Fireworks: Riley (2 page)

“Uh-huh.” The plume of dust grew bigger and he could see a covered Jeep as it came over a dune. And then another followed closely behind it. He only had a six-member team. And they’d agreed to not disclose their location to the media or do any kind of digital recordings of the find. This was a top-secret operation. At least until all the work was done and the Egyptian government could announce that they’d made the discovery and take all the credit.

He looked over at his second in command, Dr. Sam Nigel, and saw that he’d also become aware of the convoy traveling in their direction. Sam was built like a boxer and had spent a lot of time on digs in third world jungles where the only law was one of survival. His hair was dark and curly and his nose ridged where it had been broken on more than one occasion.

Riley nodded to Sam and Sam wiped his dusty hands on his pants, coming to his feet. He lifted a tarp and pulled out his own pistol, sticking it in the pocket of his cargos. Satisfied Sam was on alert, Riley turned back to Roxanne. He decided the best way to deal with her was to be blunt.

“We have less than a week to salvage as much of this site as we possibly can. Believe me when I tell you that the Egyptian government doesn’t give leeway for water breaks because it’s hot or time off for partying because you want to pretend you’re an adult. This is my dig. Either work or leave. It’s your choice.”

She gasped in outrage, but he didn’t let her get a word in. “When our time here is up, they’ll meet us with armored cars. They’ll search our belongings and our pockets, and then escort us from the property to the airport. So you tell me if you think it’s a good idea to take a short break.”

Her cheeks flushed red and he was surprised smoke didn’t curl from her ears. His wife had always said he had a special way with women. That was true. Just not on a dig.

“Everyone said you were the best, but I can see they were wrong about that.” Her voice had escalated into a higher pitch and she took a step forward into his space. He wasn’t about to let her make him back down so he stood his ground and checked his watch again. “You’re nothing but a pompous prick.”

Riley arched a brown and his lips twitched. She really was a child throwing a temper tantrum.

“Careful, Roxanne. The heat has addled your brain. Walk it off and then get back to work.”

“I don’t know who you think you are, but you can’t treat people like this. There are laws for workers. You have to give us adequate breaks. You’re looking for a lawsuit.”

“If you don’t get back to work in thirty seconds you’ll be looking for a ride back into Cairo so you can catch the next plane. You’re an intern. A volunteer. You chose to be here. If you need a drink, get one. And then get back to work. I won’t say it again.” His voice had never changed in volume. It never did when he lost his temper or became irritated. The more irritated he was the softer and more even his voice became.

Sam looked at the girl and shook his head in disbelief. Sam was one of the few people who’d ever seen Riley really lose his temper. There was a reason he kept such a tight rein on it. His brothers could all testify to that.

Riley strapped his gun belt back on and picked up two of the knives on the table, slipping them into his pocket. Then he made his way toward Walker to see what his progress was.

“Don’t turn your back on me when I’m speaking to you.” Roxanne followed behind him, kicking up sand in her wake, and he put out an arm to hold her back so she wouldn’t cover up what Walker was cataloging. She jerked back from his arm.

“Don’t you put your hands on me,” she screeched. “Do you always bully women like that? No wonder you can’t keep interns on the job. How much hush money do you have to pay to keep women quiet?”

“Is there anything inside your tent you want to keep?” Riley asked casually.

“I’m trying to have a conversation with you. What does my tent have to do with anything?”

“I just figured you might want to grab anything that’s important to you before I put you inside one of those vehicles that’s heading in our direction. If we’re lucky they’ll have duct tape in the glove box.”

She gasped and kicked at another pile of sand, her fists going to her hips. “My father is going to hear about this. You’re rude and insufferable.”

“Oddly enough, I’ve been told that before.”

“He’ll have your job before you can blink. He’s a United States Senator.”

“Oh, yeah? What did you say your last name was?”

“Keller.
Roxanne
Keller.” She smiled at him smugly.

Riley pulled one of the knives out of his pocket and scratched the whiskers on his cheek with the edge of it.

“I’ve met your dad a time or two. I can see the resemblance now. He likes to throw tantrums too.”

Walker snickered out loud and turned it into a cough, and Riley flipped over the knife so he could hand it over to Walker handle first. The younger man wasn’t comfortable with a gun, but Riley hated for any of his people to be in a situation where they didn’t have something to fight back with if necessary.

Walker looked at the two Jeeps that were almost upon them and sighed, taking the knife.

“Go ahead and lay tarps over everything we’re working on just to be safe. And then why don’t you, Jay, and Roxanne head into one of the tents.”

Walker’s eyes rolled up to a fuming Roxanne and then back to Riley. “I’d rather deal with the bandits if it’s all the same to you.”

“Bandits?” Roxanne screeched, finally noticing that everyone was focused on the incoming vehicles.

Sam came over to stand beside them just in time to hear her declaration, and he winced at the decibel of her voice. “Damn, woman. If they didn’t know you were here before they sure as hell do now.”

Sam had never been one for holding back his thoughts, and to say he wasn’t always politically correct—even when there was a lady present—was an understatement.

“I told you to go pack your things,” Riley said, shrugging. “If you’d listened you could’ve stayed hidden. Too late now though.”

“I want a weapon,” she said. “I can shoot. Dealing with bandits wasn’t part of the deal. I’m not standing around here while you morons get us all killed.”

Sam rolled his eyes. “I hate to break it to you, little girl, but not every place is as safe and cozy as daddy’s mansion on the hill. I guess you’re about to find out how parts of the rest of the world work.”

“I’ll pay you if you keep me safe.” Her eyes grew larger the closer the vehicles came. “I have lots of money. Anything you want.”

The lead Jeep had gotten close enough that Riley was able to recognize Dr. Bekhit in the passenger seat. He was the director of the museum in Cairo, and someone Riley had worked with on several occasions. He was the key reason Riley had been selected for the dig in the first place.

“I’m good, thanks,” Sam said, shrugging. “I’ve got plenty of money. And you’re kind of a headache. I’m sure you’ll make some man very miserable soon. You should’ve listened to the Doc when he told you to go to the tent. That bleached hair of yours is like a beacon. You’ll probably be kidnapped. They’ll either ask for ransom—you
are
a Senator’s daughter after all—or they’ll sell you to the highest bidder. And you’re wearing those skimpy clothes. You probably could’ve bought more time if you’d worn the long pants and shirt we advised you to wear.”

Roxanne’s mouth opened, but nothing more than a squeak came out, and her face paled of all color.

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

All three men moved at rapid speed, pushing her away from the work areas and into an open area of sand. Stomach acid wasn’t the best thing for artifacts that were thousands of years old.

The Jeeps came to a halt and Dr. Bekhit jumped out of the passenger seat and onto the sand, waving enthusiastically to Riley. He was tiny, a few inches over five feet and delicately boned—built more like a bird than a man. He was somewhere in his late fifties, but his dark hair was still thick, though liberally sprinkled with gray.

“Dr. Bekhit,” Riley said, returning the wave and moving in to shake the other man’s hand. “What brings you out so late in the day?” Cairo had placed a curfew on the city and outer areas to keep people inside after dark because of the escalating crime in the city.

“I bring many deliveries, my friend,” he said, taking Riley’s hand and then slapping him once on the shoulder. “Water and provisions for the next week.”

“I’m glad to hear it. We’re low on everything. I was hoping you hadn’t forgotten us out here.”

“Never, my friend. You know how it is,” Bekhit said, waving his hand in front of him. “So much red tape. Even for something so simple as water. There are still many who’d rather see the water poisoned than let you and your team put your hands on our artifacts.”

“A comforting thought,” Riley said, looking at the barrels of water that were being unloaded by men who carried machine guns slung across their shoulders.

Bekhit laughed, big and booming for a man so small. “Fear not, MacKenzie. I tested it myself. And I explained again that you are the best and you always keep your word. They do not understand a man with your ethics.”

“Let us help you unload. You’ll barely make it back before curfew. Unless you plan to stay the night here at camp. I’m happy to go over what we’ve found so far. Nothing of great value, I’m afraid. But some nice pieces for your museum.”

“I do plan to stay the night,” he said, nodding. “And I thank you for your hospitality. You see, just before I left the museum I found something of value I thought you might like to see.”

Bekhit slapped his hand on the hard shell of the Jeep and the back flap opened. It wasn’t often Riley was caught off guard, and he had to blink twice to make sure he wasn’t seeing a mirage.

But there stood Maggie, as fresh and bright as the desert sun, a smile on her face. She wore linen pants the color of sand and a loose white shirt. Her blonde hair was loosely braided and hung over her shoulder and sunglasses sat perched atop her head. She still had the ability to take his breath away.

“Dr. MacKenzie,” she said, arching a brow.

“Dr. Lawrence,” he replied, his heart thudding in his chest.

“Can you use another pair of hands?” The wicked glint in her eyes made his cock harden at the thought of just how talented her hands were.

Riley walked toward her, ignoring the silly grin on Bekhit’s face as he passed by. He stopped directly in front of her, so their clothes whispered against each other in the breeze.

“If I weren’t so surprised to see you right now, I’d bend you over my knee and spank your pretty ass for taking the chance on coming here. This is the danger zone, Maggie.”

He saw her shiver at the word and the corner of her mouth tilted up in a sultry smile.

“All good things in life come with a little danger, Dr. MacKenzie.” She leaned forward so her breasts pressed against his chest and he could feel her breath against his lips. “Threatening to spank isn’t the way to get me to follow directions.” She nipped at his bottom lip and he sucked in a breath, struggling to maintain control in front of their audience. “You know how much I like it.”

It was everything he could do not to push her into the back of the Jeep and relieve the pounding need racing through his body. “Maybe I need a reminder.”

Maggie leaned against the Jeep casually while Riley finalized the plans for them to travel back to the city for the night. She’d been afraid Riley would see through her bravado when he’d stood so close. It had been a long time since she’d been this nervous. And it was stupid, really. Why should she be nervous to fly halfway around the world just to seduce her husband?

At some point over the last year her need for having a baby had overtaken the need for physical and emotional intimacy with her husband. She’d turned into a woman obsessed. And though Riley hadn’t complained, she could see the change in the way he approached their lovemaking. Gone were the days where they spent hours exploring each other or experimenting with new pleasures.

Making love with Riley was always amazing—she couldn’t ask for a more considerate lover. But they’d been going through the motions, getting the job done on a schedule instead of living spontaneously and with the edge of adventure that never failed to make her want everything he could give.

Her time of selfishness was over. Once she’d sent the text the week before about them not being pregnant again she’d immediately felt overcome with guilt. It wasn’t fair to send him something like that when he was working on something so important. It was then she’d started making plans to meet with him in Cairo.

She’d been on digs with him before. Their marriage had been full of trips all over the world, from one site to another. It wasn’t as if she weren’t qualified to stand at his side as an equal in the field—though their specialties were different. She’d decided it was time to bring the spice and adventure back into their marriage, and she couldn’t think of a more perfect time. She didn’t care that she wasn’t ovulating. She just wanted her husband. And by the look in his eyes when he’d seen her, he wanted her right back.

It was decided with little fuss that Dr. Bekhit and all but one of the men he’d brought with him would stay behind and guard the site, relieving Riley’s team for the night so they could get a hot meal, a shower, and sleep in a comfortable bed for the night. The other guard would travel back with them to the city for protection.

“Dr. MacKenzie,” Walker said as they started to load into the Jeep. Maggie had known Walker for the last couple of years, and had liked his dedication to the profession and his loyalty to her husband.

“Let’s go, Walker,” Riley said, tossing his backpack into the back cargo area. “We’re going to be cutting it close to curfew.”

“If it’s all the same, I think I’ll stay here with Dr. Bekhit. I can use the lights and get a few more hours of work in. Jay said he’s found some pretty interesting stuff in the hieroglyphs, but he doesn’t know the meaning of all the symbols. I’d like to take a look.”

“You’re going to pass up a hot meal and a shower, Walker?” Riley asked, slapping the younger man on the shoulder. “I used to be the same way. Good for you. Priorities change the older you get.”