Enemy Mine (8 page)

Stepping past the three goons, Kathy felt no exhilaration, only relief that she’d been able to disarm them. Her right hand hurt and she looked down at it. Her knuckles were bruised and turning a bluish-purple color. She was sure she’d broken a vein, but pumped up with adrenaline as she was, she felt little pain. After hurrying by the soldiers, Kathy jogged to Therese’s side. As they walked out the door, the hot, humid air hit her like a hand slap. Kathy brushed back her hair from her face and saw a tough-looking hombre in military fatigues standing near a dark green jeep.

“You will now go with Capitán Jules Quintana. He will oversee your shooting test, and the knife fight with Renaldo afterward.” Therese clapped Kathy on her shoulder. “I have never seen anyone take down those three soldiers so fast. You are truly a prize,
señorita.
Good luck on test two. I will be awaiting your triumphant return to my office.
Adios.
”

Kathy nodded and said nothing. She wasn’t feeling as positive as Therese was. Gazing into the captain’s dark eyes, she realized with horror that they were a killer’s eyes. The fact made her blood run cold.

“Climb in,
señorita.
”

As Kathy slid into the frayed canvas passenger seat of the jeep, she looked over at the helicopter landing pad. At some point, Coulter had lifted off, and she hadn’t even heard the noise. As the captain drove through the main gates of the estate, Kathy gripped her hands together in her lap, feeling terribly alone without Coulter’s protective presence. Could she survive the next test?

W
AS
K
ATHERINE
L
INCOLN
dead or alive at this point? After landing back at the villa, Mac tried to appear his easygoing, nonchalant self as he disembarked from the Bell helicopter. Garcia had had him run an errand into Cuzco—pick up a passenger who Mac knew was part of the Colombian drug cartel, and bring him here. Mac had been gone two hours and was champing at the bit to return.

Was it the nanny’s lush curves making him react like this? Mac couldn’t recall a woman ever impacting him like this with her essence, her spirit. Never had one interrupted his mission focus, either. Not until now. Damn, what was he going to do? What
was
it about Katherine Lincoln that was dismantling him minute by minute? Making him feel like a teenager driven by hormones and not by his head? Mac didn’t fool himself: he harbored a hot, sexual need for her—and that was dangerous ground to be on. One look from those stunning blue eyes and all he could think about was slowly undressing her, mapping her body with his tongue, hands and lips. What kind of power did she hold over him? Mac shook his head, frustrated with his unexpected reaction to Kather
ine Lincoln. No matter what he did, he couldn’t stop caring about her, or being worried for her.

Mac looked around, but didn’t see Therese, who always shepherded unsuspecting applicants through this disgusting series of tests. The driveway was filled with expensive cars—Mercedes, BMWs and Jaguars. Garcia was having another cartel meeting, no doubt. Standing near the concrete landing pad while the ground crew took care of the Bell, Mac placed his hands on his hips.

Had Katherine survived the first test? How badly he’d wanted to stay and find out. Inwardly, Mac pictured her tall, proud body and the way her full breasts filled out that blazer she wore. The curviness of her hips were just right for a man to grip, bring her under him and—He had to stop thinking like this! Was he going loco? Too long without a woman, and now he was paying the price for it? Mac wasn’t sure, and he couldn’t stop feeling edgy.

Where was Therese? He craned his neck and looked around, finding the answer almost immediately when the door to the dispensary at the left of the main villa opened. Out trooped all three soldiers, swathed in various bandages. Curbing a grin, Mac watched them limp toward the barracks, which was at the rear, well hidden by the tall green stucco wall. Then Therese emerged, looking like a runway model strutting her stuff in the middle of this godforsaken, humid jungle.

Walking over to her, Mac said, “Well, how’s your nanny doing?” Inwardly, he held his breath and tried to steel himself for bad news.

Therese laughed. “Just fine, Mac.” She gestured to
the three soldiers who had just left. “I think the
patrón
is going to be
very
pleased with her.”

“She’s finished both tests?” Relief flooded through Mac. Katherine Lincoln was alive! A soaring sense of elation swept through him and he wrestled to keep that emotion hidden from Therese, who never missed a thing.

“Yes.” She frowned. “Though in the knife fight, unfortunately, Señorita Lincoln got cut.”

His heart dropped. “Oh? How bad?” His throat tightened with worry.

“Minor, really. What she did to Renaldo—well, let’s just say he’s going to be on crutches for a while! She takes no prisoners, this one, but I think that is good! The
patrón
has been looking for a woman who can truly handle any situation thrown at her. If Señorita Lincoln passes the last test, then she will have her interview with the boss.”

Therese gave Mac a flirtatious look, but he was completely immune to her. The woman was a tease and had gotten more than one soldier here in trouble with Garcia. She was having a flagrant, ongoing affair with the
patrón
, right under the nose of his wife.

“With your permission, Therese, I’d like to drop Ms. Lincoln off at the starting point for the last test. Any problem with that? I’m feeling rusty on my flying skills since I’ve been grounded the last two weeks, taking care of Tiki. I’d like any airtime I can get.”

Giving him a long, appreciative look, Therese said, “But of course. Jules should be bringing her back here any moment now.”

Hearing the chug of the jeep coming up the hill, Mac
stepped away from Therese. The woman had moved closer, like a sinuous cat, her hand now resting on his upper arm. There was no way Mac wanted the
patrón
to see her hanging all over him with her vapid, come-hither looks. Garcia was a jealous bastard, and any man who valued his family jewels knew to stay away from Therese.

“Here they come,” he muttered.

“
Sí.
Do
me
a favor, Mac?” Therese glanced at the elegant watch she wore on her thin, golden wrist. “Take Señorita Lincoln to the dispensary. Then get her over to the guest quarters, have the kitchen prepare whatever she wants to eat and then let her rest, okay? Tell her that tomorrow at 0500 you will fly her out to the jungle for her final test.”

Thrilled with the opportunity, Mac kept his face carefully neutral. “Sure, Therese, not a problem.”

“
Bueno.
I’m off! The office begs for my presence. So many calls to return!
Adios!
” She turned and walked quickly up the brick walk toward the main villa.

Drawing in a deep breath, Mac felt relieved that he had permission to fly Katherine out for her last test. He waited impatiently for Jules to drive into the compound. The moment the jeep entered the gateway, Mac’s eyes found Katherine Lincoln. She wore a body-hugging gray, thin-strapped camisole top and gray sweatpants, both damp with her perspiration. At the sight of blood on her upper arm, of her other hand clamped over the injured area, Mac scowled. Jules didn’t look very happy, either, as he braked the jeep in front of him.

“I’ll take her to the dispensary,” Mac told him. “Therese asked me to do it.”

“Sí,”
Jules said, nodding curtly.

As Mac offered his hand to Katherine, he saw the dark look in her blue eyes, her lips pursed. She ignored his hand and climbed out of the jeep herself. After giving Jules a glare, she turned to Mac.

Kathy meant to keep the strain out of her voice, but Mac Coulter’s unexpected presence tore at the wall she’d erected to keep her rollicking emotions in check. Without his aviator glasses as cover, she felt the full impact of his large gray eyes upon her. Damned if she didn’t see genuine concern for her burning in them. And something else. Unsure, Kathy licked her lower lip. She’d swear she spotted tenderness lurking in their depths. “I need a doctor,” she stated.

“Come with me,” Mac said. He kept the rage out of his tone. He wanted to kill Renaldo himself for even touching Katherine, not to mention making her bleed. Automatically, Mac placed his hand beneath her elbow. “Therese asked me to take you to our dispensary. Just relax. The worst is over, okay?” He said it quietly as Jules backed the jeep up and took off for his mountain barracks.

Legs wobbly, Kathy forced herself to walk in a straight line, albeit stiffly. She didn’t want to trust Coulter, but just his nearness steadied the churning, adrenaline-driven sensations that raced through her. “I’ve never had to really hurt someone with a knife,” she whispered unsteadily. Grateful he’d shown up, she cast a glance at him. His profile was grim, his mouth pursed.
And then she felt trembling deep in the pit of her stomach. She’d come so close to death…so close….

“They play for keeps here,” Mac said apologetically. “You passed the tests. I just saw what you did to those three soldiers.” He smiled at her. “Nice work. They weren’t prepared for your karate skills.”

“Thank God,” Kathy whispered. She felt as if she was going to faint. “I—I need to sit down—soon. Something’s wrong….” She touched her brow. Sounds began to fade away, and she felt nearly disembodied. Kathy continued to focus on Coulter’s strong body next to hers, his hand around her elbow.

Seeing her go pale, Mac panicked. Her eyes seemed confused, helpless looking. He quickly opened the dispensary door. “A few more steps and you can rest. Come into this examination room.” He led her through the first door to the right. After helping her sit on the gurney, he made sure she was all right, then went to find Dr. Macedo.

Sitting in the cool room, Kathy dragged in several deep, ragged breaths. The faintness began to lift, and she felt as if she was coming back into her body once more. Pain drifted up her left arm where that son of a bitch Renaldo had sliced into her. Soon, Kathy heard voices drifting down the hall and the sound of approaching footsteps. Mac was coming back. That stabilized her as nothing else could. He represented a quiet, deep, healing harbor in this unbelievable storm. Straightening up, Kathy tightened her hand over her wound, trying to stanch the continuing bleeding.

In the half hour that followed, Kathy was glad Mac
remained in the room. He stood beside her, neither too close nor too far away. When she managed to steal a look in his direction, his smoky-gray eyes met hers with an intensity that sent her soul skittering. That raw look of undeniable interest made Kathy’s breath hitch. An ache began, sharp and deep in her heart and lower body. It was completely unexpected and disconcerting.

Dr. Macedo cleaned her wound, closed the cut with ten stitches and finished with a hefty shot of antibiotics. Her wound wasn’t deep, thank God, just long, a fact Kathy could live with.

“You’ll be fine,
señorita.
Señor Coulter will take you to your quarters now, and I suggest you eat and rest. I’ve placed a special protective dressing over your wound so you can take a shower. It will remain dry. Tomorrow morning before you leave for your final test, I will change the dressing.”

The third test. Kathy was almost too tired to respond. “Don’t worry, I will do as you say, Doctor. Thank you.” She slid off the gurney. Her legs were stronger now, the adrenaline no longer racing through her bloodstream. But she was groggy, utterly fatigued and wanting desperately to sleep. This whole experience was a nightmare. One she wasn’t at all prepared for.

Mac nodded his thanks to the kindly doctor and led Katherine Lincoln out of the examination room. “Come on, we’ve got nice digs waiting for you, Ms. Lincoln.”

On the way down the brick walk lined with colorful orchids, Kathy saw a small, two-story caseta directly ahead of them. It stood to the right of the main villa.

“How are you feeling?” Mac asked as he opened the door.

Kathy stepped into the teak-wood foyer. It was an incredibly beautiful villa, plushly decorated beyond her wildest expectations. Looking around in awe, she murmured, “Tired.”

“Hungry?”

“Starving to death.”

“What do you like to eat?”

“Right now, I could eat a three pound T-bone steak.”

Chuckling, Mac said, “A meat-and-potatoes kind of woman?”

Turning around on the highly polished wooden floor, Kathy looked at him as he stood in the doorway. Mac Coulter was too easy to like. She didn’t know whether his generosity toward her was genuine or a decoy to catch her off guard. He could well be a spy for Garcia. And if he wasn’t, why was he helping her? It just didn’t add up, but Kathy was far too tired to go anywhere with her suspicions. “Yes, meat and potatoes. And a lot of bread and butter with it? Sour cream on the side?” She might as well ask for everything she was fantasizing about.

“You got it. I’ll notify the kitchen staff and they’ll whip you up something in a jiffy.”

“Wait!”

Mac halted, his hand on the door. “Yes?”

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes. Is there something else you need?”

Looking toward the airy interior, Kathy said, “I guess not.” She didn’t want to admit she needed his quiet and stabilizing presence. Unused to looking to a man for
anything, Kathy felt a yearning deep within. “What’s up for tomorrow?” she asked.

Mac gave her a slight smile. “How about I drop by later this evening and we can talk? I’ve got some maintenance to handle with my ground crew at the hangar right now.”

Disappointed, but trying to not show it, Kathy nodded. “Yes, that would be fine, Mr. Coulter.”

“Call me Mac.”

“Okay, Mac. Thanks for everything.” And she meant it. Their gazes met and locked. Again, her heart was suffused with an incredible warmth that made her feel safe and cared for. What was
with
this guy? With
her?
Stymied, Kathy gave a slight shake of her head.

“See you around 2100.” Mac reluctantly closed the door. More than anything, he wanted to stay with her. Katherine Lincoln looked frail and needy right now, and he was a sucker for a woman in trouble. Always had been and always would be.

As he headed for the kitchen at the rear of the main villa, Mac looked up at the light blue sky flecked with wisps of white clouds. It was early afternoon and he had a lot to do between now and then. Still, unaccountably, his heart lifted when he thought of going back to see Katherine this evening. The woman was a magnet tugging at his heart and body. No one had ever affected him so profoundly before. No one.

K
ATHY RUBBED THE SLEEP
from her puffy eyes as the knocking continued on the heavy wooden door of the villa. Shuffling to the foyer, wiping her eyes one more
time, she opened it. Mac Coulter stood there, dressed in clean clothes. Despite her sleepiness and being awakened by the knocking, she thought he looked strikingly handsome in his white cotton short-sleeved shirt, dark blue chinos and polished brown leather boots. He had shaved and his hair looked damp, as if he’d just come from a shower. Her heart twinged when his mouth curved in a confident, all-male smile.

“Come in. I was asleep on the couch,” she said, stepping aside. Tugging self-consciously at the yellow beach towel that she’d wrapped around her body after her shower, Kathy shuffled back into the oval living room. She remembered how, after eating the delicious dinner, she’d taken a shower, come out to the living room and fallen on the brightly upholstered sofa. How long had she slept? She looked at her watch. A good four hours. Maybe she was going to live, after all.