Page 47 of Escape to the Sun

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“I need to go check on her, Ash. She’s all alone up there and this storm—”

“Is still raging.” It was true. The wind was still whipping against the shutters and through the trees behind them. “There is absolutely no point in risking our lives again to go up there. She’s fine.”

“How do you know that? And it’s not like we’re going back out on the water. We’re going up—”

“Through the trees with falling branches and who knows what else. It’s almost more dangerous, Heather. You’re staying put. So am I. Because she’s fine.”

Frustration built up inside her until she was sure she was going to burst. How could he be so sure Sherri was okay? How did he think it was okay that she was all alone up there with no one to help her if something went wrong?

“Settle down.” He kissed her forehead. “Although I do love your concern.”

That’s it.She was going to hit him. In a burst, Heather wrestled herself free from his grip. The blanket fell from her body and she jumped up in front of him. She would have taken a swing at him if the look on his face hadn’t stopped her. “What?”

Ash wiggled his eyebrows. “You’re sexy as hell when you’re all worked up. I need to remember that.”

“That’s not funny.”

“I’m not trying to be funny.” The grin slid off his face into sincerity. “I think it’s incredible that you’re concerned about Sherri.”

“But then, what about—”

“Come here.” He extended a hand and that she still kind of wanted to hit him, she took it and let him pull her back into his embrace and the warmth of the blanket. “Sherri’s fine. I’ll go check on her after the storm has died down, but I spoke with her before I left Bocas and she’s all settled. She managed to get the shutters secured and was holed up with Thor.”

Thor! She hadn’t even thought about the dog.

“It’s not your job to worry about the dog,” Ash said, reading her thoughts. “You had enough to worry about and the dogs around here can more than take care of themselves. They probably know better than we do about taking cover and staying safe.” He shot her a look. Which she pointedly ignored.

“Wait.” What he’d just said finally registered in her head. “What do you mean, you spoke with Sherri before you left Bocas? How?”

Ash had the sense to back up on the couch slightly. Not that she’d hit him. But she might.

“I called her,” he said tentatively.

“You called her?”

“On the phone.” He slipped his battered cell phone from his back pocket and held it out.

“You have a cell phone?” She immediately felt stupid for asking the question. Everyone had a cell phone. But everyone in the middle of the Panamanian jungle? Maybe it wasn’t such a stupid question. Besides, no one had mentioned a phone before. She hadn’t taken her own cell phone out of her bag since she’d arrived. “You have a phone?” she asked again.

Ash shrugged in response. “It’s not like I use it. Not really. It’s mostly for Sherri to get a hold of me when she has guests to pick up or something for me to grab from town. And of course situations like this.”

She could have been angry, but there was no point. Besides, what business was it of hers whether he had a phone or not? Never mind the fact that he hadn’t offered to give her the number. But then again, maybe their relationship wasn’t at that point yet.

Whatever that point was.

Or even if they had a relationship.

She shook her head. It was all too confusing to think about. All she wanted to focus on was the fact that she was sitting there, inside, out of the storm and in the arms of the very sexy, very naked man who’d saved her.

She snuggled back against him, feeling his hardness against her back.

Yes.

That was definitely what she was going to focus on.

Ash wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tighter to him. One hand secured around her waist held her in place and the other found her breast, gently cupping and massaging it. He nuzzled into her neck and whispered in her ear, “Is that okay with you?” When she didn’t answer right away, he tweaked her nipple and elicited the exact response he was looking for.

She moaned and pressed back into him. It was more than okay with her. Although, if she’d been asked at that exact moment what exactly they were talking about, Heather wasn’t sure she’d be able to give an answer. At least not a coherent one, but one that started with a moan and more than likely would end with her turning in her seat, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him until neither of them could remember what they’d been talking about.

“I thought so,” Ash murmured and bit the sensitive skin directly below her ear. “Are you all warmed up now?”

She shook her head and twisted around so she faced him. “Not entirely.” She kissed him, sucking his bottom lip between her teeth. “But I think I know how you can help fix that.”

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