Page 14 of One Weekend in Rio de Janeiro

“Oh, well, my job isn’t nearly as exciting as yours have been.”

“I disagree. You deal with bears.”

She chuckled. “True. But the trick with that is mostly trying to avoid them.” Kate stepped around a large, lichen-covered tree that probably fell years ago. Maybe even decades ago. She bit her lip, wondering if she should tell him about her father? Letting out a low breath, she finally said, “My dad raised me after my mom left when I was still a baby, so we were really close. He introduced me to nature and showed me how beautiful it was…”

Her voice cracked and Donovan glanced over at her, waiting for her to continue.

God, she missed her dad. Every single day.

Clearing her throat, she forced herself to press on. Donovan had confided in her and she would return the favor. “He died in a boating accident when I was sixteen. I spent the next couple of years in and out of foster homes, and I’ve pretty much been on my own ever since. But, when I’m outside, enjoying nature, I can still see and hear him. My dad loved nature and he introduced me to the amazing beauty out there just waiting to be discovered and appreciated. The cool thing is I see him all the time. Every time a bird warbles a pretty song or a spectacular sunset turns the sky a beautiful shade of oranges, reds and pinks, I see him. Each time I listen to a babbling creek or inhale deeply and smell the crisp air tinged with wet evergreen boughs, I feel him. Maybe it sounds silly…”

“No. Not at all.” Donovan glanced over, his caramel eyes studying her. “That’s really special, Kate. It’s your way of keeping him alive.”

“I suppose it is,” she said softly. And despite being alone in the world, she felt an indescribable comfort. Like he was still there and with her on some ethereal level. “After the last twenty-four hours, I’m beginning to think…”

But she didn’t finish her sentence.

“What?”

She rolled her shoulders back. “Just that I’m not getting any younger and maybe I should focus more on the present rather than the past. Make more of an effort to go out, meet new people, not hide away and spend so much time by myself.” He seemed to be considering her words. “I don’t take many chances and I know people probably look at me and think I’m more boring than paint drying. They call me Cautious Kate at work and it annoys me sometimes. But, it’s the truth.”

“Bullshit,” he said in a low, gravelly voice.

“I’m sorry?” She stopped walking and he turned to face her.

“You think you should do more? What about traveling solo to Rio during Carnival? How about getting shot at and lost in the rainforest? After a plane crash. Then jumping off a cliff and kissing a stranger. And that’s in less than twenty-four hours. I think you’ve been pretty busy, Ms. Halloran.”

Her face flushed at the mention of their kiss. “You forgot getting bit by a giant centipede,” she added, mouth curving up.

“Yeah, that too.” He reached a hand out and tilted her chin up. “Don’t let anyone dull your shine. Because that’s the first thing I noticed about you, Kate. You light up a damn room.”

Her heart thundered. That might be the nicest thing anyone ever said to her. She swallowed hard, lost in his dark eyes. Before she could say a word, he kissed her. A firm, serious kiss that sealed his words. And it was over sooner than she would’ve liked.

She felt the loss of his hand the moment he dropped it from her face, swiping it across his brow. It was starting to get really humid and she hoped the temperature wouldn’t become unbearable.

“I get what you mean, though,” he said, and they started walking again. “I spend so much time alone, locked up in my apartment and staring at my monitors. Maybe we should make a pact.”

“What kind of pact?” She lightly touched her lips. They still tingled from his brief kiss. A kiss she wished they would’ve extended.

“To live more fully. When we make it to Rio, let’s dance and drink too much at Carnival. Let’s go to Copacabana and Ipanema and swim in the ocean.”

“And come with me to Tijuca National Park. We’ll hike to the waterfalls and climb all the way to the top of Mount Corcovado to see the Christ the Redeemer statue up close and personal.”

“Done. What else?”

“We’ll pet monkeys and eat too much junk food.”

“How about just you pet the monkeys and I’ll take your picture?”

“You don’t like monkeys?” she asked.

“They kinda creep me out,” he admitted and she burst out laughing.

“Oh, c’mon! With their little, human-like fingers and toes and—”

He threw a hand up. “Stop! You’re going to give me nightmares. You ever seen Monkey Shines? That movie scarred me.”

She shook her head, smiling. “Never would’ve guessed the smartest and toughest guy I’ve ever met would be scared of a little ol’ monkey.”

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