Page 12 of Close Pursuit

He glanced up from the bucket where he was washing his hands. “I listened to the radio while you were sleeping. A rebel force is moving into the area.”

“Again?” she complained. “I swear, it’s like they’re following us!”

“Noticed that, did you?” he asked dryly.

She did a double-take. Seriously? They were being tracked? A mental image of that oversized syringe that injected the tracker in her back flashed through her mind. Surely not. Why send her to help people and then send a militia after her?

He shrugged. “With a danger of fighting breaking out, any women in labor tonight will stay home.”

“I dunno,” she responded. “Women are already braving pretty dangerous conditions to get to you. I doubt a little gunfire will slow them down.”

“The rebels are well armed and violent. When they come, they’ll crush everything in their path.”

She shook her head, unconvinced, and declared, “I’ll bet you five bucks we deliver a baby, tonight.”

The effect of her challenge on Alex was shocking. He went utterly still, and she thought she saw a shudder pass through him. The tension abruptly emanating from him was terrible in its intensity.

She was on the verge of asking him if he was okay when he turned abruptly. His gaze was hooded. Dark. And his entire being was suddenly sharply, dangerously alive. It was as if she’d woken a sleeping tiger. And now the beast was not only awake, but on the hunt.

“Shall we make the wager a little more interesting?” he purred. The sexual energy in his voice raked across her skin like claws.

Whoa. She asked cautiously, “What did you have in mind?”

“What do you like best in all the world?” he asked.

“Ice cream,” she answered promptly. It was the first thing that came to mind.

“Better than sex?” He sounded skeptical.

She shrugged. “I stand by my answer.”

He replied huskily, “Then you haven’t had good sex.”

She didn’t dare let her gaze stray south to see if he was as turned on as she was, all of a sudden.

“I think we have the terms of our bet, then.” Her gaze snapped to him as he prowled across the tiny space to less than arm’s length from her. “If you win, we have a date to eat ice cream together. If I win…” his mouth curved up in a smile that was pure sin.

Her jaw dropped. “No way!”

“A woman daring enough to travel halfway across the world, brave a war zone and death threats, living alone in the wilds with a stranger…” he shrugged. “I thought you were…more.”

More than what?More than average? More than a nice, boring nurse? More than a desperate wannabe in a family of adventurers and warriors? More than a fraud?

Stung, her gaze narrowed and she glared at him. She thrust her hand out truculently. He stared down at it uncomprehendingly.

“Are we shaking on the bet or not?” she demanded.

His dark gaze lifted to hers, and if it had been hot before, it was an inferno, now. Never breaking eye contact with her, he reached out slowly and grasped her hand. The instant heat between their palms scalded her all the way to her core.

His fingers were strong. Capable. He claimed her hand possessively, promising heretofore unimagined sensual delights.

He dropped her hand and broke the stare, turning away sharply. His ribcage lifted and dropped short and hard. At least he wasn’t entirely unaffected. As for her, she was panting like a dog in a sauna.

Holy crap, had she just agreed to have sex with him? What on earth had she been thinking? She’d known since she was about seven years old not to let boys goad her into accepting dares. He’d just manipulated her like a master, damn him.

Of course, if she was lucky, she would win the bet and get an ice cream sundae out of the deal. Thatwasthe lucky outcome…right?

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