Look What the Wind Blew In (21 page)

That came out a little harsher than she’d wanted, but she owned up to it, meeting his glare head on.

“No.”

“You seem to be confused. I’m not asking.”

He pushed away from the pole, closing the distance between them. “Juan didn’t mention a word this morning about my leaving. Don’t you think that’s odd?”

“He doesn’t know about this.” She hadn’t yet figured out how she’d explain to her dad why Quint had to leave without giving away that it was blackmail born.

“And why wouldn’t you tell him?” He stopped at the end of the counter. “He’s the one who worked the deal with me. Shouldn’t he be included in this decision?”

“I’m the one in charge of the crew, the site, and who comes and goes during a season. When it comes down to it, Dad works for me. If I say you go, then you go, whether he agrees or not.”

“No.”

She threw up her hands. “Where in the hell do you get off thinking you can just tell me no?”

“Does this have to do with Steel’s marriage proposal?”

Heat shot up her neck, roasting her cheeks. Son of a …
DAD!
She had
not
wanted Quint to find out about that. “That’s none of your business, Parker.”

“I’m making it my business.” He matched her gritted response. “Are you going to marry him again?”

“I can hardly see why that would be any concern of yours, unless you plan on including
that
in your article.”

He cursed at the ceiling. “Would you forget about that damned article for one second?”

“I can’t!”

Between that article and the crazy shit happening lately, including Jared’s talk of resuscitating what she considered to be a long-dead horse, her stress level had shot into the red zone.

She strode over and poked him in the chest. “Ever since you walked onto this dig site, everything I say and do could show up in print. Do you have any idea how hard it is to speak casually to my crew in front of you, knowing that if I let my guard down for one second and something goes amiss, I could end up the laughing stock of the archaeological community?”

His face softened as he looked down at her. “I would never do that to you.”

“What guarantee do I have?”

“My word.”

“You already lied to me once.”

He shook his head. “I didn’t outright lie.”

“You might as well have.”

“And I already apologized for misleading you.”

“So I’m supposed to blindly trust you now?”

“Well, maybe not blindly, but—”

She scoffed.

“
But
I’m telling you the absolute truth now.”

She started to turn away from him, hating how torn he made her feel, but he caught her arm.

“Angélica, listen to me. I swear that I will not publish my article until I get your approval on its contents.”

God, she wanted to believe him, but he’d fooled her once. She wasn’t willing to take a chance at being made the fool twice. “Okay,” she pulled free, but held her ground. “If you’re being honest, tell me why you really came down here.”

“To write this article.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“Not entirely.”

“Ah-hah!”

“I also wanted to revisit the last place Dr. Hughes was seen.”

“Why?”

“Because he was my best friend’s father.”

“Why else?” She wasn’t buying it was only for sentimental reasons.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Because he helped me out of a rut twenty years ago.”

“So this is some self-discovery, getting in touch with your inner feelings, mumbo-jumbo journey?” There had to be something more driving him to come down to a jungle he obviously hated.

“Me and my inner feelings are touchy-feely enough, thank you for your concern.”

“You’re still not being totally honest with me.”

“You’re a hard woman to please.”

She slammed her hand down on the counter. “Damn it, Quint, tell me why you are—”

“Because I have trouble believing he’s really dead.”

Finally, they were getting somewhere. “And now that you’ve been here and seen all there is to see, what do you think?”

“I don’t know.”

He didn’t know?
“Well, he’s not here, I can tell you that.”

Quint raised both eyebrows. “What makes you so certain?”

“I’ve been in and out of each of these temples for eight years now. Don’t you think I would’ve seen something of him if he were here?”

“Maybe. Probably.” He sighed, scraping his palm down his face. “Hell, I don’t know.”

“Listen, Quint. I’m sorry that Dr. Hughes disappeared like he did, but life here in the jungle had to go on, and it has. My father and I haven’t forgotten who started the work here, and with every paper I publish on the findings, I always try to mention Dr. Hughes and his work.” She wished she could do more for Quint, but she knew what she had to do to protect her father’s future. “When you get back to the States, tell Mrs. Hughes that—”

“She’s dead.”

Brakes screeched in her head. “What?”

“Mrs. Hughes died a couple of months ago.”

“Oh.” She grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

He waved her off.

“Is that what spurred your interest in Dr. Hughes?”

“Sort of. The funeral brought back memories.”

She nodded. “That’s understandable.” But the fact of the matter hadn’t changed: Quint needed to leave, pronto. “I’m sorry we couldn’t do more to help you, but I have to ask you to—”

“I’m not leaving, Angélica.” A muscle twitched in his cheek.

“You have to.”

“Why? I don’t have any pressing engagements.”

“Damn you, Quint!” She grabbed a mango slice and threw it at him.

He caught it against his chest. “No, damn you, Angélica. I was honest with you about Dr. Hughes. Now it’s your turn. Tell me why I have to leave in such a big rush.”

An eye for an eye. Fine. “Because if you don’t, Jared’s going to convince the university to pull Dad’s funding.” There, it was out. If only that could free her from her ex-husband’s stranglehold.

He clenched the mango slice in his fist. “I knew it had something to do with that asshole.”

“Yes, well, now you know. So, please, leave tomorrow.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Why not? You have enough information to write your goddamned article, and don’t try to tell me otherwise.” She’d made certain of that.

“Angélica.” Quint caught her arm. “Are you going to marry Steel again?”

“I told you before, that’s none of your business.”

“Have you put any thought into why he’s forcing you to get rid of me?”

“Yes.” Several hours’ worth and usually in the middle of the night.

“And?”

She shrugged. “Something happened twenty years ago between you two, and he hasn’t gotten over it.” She glanced down at where he held onto her, feeling the callouses on his fingers, the heat of his palm. Maybe there was a girl from the village they’d fought over, or a female grad student here helping Dr. Hughes. “Did you steal his girlfriend?” she jested, sort of. Curiosity weighed in, too.

“No. Not yet anyway.” The rousing look he shot her made her pulse do jumping jacks. “I think there’s more to it than the past.”

“Like what?”

“I’m still trying to figure that out.”

As much as she wanted him to stay, he needed to figure it out somewhere else. “Whatever Jared’s reasons are, you need to leave.”

He let go of her arm as if she disgusted him, his expression tight with scorn. “I can’t believe you’re going to let your ex-husband push you around.”

Her go-to-hell glare didn’t seem to ruffle him.

“Where were you this morning?” When she didn’t answer, he pushed further. “Were you with Steel?”

Her chin rose along with her defenses. “None of your business.”

His eyes flashed white-hot. “Quit shutting me out.”

“Quit prying.”

“You’re so damned stubborn.”

“You’re one to talk.” How many times did they need to lock horns until he understood she wasn’t backing down?

He growled in his throat, all bristly, predator like. “Just answer the question, woman.”

“I was busy.”

“Doing what?”

Her heartbeat drummed in her ears, her breath coming short and fast. This battle of wills had gone far enough. “Mr. Parker, as an employee of the Mexican government, I am asking you one last time to remove yourself from these premises tomorrow morning.”

“You don’t really want me to go, do you?” His eyes issued a challenge.

She ignored him. “If you fail to heed my request—”

“Were you with Jared this morning?”

Unfortunately she had been, and she still itched every time she thought about those damned ants. She continued, “I will be forced to involve the
federales
.”

“He sure has you wrapped around his finger.”

“God damn your hide!” She grabbed Quint by the shirt collar and yanked him down to her level. “I was not
with
Jared this morning! At least not in the connubial sense.”

He leaned closer, his nose almost touching hers. “Then where were you?”

The scent of his skin wafted out from under his collar, his cologne or deodorant spicy, very male, kindling a flare of lust. She let go of his shirt and stepped back, needing distance to keep her head in the game instead of under the bleachers with him. “I was in the jungle looking for signs of whoever has been sabotaging our camp.”

“What?” His brow wrinkled.

“Happy now? Write that in your article.”

He hit her with an exasperated glare. “Can it about that stupid article.”

“It’s your fault.”

He didn’t take her bait. “You think someone is behind these incidents? They’re not just accidents?”

She nodded. “We found out for certain early this morning. Like I’ve preached from the start, it’s not a curse. What’s worse, the games are getting dangerous.”

He gaped at her. “And you went out looking
alone
?”

Sheesh! He must be taking lessons from her father. “This is another reason you should leave tomorrow. I can’t guarantee your safety if you stay any longer.”

“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

“Fine. Whatever.” She was tired of trying to take care of everyone anyway. “Just remember, I tried to save your ass.”

“Who’s going to save your ass?”

She didn’t answer.

The intensity of his stare multiplied so fast it stole her thoughts. “Are you considering marrying Steel again?”

She struggled for words, trying to come up with something coherent. “That’s a rather personal question.”

“I’ve been feeling ‘rather personal’ lately when it comes to you.”

What did that mean? “Of course I’m not going to marry Jared again.”

“Good.” He stepped toward her, his intentions written all over his face. It didn’t take a decade of studying glyphs to read him.

She backed into the counter, her heart tapping an S-O-S against her ribs. “Quint, don’t. Stop.”

He placed his hands on the counter on both sides of her, cutting off all escape routes. “I won’t. Not this time.”

She gulped. “There was a period between
don’t
and
stop
.”

“I didn’t notice it.” He stared at her mouth.

She scrambled for something to detour him. “I’m Jared’s ex-wife.” That had brought him to a halt the night of the
Chachac
ceremony.

“Who gives a shit about that?”

She thought he did. “It’d make things easier if you left.”

“Too bad. I’m staying.” He crooked his head, lining up his lips with hers.

She could feel the heat radiating from his skin through his shirt. “Why?”

“I can’t stop thinking about you.” He traced her lower lip with the pad of his thumb.

The tingling started at his touch and fire-balled south. “You can’t?”

The back of his fingers trailed down her neck. “I’m not going anywhere until I do something about it.”

She couldn’t stand this much more. It’d been too long since she’d felt anything even close to it … Hell, since she’d felt anything at all.

She captured his hand. “Stop it,” she whispered, her throat constricted along with her lungs.

This time he listened. His eyes searched hers, hesitation lurking in their green depths.

To hell with it all. She was tired of being hungry for more whenever he was around.

“Stop teasing me unless you plan to kiss me.” She lifted his hand to her mouth, running her teeth down the length of his index finger.

He sucked in a breath, his eyes darkening as she lightly bit the web of skin between his finger and thumb. “Oh, sweet Jesus, I do.” Using his hand that she still clutched, he drew her against him and nudged her chin up with his knuckles. “Lick your lips, boss lady.”

She did as told.

A groan rolled up from deep in his chest. “I don’t know what’s sexier, your wet lips or you listening to me without fighting back for once.”

She flirted with him from under her lashes. “Shut up and kiss me, Parker.”

“Yes, ma’am.” His lips brushed over hers—soft, feather-like, testing. He drew back to look into her eyes, searching.

That wasn’t enough by far. Sinking her fingers in his hair, she dragged him back down, showing him what she really wanted.

This time there was no dithering in his response. While his mouth took over, coaxing moans and gasps from her, he ran his hands down her sides, gripping her hips through her khakis. She suctioned herself tighter against him, craving more of the rugged terrain of his body.

“
Dios mio
,” she breathed when he gave her time to catch her breath. “You really know how to kiss.”

“I know how to do other things, too.” His lips trailed along her cheek.

“Like what?” She closed her eyes, her body turning into liquid fire from the inside out. She moved against him, really, really interested in finding out firsthand.

“Quint?” Her father’s voice penetrated the lust that was making her head rummy. “Are you in here?”

Angélica gasped, leaping out of Quint’s arms.

But it was too late. Her father stood frozen just inside the mess tent entrance. The wide-eyed look on his face made her want to hide under a table. Then he grinned, his face lighting up, and she knew she was up shit creek.