Page 20 of Javier

“Do you wanna stop, then?” he asked.

“Is it safe?” I glanced over my shoulder at the trail behind us.

“Not really,” he said. “Not yet.”

“Then we keep going, I guess.”

“Good decision, Angel.” He patted his ruck. “Do you or the nuns need more water? A protein bar? Sunscreen? Insect repellent?”

“I’m fine and so are the nuns, well except for being tired.” He was being nice to me, and I hated it, especially since it came from a place of duty and pity. After all, I was his freaking mission.

“Can you please stop that thing you do?” He waved a big hand vaguely over his face.

“What thing?”

“That thing where you squint your eyes into tiny crescents and wrinkle your nose. It’s like a punch of uppity and a slap of scorn at the same time. It’s adorable, but also terrifying, and it scores a hit at the pit of my stomach every time you do it.”

“It’s called a frown,” I said, too primly, even for my standards. “Sounds like your frail self-esteem likes to hide behind your big ego.”

“I was told you were a nurse, and from what the sisters said the last time you went to take a leak, you doubled as a teacher at the orphanage.” He readjusted the weight of his weapon in his hands. “But I didn’t think you were a mind monkey. Or that I could piss you off so easily.”

“I’m not pissed.” I didn’t want him to know how much he affected me.

“Good.” He grinned. “Then we can forget about the ‘wholesome’ thing and move on.”

“I already did.”

He called my lie with a knowing smirk.

“We’ll be at the lake soon.” He quickened his pace and knocked his head. “Come on. Let’s make hay while the sun shines.”

As he moved forward, I couldn’t help but appreciate his stamina and build. He wore his dark brown hair short on the sides and slightly bristled at the top, a style that showcased the strength of his neck. His biceps tested the sleeves of his jacket. His muscular butt flexed nicely beneath his pants. Oh, yes, his butt was a work of art. He was a tactless, obtuse, bossy stunner with an ass to die for.

Unexpectedly, Javier tossed me a smirk over his shoulder and winked before he signaled for me to walk ahead of him. My face ignited as I marched past him, and it wasn’t from the heat, humidity, or the effort I’d put into our trek. The man was insufferable. He’d caught me looking, and he loved it.

Good grief.

For a gal who liked to keep her thoughts private, my light skin and vascular face were a sucky combination. It wasn’t only my face that was flushed. If the nuns knew about all the impure thoughts I’d had since Javier arrived, they’d send me straight to confession.

***

Javier

Dodging two sets of enemies meant we had to go slow and careful, but we arrived at the lakeshore at dusk. The sun painted the sky with golden strokes that set the lake on fire, outlining the darker domes of the pair of volcanos rising on the island across the channel.

“It’s so beautiful.” The light ignited the amber speckles in Missy’s eyes. “I’ll miss these views, and also the wonderful people of this country.”

I almost made a joke about not missing the soldiershunting her, but the sight of her face alight left me speechless. When was the last time I’d been moved by beauty like hers? How about never?

Fuck my brain. I was heading straight for trouble.

I guided the women to the remote little cove where I’d hidden my cache of exfil supplies and the local skiff I’d sailed across the lake on my way in. It was a small, weathered boat painted in faded colors, a humbleyola, as they called it in these parts.

“Before you say anything,” I volunteered to Missy as we dragged the boat out to the water under the cover of darkness. “I bought this piece of shit from a local fisherman. I’m not a thief. Are we clear?”

“Got it. You’ve got capitalist morals. Check.” She drew a mark in the air.

I glanced at her. Was she teasing or judging me? I was betting on the latter, but hey, I was thick-skinned. While she helped the nuns to board the little boat, I shook my head. Why did I even care if she liked me or not?

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