Look What the Wind Blew In (12 page)

“Your dad and Jared checked out the pulley line.” Rover left Quint’s side and tore into her food. He watched the javelina for a second or two and then frowned at her. “Juan said it looked like it had frayed and snapped, but he mentioned that a small cut might have started the process.”

A cut? Something done on purpose? To what end? To shut down the dig site? Ruin her father’s career? Hers?

She leaned against her desk, the weight of possibilities heavy. She needed to talk to her father about this, somewhere away from the others. Maybe in one of the temples. “Thanks for bringing me supper, Quint, but—”

“Teodoro thinks it’s the curse.”

She groaned.

“Your ex-husband overheard Teodoro and your dad talking about it and insisted on learning all about your curse problem. He appeared to find it all quite interesting and even jotted down some notes, which didn’t seem to settle well with your father.”

She rattled off a long string of very unladylike swearwords.

Quint raised his eyebrows. “Did you work in the steel mill during your summers at college?”

“One of my professors liked to hire ex-cons to help with field work. A cheap but motivated labor force. They taught me a thing or two.”

“Apparently. I think my ears are smoking.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. I like how you worked ‘Dr. Pompous Bungweed’ into it all. You think your ex would consider changing his name?”

That earned him a thin smile in spite of the shit storm flying around her. “How much did my father spill about the curse in front of Jared?”

“As little as he could.”

Something on Quint’s face told her there was an unspoken
but
in there. “But still enough to potentially hang him if Jared feels like using it against him?” she finished for him.

“Unfortunately.”

Angélica dropped back into the chair. Excellent. Just fucking terrific. She closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands.

“What do you think about all of this curse business?” She cringed in anticipation of his response but needed to hear from someone on the outside. “Do we look like a bunch of superstitious, wild-eyed natives who’ve been worshiping the sun too much?”

“I prefer the moon—it’s too damned hot down here to praise the sun.”

“I’m serious, Parker.”

“Okay. In all seriousness, when it comes to the curse and your crew, I think you’re trying to herd marbles uphill.”

She peeked out at him between her palms. “You’ve noticed, huh?”

“Hard to miss. I’ve also noticed several other things in the last twenty-four hours.”

“Yeah?” She covered her eyes again, wondering if she should cover her ears, too, but then asked, “Like what?”

“Besides having a very nervous crew, you have an ex-husband poking around where he’s not wanted, a healer who wants to have an exorcism to get rid of evil spirits, a father who is willing to bend over backward to keep his funding so he can continue working here with you, and a javelina who likes to cross dress.”

A javelina what?

She lowered her hands. Rover sat on the floor between them. The strap of the pink bra that she’d kicked under the cot was wrapped around his neck.

“Rover, come here.” She reached for him, her cheeks warming, but he dodged her hands and hid behind Quint’s feet.

Quint reached down and untangled the bra from around Rover’s neck. He stared down at it in his hands for one dreadfully long wince on her part. Then he dangled it between them, slamming her with a stare that was hotter than any temple she'd been in today. “I imagine this looks better on you than your javelina.”

Her tongue felt thicker than normal, like she’d traded it for a dry sponge. “Well,” she tried to think of something witty to toss back, or something that would pinch out this flame flickering between them before it spread any further. “I am a little less hairy than Rover.”

Oh, jeez! Really? That was the best she could come up with? Maybe Quint would take pity on her and leave after she opened her desk drawer and shut her head in it a few times.

His brow wrinkled. “Only just a little?”

“Angélica!” The sound of Jared’s voice made her jerk in surprise. She looked toward the mesh flap. Her ex-husband’s face was pressed against it. “We need to discuss this curse situation.”

No, they didn’t. “I’m busy right now.” If only she had a door to slam in his face.

Jared’s gaze moved to Quint and then to the bra that still dangled from his finger. “What’s going on in here?”

Chapter Six

Chachac: Traditional rain ceremony.

A long, long time ago in a kingdom far, far away, Angélica had married a man she had thought was Prince Charming. It turned out she’d been played a fool, hornswoggled by a handsome face whispering empty promises of securing her a teaching position with tenure at the same university where her father had taught for well over a decade.

So maybe the fault wasn’t all Jared’s.

Maybe her ambition had made her gullible when he’d painted the fairytale life they’d lead, working dig sites side by side like her parents had all of her life.

And maybe her attraction to the distinguished, well-renowned Dr. Steel had more to do with skipping a few rungs on her career ladder than actually enjoying his companionship.

And truth be known, she’d been so caught up in the fantasy of being as revered as her parents had been at the time—prior to her mom’s downfall—that she’d overlooked his inability to meet her cravings both in and out of the sack. She’d even gone so far as to convince herself that there was more to marriage than love and good sex … or even okay sex. After all, she’d been around the block a few times by then. She knew how to take care of her own needs, which had become necessary in her marriage way too soon.

But that woman, the one who’d been driven at all costs to have everything her parents had shared, all of the professional accolades they’d received, had long ago awakened from that fairytale. Her carriage had turned back into a pumpkin and rotted; that sparkly glass slipper had given her blisters long before the ball was over.

As for Prince Charming, he’d granted her the divorce she’d wanted but at a cost to her career back in the States. She’d figured that relocating south of the border for much of the year, far from his reign, would save her from dealing with him, allowing her to live happily forever after in the jungle.

It turned out she’d been foolish yet again, as evident from the Prince’s visit not only to her dig site, but now to her tent.

She glared at her ex-husband through the mesh flap. What in the world made him believe he could come down here and order her around like they were still bound by vows?

“Go away, Jared. I’m not in the mood to discuss anything with you right now,” especially not that damned curse, “unless you are here to say ‘
Adios’
and need directions back to the village.”

“Is that yours?” Jared ignored her jab, pointing towards Quint and the bra he was holding.

“Of course it’s mine.” There was no use denying it. “Who else would it belong to?” The only other female on the site was María, Teodoro’s wife, and she was about two cup sizes larger than Angélica.

“Why is Parker fondling it?”

She looked over at Quint, who was now holding her bra up between them by the straps, as if sizing it to her chest.

His eyes gleamed with a devilish glint when they met hers. “I think I like this pink one best,” he said, “but I’d have to see the others on you again to be sure. Maybe I can come back later after your company leaves.”

She shot Quint a knock-it-off squint. “He’s just joking around, Jared.” She snatched the bra from his fingers and tossed it down by the vase she’d found earlier. “Quint was kind enough to bring me something to eat.”

“You should be wary of Trojans gifting wooden horses.”

She rolled her eyes. Jared had never had much imagination when it came to insults.

“I am not a Trojan,” Quint said, sounding like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Jared snorted. “Obvious from your erroneous accent.”

Quint shrugged off Jared’s criticism. “Although Angélica would give Helen a run for her money, don’t you think, Steel?” He gave her a conspiratorial wink.

In spite of his obvious jesting, her stupid pulse fluttered.

Enough!

Enough of Jared’s meddling.

Enough of Quint’s flirting.

Enough of her sitting here accomplishing nothing.

She collected her empty plate from the floor and stood, needing to get rid of both troublesome men and find her father. She had a much bigger problem to deal with than a pissing match over her dirty bra.

“Jared, I’ll give you two minutes to speak your piece.” She unzipped the mesh flap, glancing back before she stepped outside. “Parker, thanks again for supper. You know the way to your tent.”

Jared backed up enough to let her out, placing a hand on her shoulder when she’d cleared.

Jeez, she hadn’t seen him this possessive since he’d slipped that huge honking engagement ring on her finger. She pulled away from him. “What do you need?”

“Join me for a walk.” He nodded toward the trees.

She’d sooner snuggle with venomous pit vipers.

“I’m a little busy right now.” She glanced at Quint, who was squatting next to something on the floor by her desk. What was Rover getting into now? “Parker told me about the accident.”

“It seems you’ve had a plague of these so-called accidents lately.”

A series of snorts came from inside her tent followed by a happy squeal.

Jared frowned. “What was that?”

Quint joined them, holding Rover in the crook of his arm.

“Of all the disgusting …” Jared turned to Angélica, his nose wrinkled. “Surely you’re not going to allow him to keep that revolting, smelly over-sized rodent in his tent.”

“Rover is not a rodent,” Angélica said, taking her little buddy from Quint’s arms. “He’s a peccary. And I just gave him a bath this morning so he smells like my citrus soap.” She sniffed him. Or more like one of María’s tortillas.

Parker scratched Rover between the ears. “Let me know if you need a javelina-sitter anytime soon.”

“I’ll keep you in mind.”

“You do that.” He cupped her chin and leaned in close, his gaze fixed on her mouth. “And I’ll keep you in mind.” Before she could find a direct line from her brain to her tongue and hit him with a smartass comeback, he brushed his lips over hers. “Sleep tight, Dr. García.”

With her lips tingling, she watched him go. Of course his exit had all been a show for Jared’s sake, but still …
Damn!

“Do you think it’s wise to be fraternizing like that with a man writing about this site for a national publication?”

No, and she knew better without her ex-husband rubbing her nose in it. “Shut up, Jared.” She set Rover down inside her tent.

“What a brilliant way to secure future funding, Angélica. Men will line up with cash in hand to spend a couple of weeks in your tent getting the ‘real’ archaeological experience.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, giving him her full-on scowl. What had she ever seen in the arrogant jerk? Oh, yeah, his lofty position in her father’s university. Otherwise, beneath his classically handsome features, blue eyes, and dark blonde hair, he was about as appealing as a dung beetle.

“What do you want, Jared? Did you come here for some reason other than to insult me and my
jabalí
?”

“I want to talk to you about your father.”

“What about him?”

“I’m concerned about his health.”

She couldn’t see where that was any concern of Jared’s. “Dad can take care of himself.” She turned back toward her tent, needing to grab a change of clothes for the shower before seeking out her dad.

Jared caught her by the upper arm and pulled her around to face him. “You’ve been too close to him these last few months to see the changes. He looks haggard, and that toothache is a sure sign of being overstressed.”

She looked pointedly at where his hand gripped her arm until he let go. “What do you know of his stress? You just arrived here this morning.”

“I know the university’s decision on funding and grants can determine his future here on the Yucatán Peninsula. I’m sure that’s not making sleep come easy for him.”

“And what would you have me do to remedy this? We both know that I have no control over what they decide.”

“No, but I do.” His smile made her feel cold and clammy inside.

She lifted her chin. “And you’re loving that, aren’t you?”

“Come now, darling. Don’t take that tone.”

“I’m not your ‘darling’ anymore, Jared. I’m your ex-wife. Try to remember that EX part.”

He ran his finger down the side of her neck. “That was not by my choice. You left me, remember?”

She brushed his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

“Tsk, tsk, my love. Those frown lines will become permanent soon enough. Keep in mind that it would well benefit you and this dig site to work with me instead of against me.”

Her patience for his games had long ago gone the way of the great Maya kings. She held up her hand, counting off her fingers. “I’m not your employee. I’m not your co-worker. I’m not your
love
.”