Discovering Sophie (20 page)

Slowly, she looked at him and rendered a small smile. “I think it’s your turn to pray,” she said a little too sweetly.

Jack grinned. He could tell she didn’t think he would do it, but he called her bluff. “Okay.”

Her eyes remained locked on his and then fluttered closed.

The words came easy as Jack thanked God for the food, as well as their safety traveling today. Then just before ending the prayer, he added, “And, Lord, please bless Sophie not to be mad at me anymore.”

When he finished, he looked over to find Sophie’s brown eyes fixed on him, her lips slanted up into an extremely pleased smile.
Score
. He’d just made some major points.

She broke the connection, taking a sip of the chili. “Hector is always so willing to make us our meals.” Her gaze flickered back to Jack. “You’re lucky to have such a good friend.”

“I am lucky, especially since I dragged him away from his wife and seven kids.”

“I saw pictures of his family. His wife is beautiful and so are his children. All seven of them.”

Jack gave a low whistle. “I can tell you his house is always very busy and a little loud. Every once in a while, Hector likes to get away, but he’s always anxious to get home to his wife. They actually like each other.” He leaned over and whispered, “I mean, they do have seven kids, right?”

She laughed softly and shook her head as a pretty blush colored her cheeks. “He’s a good husband and father. I think men who love their wives and families are special. I hope someday I’ll have someone who will want to come home to me.”

Jack wanted to laugh. Who wouldn’t want to come home to her? But her contemplative tone made him stop and think. “So Peter isn’t the type to come home?”

Sophie glanced at him, but took her time answering the question. “I guess it all depends on what you define as coming home. The way I mean it is someone who puts his family first and his career second—someone who wants to spend more time with his family than anything else. My dad’s career always came first.”

“Does Peter’s career come first?”

She shrugged and took a bite of her chili. “It’s not fair to judge him when he isn’t even a husband yet.”

Yet?
As in
her
husband? Her words hit him squarely in the chest. Although she’d said she didn’t love Peter enough to marry him, the man was certainly still in the running. Again, Jack felt inadequate. While his career didn’t come first, his family certainly didn’t come first, either.

She finished off the chili and set the mug in one of the chair’s built-in cup holders. “Peter’s father is a dedicated family man. I assume since Peter’s had such a great example, he’ll be a good husband to whomever he marries.”

Jack didn’t know what to say. This conversation wasn’t what he’d had in mind. He didn’t want to talk about Peter Elliot and whether or not he’d make a good husband for Sophie.

Discouraged, he finished off his chili and reached for the plate of fresh pineapple Hector had picked up from
Por El Rio
. Before he could eat any of the pineapple, Sophie put a chunk of the yellow fruit in her mouth, chewed and then promptly spit it out. Frantically, she grabbed the nearest water bottle, which happened to be Jack’s, and drank greedily.

“I guess I’ll pass on the pineapple,” Jack said, setting the plate down.

Sophie’s cheeks were pink as she lowered the water bottle. “Sorry, it was really bad, as in fermented.” She started to place the water bottle in the other cup holder of her chair when she realized her bottle was still sitting there. “Oh, no. I took your water.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He reached out and snagged the bottle and then took a long drink. “It’s filtered, so even if you left floaties, I wouldn’t know.”

She swatted at his arm and laughed. “I didn’t leave floaties.”

Jack shrugged and took another drink. “Even better.”

Sophie gazed forlornly at the innocent looking fruit. “I was really looking forward to the pineapple. I wonder if Hector has any bananas.”

“Wait right here,” Jack said. “I have a surprise for you.” He jumped up and grabbed his pack, pulling out the package of M&M’s. Sophie was applying a thin layer of lip gloss when Jack sat back down and showed her the bag.

“You’ve had chocolate all this time?” she asked.

He ripped open the package. “I have a sweet tooth, and I like chocolate. Do you want some?”

“What do you think?” Sophie held out her hand, and the lip gloss dropped to the ground.

Jack leaned down and picked up the pink-colored tube. “Island Daiquiri,” he read. His eyes zeroed in on her sparkly lips. “I wonder how close it is to tasting like the real thing?”

“I don’t drink, so I wouldn’t know.” She plucked the lip gloss out of his fingers and slipped the tube into her pocket.

Whether or not it tasted the same, Jack bet kissing her would be just as intoxicating as drinking a frozen daiquiri served at a club.

“So,” he said, dumping a handful of candy into her palm, “I’m glad you’re done ignoring me.”

“I…uh, wasn’t ignoring you.” She chose a blue M&M and popped it in her mouth.

“Sophie,” Jack teased. “Lying is a sin.”

“Okay.” She ducked her head. “I was ignoring you.”

He reached over and took a piece of candy from her hand. “Is it fair to assume you weren’t talking to me because I was kissing someone else?”

She shot a look at him and pointed her finger. “See, you just admitted that you were kissing her.”

“That was the wrong choice of words,” Jack said, shaking his head. “You have to believe me when I say she kissed me, but I didn’t kiss her back.” He stole another piece of candy from her hand. “But out of curiosity, why does it bother you?”

“Because I—” Sophie stared down at her hands and fingered the two remaining colorful pieces of candy. “I…think I like you, Jack.”

Her admission was sweet, and he could tell by the faint blush she was embarrassed by her honesty. Playfully, he nudged her in the shoulder. “Why would you?” he asked wryly.

Sophie looked at him totally exasperated. “Honestly, I don’t know. You are the most arrogant, annoying and obnoxious man I’ve ever met.”

Jack snorted at her answer. “Don’t hold back, Sophie. Tell me how you really feel.”

Her mouth lifted into a smile. “Why do you always tease me?”

“Because,” he said, reaching over to take her hand and intertwine their fingers together. “I think I like you, too.”

“Oh.” She kept her gaze averted and popped the last few candies in her mouth.

“Aren’t you going to require that I list all of your endearing qualities?” he asked.

“No.”

“Do I at least get a kiss?”

Jack waited, his heart thrumming with anticipation. She didn’t answer him, but he heard her draw in another deep breath.

“Sophie?”

“Be quiet.” She pulled her hand out of his. “I’m thinking about it.”

After only a few seconds of hesitation, Jack hooked a finger under her jaw and made her look at him. Their eyes met, and the amusement died as something powerful passed between them.

“Sometimes you think too much,” he murmured just before his mouth covered hers. Making the kiss brief, he pulled back quickly. Sophie looked stunned. “Just so you know, that was me kissing you.”

Then Jack curved his hand around the back of her neck and brought her mouth to his, kissing her again, slowly and deliberately. She responded to the kiss, leaning into him as his fingers wove through her hair. Her lips were incredibly soft, tasting like chocolate and the daiquiri flavored lip gloss she had on.

Reluctantly, he pulled away and whispered huskily, “That kiss—you kissed me back. Can you see the difference?”

“Just a second.” Her breath was ragged as she put a hand to her head. “My synapses aren’t quite working, yet.”

Jack placed his fingertips on the inside of her wrist and felt for a pulse. “Hmm, your heart rate is erratic, too. I had no idea I had that kind of effect on women.”

She laughed and tipped her head to look at him through her thick lashes. “Are you fishing for another compliment?”

“Well…” He grinned and lifted his eyebrows. “…you have to admit that
was
a pretty good kiss.”

“For someone who is so good looking, you sure are insecure.”

“Just how good-looking am I?”

“Ha!” she said, bumping his shoulder with her own. “I am not feeding your ego anymore.”

“Okay. How about another kiss, then?”

Giving him a flirty smile, she said, “Only if I get more chocolate.”

Jack promptly handed over the bag of M&M’s. “They’re all yours.”

The moment of levity transformed into something more as her smile faded and her eyes darkened with desire. Slowly, she leaned toward him and pressed her lips to his. The way she delivered this kiss left no doubt in Jack’s mind that she liked him. A lot.

He slid his hands along the side of her neck to cradle her face in his palms. His thumb stroked her jaw as he tilted her head to deepen the kiss. They took their time exploring, tasting; and Jack reeled with emotions he’d never felt before.

At length, Jack eased back to break off the kiss. Sophie trembled as she laid her head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, feeling her heart beating just as rapidly as his own.

Neither of them spoke, just held on as their breathing became even again. He wasn’t sure what had just happened, but the intensity of it scared him.

“Jack,” Hector said, coming around the tent. “Don’t eat the pineapple. It’s rotten.”

Sophie pushed away and sat back in her chair. Her cheeks were a lovely shade of pink.

“Yeah,” Jack said, standing up. “We figured that out. Didn’t we, Sophie?”

She kept her face down and only nodded her head. Hector laughed. “That’s not the only thing you figured out, ¿
no
?”

“You’re right. Sophie finally kissed me.”

Her head snapped up. “Jack! You kissed me.”

He shrugged. “Okay, it was a joint effort.”

Hector walked past them, still chuckling. “I’m going to check on Fred. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Sophie stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Is this what it’s going to be like all the time?”

“Like what?” he said with a laugh.

Glowering at him, Sophie started to walk away. “I need to get some sleep.”

“Sophie,” Jack called, following behind her. He was glad when she paused and let him catch up to her.

He took her hand and she automatically looked up in to his eyes. “I’m sorry.” He brought her hand up and placed a kiss to the back of it. “I’ll try not to be such a tease.”

The corners of her mouth lifted slightly. “I just never know when you’re serious or not.”

“I seriously like you.”

Her smile widened. “I like you, too.”

He raised an eyebrow and grinned. “I know.”

A giggle escaped. “You are incorrigible.”

“Yeah.” He tapped her on the nose. “But remember you like me.”

Then he kissed her again, and, to his satisfaction, she kissed him back.

Chapter Sixteen

Jack
bolted upright, his heart pounding madly from the bad dream that had awakened him. He listened carefully, only to hear the typical sounds of the jungle. In his dream Sophie’s screams had seemed so real. As his pulse rate slowed, he still felt disturbed by the haunting images and needed to reassure himself that Sophie was okay. He tugged on a shirt and crawled out of his tent.

“Sophie,” he whispered as he approached her tent. When she didn’t answer, he slowly unzipped the door and pulled back the flap, whispering her name again. Relief washed over him as he studied her beautiful face, soft and relaxed in sleep.

Knowing she was safe, he scooted back and pulled on the zipper.

Suddenly her eyes flew open and she gasped, “What’s wrong?” She sat up and placed her hand over her heart. “Did I have a nightmare?”

“No. I did.”

There was just enough light from the rising sun to see her eyes fill with concern. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Now that I know you’re safe.”

An expression of wonder crossed her face. “You dreamed about me?”

He slanted her a glance. “Let’s just say since I’ve met you, you’ve been invading my sleep.”

“Jack, that is so sweet.”

“It is not.” He half laughed and half groaned as he scrubbed his face with his hands. “That was the worst dream I’ve ever had, or at least that I can remember.”

“What happened?”

Jack studied her for a few seconds. “Someone took you from your tent. I could hear you crying, but I didn’t want to get up if it was just another nightmare. I even heard you call out my name. But by the time I finally crawled out of my tent, a man was taking you away. I was too late and couldn’t catch up, and I knew I would never see you again.” He laughed dryly. “I know it doesn’t sound like much, but it was so real.”

Sophie let out a long breath. “You don’t have to tell me how real a bad dream can be. I’ve been dealing with almost the same nightmare for over a month.”

He reached for her hand. “If you get up now, I’ll make you some hot cocoa.”

“Deal,” she said, squeezing his fingers.

He tugged on her hand, pulling her a little closer. “Is there any chance I get a kiss this morning?”

She backed away. “I think it’s highly probable, but first I need to brush my teeth.”

“Then let’s get your teeth brushed.” He moved out of the tent doorway, giving her a playful smile. “I’m feeling a little insecure this morning.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Sure you are.”

* * *

The muscles in Jack’s arms strained as he slashed his machete through the thick foliage, cutting down the dense growth to clear a path for Sophie and Hector. Their destination was
Del Sol
, the village where they hoped to find Edward Kendrick, or at least find out his whereabouts. Behind him, he could hear Sophie humming. It made him smile—something he’d been doing all day long.

He was falling in love with her. He knew it. He just couldn’t tell her. Not yet. The feelings were still too scary for a man who believed he’d never get married. Furthermore, what if Sophie didn’t feel the same way? Yeah, she liked him, but that didn’t mean she loved him. He wasn’t sure he could take that kind of rejection again.