Uncharted (Treasure Hunter Security Book 2) (18 page)

Logan slapped at his neck and cursed. “Good. I hate the jungle.”

Chapter Thirteen

Logan hacked through the jungle with his machete. Their trek away from the temple had proven uneventful so far.

An underwater temple protected by a big-ass snake. That had been a new one for him. He sliced some vines away. That was one thing about working for Treasure Hunter Security. You never knew what you were going to discover on a job.

He looked over at where Cal had a very secure arm around Dani Navarro. The two of them looked like they’d been through hell. But they were smiling at each other.

Damn
. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see Callum Ward had taken the dive off the very high cliff called love. Logan shook his head. Before the mission, he’d ribbed Cal about finding a woman. Logan hadn’t actually believed he would.

Well, it looked like Cal had finally found that someone who’d make him slow down. The Ward Clan would be thrilled.

Logan frowned. Except with Dec and Cal both paired off, the others might feel the need to turn their attention on him. Hmm, he might need to throw Hale under the bus and have Darcy and the others worry about finding Hale his perfect woman.

Logan was damn sure the perfect woman for him didn’t exist. He’d thought he’d found her once and he couldn’t have been more wrong.

He’d ended up with a woman more like that Raven bitch back at the temple. Now, he was more interested in his work and his friends. The occasional hookup was fine, but beyond that, he was steering well clear of women.

On his back, he felt the weight of the cintamani stone nestled in his backpack.

All this drama for a giant pearl. Fucking Silk Road was turning into a dangerous pain in the ass. Logan scowled at the trees. God only knew what they had planned next, but he needed to talk to Dec. They needed to discuss what they could do to help Agent Burke bring the fuckers down.

He reached up and checked the backpack, feeling the outline of the stone through the canvas.

Damn stone was supposed to make your wishes come true.

If that were true, maybe he would wish for his perfect woman… Logan snorted.
Yeah, right
.

From his left, Morgan called out. “Come on, O’Connor, you’re slacking. If you swing like that, we won’t make it back to civilization before I’m fifty.”

“Quit your bitching, Kincaid.”

Sweat dripped down his face. For now, maybe he’d just wish that his next job was not in the damn jungle.

***

Dani stood back and watched Cal hand the cintamani stone to Dr. Oakley.

They were in the private room off the restaurant back at the Heritage Hotel in Siem Reap, where she’d photographed Cal planning their expedition.

God, it was only days ago, but it felt like months. Back then, she’d taken an instant dislike to Cal, pigeon-holing him to protect herself.

Well, it had only taken a wild, dangerous jungle treasure hunt to break down her walls and have her fall in love with him.

She lifted her camera and took the shot. Cal’s grin. Dr. Oakley’s amazement and awe. The rest of the team—minus Jean-Luc—stood nearby. They still looked a little battered around the edges but they were smiling.

The others had made it back to the bikes, and their local guides had gotten them back to Siem Reap and rushed Jean-Luc to the hospital.

Cal and Dani had made it out of the jungle with Logan and Morgan. Cal had gone to deal with Oakley and the others and check in with the Treasure Hunter Security office. Dani had managed a shower and to find some food before she’d collapsed in her bed. Cal had crawled in sometime during the night and held her as they’d slept. They hadn’t had much of a chance to talk this morning, since they had to meet Dr. Oakley and the others.

“Jean-Luc will love it,” Dr. Oakley said, worry etched on his face.

The French archeologist’s gunshot wound had gotten infected. He was fighting for his life in the hospital.

She watched Cal’s face change, harden. She took a step closer and pressed a hand to his shoulder.

Cal cleared his throat. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him from getting hurt—”

Dr. Oakley shook his head. “You did more than any man can be expected to do. I’m so grateful you were with us, Cal. I suspect more of us would be hurt or dead if you hadn’t been. No one is to blame for Jean-Luc’s injuries but the Silk Road.”

“He’s tough,” Gemma added. “Maybe we should threaten not to let him see the cintamani until he gets better.”

The others laughed.

Cal gave a short nod. “You’ll see the stone gets put somewhere safe? Where it can be appreciated and safeguarded?”

Dani knew exactly who it needed to be safeguarded from.

“I’ve already been making plans with the Cambodian government.” A wide smile crossed Dr. Oakley’s face. “They’re organizing a special exhibit and extra security.”

Sakada stirred. “And we have new funding. We’re going to head back to Phnom Kulen to study the Cintamani Temple where you found the stone.”

“Ah…you remember the snake, right?” Cal said.

“The really big snake,” Dani added. “We weren’t exaggerating.”

“Yes,” Dr. Oakley said. “I’ve always suspected legends and myths had a seed of truth. I guess we know that’s definitely true of the naga legends.” The older man’s gaze moved to Cal. “We want Treasure Hunter Security to come with us. I want to ensure everyone on this team stays safe.”

“That can be arranged,” Cal answered.

Dr. Oakley’s attention moved to Dani. “Dani, we’d love to have you, too.”

“Well—”

Cal stood and tugged her closer. “Not for a while, doc. We have a trip planned.”

She looked up at him. “We do?”

“Yes. And it doesn’t involve any jungles.”

There were chuckles from the others.

“Were you planning to ask me?”

“Nope.”

She pulled back, her hands on her hips. “I might be in love with you, Cal Ward, but that doesn’t mean you get to pull your alpha male, I’m-in-charge stupidity—”

He grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder.

“Cal!”

She heard the others laughing now, and for a moment, it stemmed her anger. It was a good sound.

But Cal didn’t need the encouragement.

She wriggled against him, and hammered her hands on his back. He strode down the hall, and seconds later, they were in her room.

He set her down and the next thing she knew he was cupping her face. The serious look on his face made her swallow her teasing comments.

“Since I lost my friend Marty—” emotion clogged Cal’s voice “—I vowed to live for him. Climbing, parasailing, surfing, skydiving…you name it, I did it. The faster and more dangerous, the better.” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “And women.”

Pithy words came to her, but she stayed quiet.

He stroked her cheeks. “But what I feel for you made me realize that I wasn’t living. I was using my promise as an excuse to keep moving, keep leaping, keep running and not let anyone too close.”

She understood. God, she understood better than anyone. “I’ve done the same, Cal. Let my work and travel stop me from connecting. From risking my heart.”

Cal nodded. “In that underwater temple…I realized that apart from my family, everything else in my life was gloss, no substance.”

Her breath hitched. “And now?”

His lips moved just a whisper from hers. “I want to live, beautiful. Want to make a life with me?”

Joy flooded her. “I’m game.”

With a laugh, he scooped her into his arms and then dumped her on the bed. His hands went to his shirt, opening the buttons.

“Now…I seem to recall promising you naughty, dirty things.”

***

Cal woke up slowly, stretching in his bed. His empty bed. He reached over and patted the sheets beside him. They were cool but there was a faint impression left in the pillow.

With a lazy smile, he pulled on his jeans and headed for the kitchen of his mountain cabin. As he made himself a coffee, he stared out the window. The sun was rising, casting a golden glow over the mountains. He heard his cell phone beep, and absently snatched it off the bench. When he read the text, he rolled his eyes. He was surprised he’d held them off this long.

Coffee in hand, he headed out onto the deck. The morning air was cool on his bare chest. Cal leaned against the railing and sipped his coffee. He didn’t think anywhere was quite as beautiful as the Rocky Mountains.

Before, when he’d come up here, he was usually too busy planning a climb or a bike ride to sit here and soak in the view.

But now…he took a deep breath and watched the golden light deepen and the day begin. “To you, buddy.” Cal lifted his coffee mug, and hoped that wherever Marty was now that he was happy.

The brighter light let him spot the slim figure moving down the hill. She was crouched, her camera in hand, capturing the view.

He descended the steps and made his way down to her. They’d been back from Cambodia a few weeks, and they’d spent the time alone, just the two of them, indulging in whatever the hell they wanted. Heaven.

She sensed him coming and turned, her wide smile warming something deep inside him. When he reached her, he pulled her close, kissing the side of her neck, before moving on to her delicious lips. “Morning. Beautiful out here today.” He watched as the sun gilded her skin, turning it golden.

“Yeah, it is.” She reached over and nabbed his coffee, taking a long sip. “I wanted to catch some pre-sunrise shots, but I just sat here, absorbing it all, and missed the chance.”

She didn’t seem worried about it.

“Are you planning to go climbing today?” she asked.

Cal had no desire to climb anything. He stole his coffee back. “Nope.” He nuzzled into her neck. “I can think of some other things we can do. Together.” He was far more interested in making moments with Dani. Giving her pleasure, watching her open herself more and more to him.

“Really?” She turned toward him. “Like what?”

“Like me showing you, in every way possible, how much I love you.” He rubbed his nose against hers. “One kiss. One caress. One naughty moment at a time.”

He saw her breath hitch in her chest. “I like the way you think.”

He took her hand, and they started back up toward the cabin.

“I’ve got lots of ideas.” Then he screwed up his nose. “Damn. I forgot. My mother just sent a message. The Ward family are descending on us for lunch, whether we like it or not. That probably means Logan, Morgan and whoever isn’t out on a mission will also come. They’ll be here in a few hours.”

She smiled. “I can’t wait to meet everyone.”

He made a rude sound. “My mother, well, she’s bossy, opinionated—”

“I’ve met her once, Cal. She’s amazing. And you love her, so I’ll love her.”

His mom was going to go crazy over Dani. Cal knew his mother was just giddy that her son had taken the plunge.

“So,” Dani dragged the word out. “Let’s just see what you can do with a couple of hours, Ward.”

Desire slammed into him. “That a challenge?”

She pulled them to a stop, her hands sliding into the waistband of his jeans, her fingers tickling his abs. “Can I take some shots of you? Without these on?”

“No.” He turned her and pushed her in the direction of the cabin.

“Come on—”

“No.”

“I’m not going to show anybody.”

“No.” He swung her into his arms, enjoying the sound of her laughter. “But whatever else you want to do to my naked body…well, I’m all yours.”

Her eyes softened. “Always?”

“Always.”

---

I hope you enjoyed Callum and Dani’s story!

There are more Treasure Hunter Security adventures on the way! Read on for a tiny sneak peek at Book 3,
Unexplored
—Logan’s story (out July 2016) and now available for preorder in the
Romancing the Alpha 2 Box Set
.

For more action-packed romance, read on for a preview of the first chapter of
Among Galactic Ruins,
the first book in my award-winning Phoenix Adventures series. This is action, adventure, romance and treasure hunting in space!

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Sneak Peek: Unexplored

Thank God her crappy day was almost over.

Sydney Granger walked into her office, wanting nothing more than to kick off her high heels. Her aching feet were killing her. She sighed. But she still had work to do before she could head back to her condo and relax with a glass of wine.

She sank down in the black-leather office chair behind her sleek, glossy desk. The meeting with the board had…not gone well. She touched her aching temple. It had been two months since she’d taken over as CEO of Granger Industries, and the board members were still nervous. All they saw was a wealthy heiress who was inexperienced in business, real estate, and construction.