Deadly Race (10 page)

Slade stripped off his shirt and knelt at the edge of the river. The broad expanse of his back drew her unwavering attention as he cupped his hands and dipped them into the water. He seemed to fit right into this wild and rugged terrain, like a chameleon that could change its color to fit its environment.

“This doesn’t bother you, does it?” Ellie spoke her thoughts out loud.

“Not particularly. I suppose it helps that I’ve been in a jungle before.” He twisted about, water dripping from his hair and face.

“Where?”

That shadow crossed his face, and Ellie again sensed she had trodden into forbidden territory.

“A long time ago, best forgotten.” He removed his shoes and socks as though he were accustomed to bathing in a river everyday. “This wouldn’t be my first choice for a vacation, but I can’t change what’s happened to us.”

“So you’re a practical realist who probably never daydreams.”

“Oh, I have my dreams, but they are grounded firmly in reality. I’ve learned to think everything through, to weigh the pros and cons.” He waded out into the river and completely submerged himself.

Ellie was thankful he had at least left his pants on. It was hot enough without being treated to a full view of his splendid body minus clothing. When he resurfaced, looking insufferably refreshed and cool, she gave the water a longing gaze. She felt sticky, dirty and anything but appealing.

“Come on in and join me. I admit it doesn’t look too good, but the water feels great.”

She cocked her head to the side. “I guess it doesn’t look too bad.” And his skin was still intact.

He spread his arms wide. “As you can see, I’m still here, alive and well. No giant boa has gotten me.”

“I suppose beggars can’t be choosers. I doubt we’ll be running into a Holiday Inn before nightfall.”

“No, I doubt we will,” he said with a laugh and came back to shore.

“I wonder how many bugs are in this.” Kneeling next to Slade at the edge, she gingerly dipped her hands into the water and splashed her face. It felt great. “Maybe not too many.” Again she filled her palms with water and washed the dirt and grime off her face, relishing the partial bath.

“I think that’ll do,” she said after the third handful of water. She suddenly had the need to control something. “I need my mirror.” She started for his duffel bag, deciding to do what she could with her appearance since she couldn’t change much else.

“What for? You look fine except for this one spot. I’ll take care of it.”

Before she could move away from his disturbing touch, he wiped the dirt off her cheek with one hand while the other was under her chin, tilting her face toward him. The feel of his work-toughened fingertips on her skin was soft and caressing, as she knew it would be. Her pulse rate quickened.

“There, perfect,” he said, leaning back on his heels to give her a little more breathing room.

“I doubt it. I think my skin is nicely seared about now. Too much more of this sun and I’ll rival a tomato.”

His eyelids slid halfway closed, veiling his expression from her. But she didn’t need to see into his gaze to know of the intense appraisal he was giving her. Her pulse pounded through her body, faster than the rushing river roaring past her.

“There’s certainly nothing wrong with you, even if you’re a little pink.” He smoothed her hair away from her face, then in a whispering touch grazed his hand down her jaw line. With only one finger he outlined her lips. “I would like to kiss you.”

As his mouth came down upon hers, his arms encircled her and brought her close to him. The thundering of her heartbeat in her ears drowned out the sound of the river. He nipped the shell of her ear lovingly, blowing lightly into it between nibbles. She shivered in the heat of the day and drew closer to his warmth. Tossing back her head to allow him free access to her neck, she savored the feel of his mouth as it scorched a path over her skin. The riot of sounds and colors about her was eclipsed by the myriad of sensations he was creating in her. He made her feel so alive, so feminine.

Suddenly Slade jerked upright, practically dropping her. His face tensed into a frown.

“What’s wrong?” Ellie asked, dazed by the abrupt end to his kiss. As the glorious sensations died, she realized what was wrong. In the distance she heard the whirling sound of an approaching helicopter.

CHAPTER 5

Bolting to his feet, Slade dragged Ellie up and grabbed his duffel bag. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

He dove into the thick underbrush, oblivious to what else might be there, pulling her along behind him. Everything happened so fast that she didn’t have time to get the blankets. They were still where she’d left them by the river. She started for them. Slade grabbed her and held her close to him, so close she could feel the increase of his heartbeat against her.

“The blankets,” she whispered and wondered why she had, since there was no way the people in the helicopter could ever hear her over the noise of the machine.

“It’s too late. At least they’re army green. I doubt anyone will see them from the air,” he said as the helicopter swooped down the length of the river like a bird of prey after its victim.

The rapid rotation of its blades matched the pulsating pound of her heart. From her vantage point in the bushes, Ellie could see there were two other people besides the pilot in the helicopter. They were dressed in uniforms and holding rifles. The soldiers were looking for something or someone, that much was obvious. The danger she and Slade faced heightened in that moment. She realized how difficult it would be for them to get off the island, even when they
did
reach civilization.

“They’re looking for us. That’s not good.” Slade’s brow furrowed as he watched the helicopter approach a bend in the river.

“Maybe it’s the good guys.”

“Who are the good guys, Ellie? I’m not sure anymore. Personally, I don’t want to stay around here and find out when they land or come in to get us on foot. As soon as it’s clear, we’re out of here.”

Just as she thought the helicopter was leaving, it swung around and came back over the same territory it had covered a moment before. Her pulse thundered with fear that one of the soldiers had seen the blankets and they were looking for a place to put down. As the helicopter neared again, her lungs felt on fire, her breathing shallow and difficult. Sweat rolled down into her eyes, and she swiped at it, only to have more follow suit. All she could focus on were the rifles the men carried and the fact she and Slade only had a hammer and a screwdriver. Neither was much of a weapon against bullets.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the helicopter disappeared down the river in the direction it had come.

Ellie released her trapped breath in a rush and sagged against Slade.

“This is just like in the suspense movies I watch. I don’t know if my nerves can take much more of this. Can’t we fast forward through the next several days to when we arrive in Puerto Rico safe and everyone lives happily ever after?”

Slade stared at her stunned for a few seconds, then roared with laughter. “Ellie, what in the world are you going to say next?”

“That I’ve lost my appetite for adventure and suspense movies. When you live the real thing, it kinda takes the fun out of the fake ones.”

“That it does.”

“Let’s get out of here.”

“You’ve got it.” He surged to his feet and offered her his hand.

She pulled herself up on shaky legs and wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. After retrieving the blankets, she started following him again toward the tall mountain that loomed before them. She noticed that Slade kept to the river where the foliage was less dense and easier to move through, which she was thankful for since she had more than her share of scratches, but he was always alert for any sound that indicated another search. Once he stopped abruptly, and she nearly collided with him. He cocked his head to one side and listened, then after a few minutes he resumed his quick pace.

For the next two hours she willed her mind blank and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Her clothes hung damp on her. Her hair was plastered against her skull and any feeling of refreshment from the brief wash in the river had vanished.

She thought they had experienced about the worst the jungle could offer them, until a horde of mosquitoes descended on them near dusk. Dancing about, she couldn’t swat at the insects fast enough. She was sure when they finished with her she would have lost a pint of blood.

“Ellie. Ellie!” Slade snapped his fingers in front of her face to get her attention. When she blinked and refocused on him, he continued, “Put this all over you.”

She stared up at him as though he had finally gone mad. “But it’s
mud
!”

“Since I’m fresh out of insect repellent, this will have to do. It’ll help protect you from the mosquitoes.”

She would put far worse than mud on her if it would stop the insects from having her for their breakfast, lunch and dinner, all at the same time. Hurriedly she slapped the mud from the riverbank all over her skin and felt cool relief immediately.

“The face, too.” He stepped in front of her with a handful of mud. “Here let me do you and you can do me.” Then without waiting for her consent, he patted the blob over her cheeks and forehead.

“And I thought the trash pile was bad. As a child were you deprived of playing in the dirt?”

“Never did make my quota of mud cakes.”

“Well, at least this is supposed to do wonders for my face. Some women pay big bucks for mud treatments. My roommate won’t believe what I did on this trip,” she chattered, trying to take her mind off his hand as it slid over her face, smoothing the mud into her skin. His touch was much too unnerving. “On second thought, she probably wouldn’t bat an eyelash when I tell her about this.”

“There,” he announced, finishing up with her nose and tapping it one final time. “My turn.”

To take her mind off her hand touching his face, she searched her memory for something to talk about that wouldn’t lead to thoughts she had no business thinking. “This reminds me of the time I dressed up as a witch. Of course, I used green oatmeal goo instead of mud.”

“Oh, of course, doesn’t every witch?”

“I’ll have you know I won the best costume award that year at the Halloween party. The only problem was when we went to bob for apples. All the oatmeal came off in the water and floated around in green clumps. I have to admit it wasn’t a very appetizing sight. No one would bob after that, so I won. I just love Halloween. How about you?”

“Not my favorite time of year.” His jaw hardened beneath her fingertips, his eyes narrowing.

She paused in applying the mud, trying to ignore the tension that sprang up between them. She couldn’t. “Why not? Did you eat too much candy one Halloween?”

“No. My wife walked out on me that day.”

“Oh.” She resumed spreading the mud along the side of his cheek.

Her attention was suddenly centered on the sandpaper texture of his jaw. She tried not to look into his piercing gaze that drilled into her. She wished she hadn’t glimpsed the vulnerability she had seen for a few seconds in his eyes, because she sensed he didn’t like anyone seeing that side of him. If she began to care, she would be hurt badly when they reached civilization and continued their own separate lives. Who was she kidding? She already cared about the man. She just had to make sure she didn’t fall in love with him.

When she brought her free hand up to finish smoothing the mud on his other cheek, he covered her fingers and held them against his face. “It was years ago, and I’ve certainly gotten over Laura’s leaving, but the mention of Halloween took me by surprise.”

“What happened?”

“The usual. I couldn’t offer her what she wanted.”

“What did she want?”

“A family name that was old Boston money.”

“Didn’t she know that when you married her?” She felt the tension in his hands that lay over hers.

“I met her at college during her rebellious period. She was from a very wealthy Boston family, and I became her project. The problem came when she had to pick between her family and me. I lost.”

“I’m sorry.”

He dropped his hands away and stepped back. “Don’t be. I’m not.” He scanned the area. “You know, if we stand around here much longer there’s not going to be any light left for us to collect firewood and food for the night.”

“Food? Did you say
food?
”

He nodded, a grin chasing away the earlier frown. “I thought that might get your attention. I remember how excited you were over that bowl of nuts in the hotel bar last night.”

“I can’t believe it was only last night that I met you.”

“Time flies when you’re having fun.”

“This wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for the people shooting at us, the mosquitoes as big as my fist feasting on my blood, and the fact that I’m starved. That half a candy bar just isn’t going to cut it. Where should we look?”

“I’ll look for food. You gather firewood.”