’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing.”

“No, I can’t say that I’ve stayed in a jungle motel before, but some of the flea bag places I’ve had the misfortune of staying at, I think were far worse.” With Slade plastered against her and his breath tingling her cheek, she had a hard time concentrating on what she was trying to say. “Once while on location for a photo shoot, I worked for a man who was so stingy that he put Scrooge to shame. The hotel, that he had everyone but himself booked into, was hardly more than a roof and four walls. Of course, the walls were so thin that I guess you couldn’t even classify the place as having four walls. And the bed bugs were so large I needed a baseball bat to fend them off.”

“On location? A photo shoot? I thought you were a governess.”

“Before I became one, I was a model. I liked the money, not the work. I spent a lot of my time fending off more than the bed bugs.”

“Is that why you changed jobs?”

“That and I love children. Do you have any children?”

Again Ellie realized she had inadvertently brought up the wrong subject. His eyes darkened, and he turned away.

“No. Now, if you have a problem while we’re hiking out of here, tell me. If you want me to slow the pace, let me know. I don’t want to turn around and find you collapsed from exhaustion. The only way we’re going to make it is as a team.” He glanced back at her.

“I understand perfectly. I’ve never been one for heroics. I’ll leave that to you.”

He swung around to face her. “Don’t. I’m a survivor, not a hero.”

“I got a glimpse of your survival instincts today. Where did you learn them?”

“Would you believe television?” His body went rigid, his hands opening and closing at his side.

“No.” He had more taboo subjects than anyone she had ever encountered before. He was doing a great job as the man of mystery. “Where did you learn to fly?” she asked, trying another approach.

“We haven’t gone two steps yet. I think we need to get moving before it gets dark.”

“It’s not even noon yet.” Just the mention of noon made her stomach rumble.

“And you’re hungry?”

“I always eat a big breakfast. That’s the most important meal of the day. What are we going to do about food?”

“Try not to think too much about it?”

Her stomach growled again. “I think my stomach has a mind of its own.”

His laughter rang in the clearing. “I think you have a mind like no one else does. Okay, I was saving this for later, but you’ve convinced me I’d better give it to you now.” He reached down and rummaged through his duffel bag until he produced a thick, mouth watering, chocolate candy bar. Breaking it in half, he gave Ellie her share.

She tore into the wrapper as if she hadn’t eaten in days instead of hours. “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

“You might want to take your time—” he laughed when he saw she had already eaten her portion, “and savor this last bit of civilization. Then again you might want to scoff it down.”

Her tongue ran over her lips to lick every bit of chocolate off them. “I never was patient when it came to something chocolate.”

He stared at her mouth for a long moment. “I can see I’m going to have my work cut out for me, keeping you fed.”

“Oh, no. I’m not hard to please.”

“That’s good to hear, because we might be lucky to eat one square meal a day.”

“Well, the bright side is I won’t have to diet when I get back to the States. I pigged out while I was here. I must have gained five pounds.”

His gaze roamed down her. “All in the right places.”

She sucked in a deep breath. “I’m sure my stamina will be tested in the next few days.” As well as her resolve, she added silently.