In Too Deep (15 page)

They collapsed together, cramped on the uncomfortable cot, but unaware of anything but their own feeling of well-being. Fear, anger, disappointment and doubts had fled for a time, replaced by joy and hope.

“Are you okay?” he murmured at last.

“Okay?” she murmured incredulously. Her leg still draped intimately across his, her fingers resting where she could feel the steady rhythm of his heart, she said honestly, “I never expected to experience anything like this.”

The apparent awe in her voice seemed to amuse him. He lifted her hand and kissed each one of her fingers. “Not every jungle venture has this benefit, so I wouldn't be too quick to give up your seat in the boardroom, if I were you.”

“I was referring to my entire lifetime. I thought these feelings only happened in books. Maybe in dreams.”

“I think I can promise that you're not dreaming.”

“Care to prove it?”

“Not on this cot, princess. The whole time I was making love to you, I had one eye on you and the other on the floor, where I was certain we were headed.”

“And here I thought I had your undivided attention.”

Rod rolled over and settled her on top of him. “Maybe not undivided, but you certainly had all the best parts.”

“What arrogance!”

“Is it really? Didn't I live up to all the gossip?”

“Don't fish for compliments.” Cara suddenly recalled his earlier comment. “Speaking of gossip, though, you said something when we came in here about it having been a very long time for you.”

“So?”

“That doesn't quite fit with the image. I was under the impression you had a woman waiting for you in every major city.”

“I guess I don't get to major cities all that often.”

“I'm serious. Why did you let me believe that?”

“I thought it might get you to keep your distance.”

“Is there the tiniest suggestion in that statement that I'm the one who seduced you?” she inquired indignantly. She sat up, straddling his middle.

“Not for a minute,” Rod said, laughing at the menacing glare she'd feigned. “From the minute you stalked into the river the day you arrived, I knew I was in trouble. I figured my control was questionable, at best. I thought perhaps yours would be even better if you persisted in thinking I was an unrepentant rake.”

She leaned down and kissed him lightly. “I must say I'm rather relieved. I discovered with Maria that I'm not as immune to jealousy as I would have liked. It would have been a nasty business if I'd started roaming the world shooting down the competition.”

She caught the pleased gleam in his eyes before he could hide it. “You would have liked that, wouldn't you?” she said in astonishment. He looked ever-so-slightly guilty.

“It would have been flattering,” he admitted.

“But costly. The legal fees would have been horrendous.”

“Then I guess it's a good thing we clarified things now.”

Her expression sobered with disgusting swiftness. “Have we, though?”

“Have we what?”

“Clarified things. It seems to me we might have only muddled them.”

Rod sighed and drew her down until she was tight against him again. His hands stoked her back and hips with devastating effect. “Ah, Cara, you still want simple answers, don't you?”

“Is that so wrong?” she asked, her voice breathless.

“No. I'm just not so sure it's possible.”

He kissed her then, with a slowness that inflamed her senses. But when she would have drawn out the moment until rapture claimed them again, he lifted her up and got to his feet.

“I think it's time we both get some sleep. We have a long hike ahead of us. I want to get back to the dam site in two days.”

Knowing he was right didn't make it any easier for her to watch him leave. Though she had never spent any more perfect hours, she was left with the disturbing sensation that tonight could have been an end just as easily as a beginning.

T
hey rose at dawn, joined the others for a light meal, then prepared to leave the archaeological site. For Cara the departure couldn't come quickly enough. As they were packing up, Rafael attempted a subtle cross-examination.

“So, señorita, the visit has been useful to you?”

Thinking of the conversation she'd overheard the previous night, Cara found it difficult to be courteous. Swallowing a quick, angry retort, she merely said, “Yes. Very informative.”

The hint of sarcasm went unnoticed by everyone but Rod. He shot her a warning look as Rafael's gaze turned speculative. Fortunately Rod was able to salvage the tense moment. Nothing in his own behavior hinted at any of the suspicions they had. When Rafael questioned him, he gave an impressively calm, noncommittal reply.

“As you know, there are many factors to be considered and the decision is not just in my hands or in Cara's. The final decision will be made in Mexico City.”

Rafael pressed. “But you will make a recommendation?”

“Our report is not yet final.”

With a disappointed shrug, Rafael backed down.

Cara watched Maria's face during the exchange. Maria seemed troubled, though whether by Rafael's persistence or by Rod's responses it was difficult to tell. Jorge, on the other hand, appeared oddly amused by his boss's failure to get a commitment from them. Cara wondered if there was more of a rivalry between the two men than she'd previously guessed. Until last night, she had liked both men and felt that despite their very different personalities, they made an effective team. Perhaps Jorge's intolerant attitude toward Maria's idealism extended to Rafael as well.

Though Cara's farewells were cool, Rod's were astonishingly effusive—at least to Rafael, Maria and the other workers. In fact, he reserved his only scowl for Jorge, who admittedly prolonged his gallant kiss of Cara's hand a moment or two longer than was necessary. Then, oblivious to Rod's mounting irritation, he insisted on accompanying them for the first mile or so of the hike.

Once Jorge departed and they were alone, Rod set an even more punishing pace than he had on the long trek to the site. As if to emphasize his displeasure, he ignored her, his shoulders stiff, his expression disapproving.

Uncertain about what exactly had infuriated him, Cara tried every tactic she could think of to improve his mood. She chatted, she teased, she even tried flattery. She told him—quite truthfully, actually—how masterfully she thought he'd handled Rafael, when she'd been about to reveal too much. Every comment was met with stony silence.

“Don't tell me you're jealous,” she taunted finally, practically running to keep up with him. Despite her excellent condition, she was already panting from the stifling heat. If she didn't get through to him soon, she was going to melt into a little puddle.

“Nope.”

“Then why are you acting like this?”

“Like what?”

“Don't be obtuse, too. You know perfectly well you're acting like a predatory beast whose mate has been compromised.”

“If you want to discuss Jorge Melendez, be my guest,” he said, no longer pretending to miss her point. “I don't want to waste my breath. We have a long way to go.”

And that, it appeared, was that. He clamped his mouth shut and marched on, leaving Cara to struggle along as best she could. She spent the time muttering about irrational men and trying to catch her breath.

By midmorning the sun was blistering. Not even the canopy of trees could protect them from its sweltering heat. When they'd been walking for three hours or more, Cara could no longer hide her exhaustion.

“Rod, we have to stop for a few minutes.”

“We'll break for lunch in another hour or so. We should be back at the river by then.”

“Dammit, I need a break now. Can't you at least stand still long enough for me to catch my breath and take a drink of water?”

He stopped, but his entire stance radiated his impatience. Cara opened her canteen and drank greedily. Before she realized Rod had moved, he was jerking the canteen from her hand.

“Slow down,” he said gruffly. “You'll make yourself sick.”

“I'm surprised you care.”

He sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his damp hair, leaving it in a tangle of dark waves. His eyes met hers, then looked away. “Of course I care.”

“Then do you suppose you could try and explain why you've been in such a foul humor? Was it Jorge?”

He shrugged. “Jorge. Rafael. Maria. Take your pick.”

“You're angry at them, so you're taking it out on me?”

“You're here.” He grinned ruefully. “Not a very good reason, is it?”

“Not especially, but probably to be expected.”

“Oh, and why is that, Freud?”

“You're used to growling around like a wounded bear all alone. You've been able to indulge your moods to your heart's content. Having me in your life is a new experience. You haven't modified your behavior yet.”

That earned a booming howl. “Modified my behavior?”

She glowered at him. “You know what I mean. Two people who've been living alone have to get used to living together.”

His eyes narrowed at once, turning dark and forbidding. “That's a mighty big leap you're taking from one night in a tent to living together.”

Cara felt a slow burn of embarrassment creep up her neck. “Dammit, stop deliberately misunderstanding me. I'm not talking lifelong commitment here. For better or worse, you and I are living together for the moment. Got it?”

Instead of exhibiting relief, his expression turned even more grim. “For the moment?”

Cara's patience snapped. “Oh, for heaven's sake. Make up your mind. When you thought I meant forever, you couldn't put me straight fast enough. Now that I'm agreeing with you that this is temporary, you're growling again.”

“It is rather confusing, isn't it?” he said quietly. Then without another word, he capped the canteen and set off.

* * *

Rod knew he was being insufferable. The week or so since Cara had turned up in Mexico had been the most confusing time of his life. Every instinct inside him had shouted that he should resist her, for her sake as well as his own. This life-style suited him. She obviously hated it. Big cities gave him claustrophobia. She adored living in New York. She wanted a stay-at-home husband. He had wanderlust. It would never work. Everything about her drove him crazy. He should have been immune to her, but the irritating, captivating, contradictory woman had breached every one of his considerable defenses.

His body ached for her from morning to night. And he was absolutely terrified that sooner or later this danger would explode beyond cat-and-mouse games and that he wouldn't be able to protect her. If he loved her and lost her, he wasn't at all sure he could live with himself. So, he thought decisively, he simply wouldn't love her. No problem. He wasn't some simpering, lovesick teenager incapable of controlling his own emotions.

Instead, he growled at her, ignored her and generally behaved like an absolute jerk, when what he wanted to do was hold her and make love to her until their bodies were slick with sweat and their hearts were thundering in tandem as they had been the previous night. The tantalizing thought sent a rush of blood straight to his loins. He almost stumbled as the full force of his desire rocked him. So much for noble intentions and self-control.

“Damn,” he muttered under his breath.

“What's wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

She nodded and retreated, but not before he'd seen the flash of hurt shadow her eyes. He swore softly and stopped so suddenly she slammed into him. He turned and caught her as she staggered from the impact.

“Are you okay?”

Breathless, she gazed up at him and he saw the tears shimmering in her eyes. With a proud lift of her chin, she was trying desperately to blink them away. One daring tear slid down her cheek. He brushed it away and felt the cold spot inside him begin to melt, along with his resolve.

“I'm sorry, princess.”

“Ever since you and I met, there have been entirely too many apologies floating around,” she said wearily. “Maybe we should think about why.”

“Because I'm a heel.”

“No, because we're both trying too hard to be something we're not.” She took a deep breath and met his gaze evenly, her blue eyes luminous. He sensed she'd made a decision about something and that he wasn't going to like it. He suddenly felt as though the breath were being squeezed from his chest as he waited for her to finish.

“I think this is the wrong time and wrong place to even be thinking about a relationship. Maybe we're even the wrong people. For now, let's go back to being nothing more than two professionals with a job to do.”

“And you can do that?” he asked dubiously but willing to grasp at any straw that might get them out of this jungle alive and with their emotions intact.

“Absolutely.” Her voice shook only slightly when she said the word. He had to admire her courage. At the same time, he was not one bit sure he could do as she asked. His last resolution had lasted no more than sixty seconds.

“We'll give it a try,” he said anyway.

Cara made an obvious effort to see that her decision worked out for the best. As she had earlier, she chattered away about everything from the macaws overhead to Donald Trump's skill as a businessman. Her comments were enthusiastic, perceptive, intelligent.

Rod didn't give a damn about any of it. In fact, he was so intent on watching the subtle sway of her hips, the spark of humor that lit her eyes that he missed the tree limb that had fallen and was hidden by brush. It hit him across his shin, sending him crashing forward. As he fell, a wrenching pain shot from his ankle all the way up his calf.

Cara was at his side at once, her expression filled with concern. “Are you hurt?”