Page 25 of Raul
“Got it,” she responded before she reached over to put her hand on Raul’s forearm as she had the night before. In a low voice, she said, “You can come back when you’re healed. The mountains will still be here.”
He rewarded her with a quick smile that lit his blue eyes. “Gracias.I needed that reminder.”
She dared to give him a quick squeeze, his arm warm and muscular beneath her fingers. Something hot flickered in his eyes, mesmerizing her for a long moment before she stood to collect the backpacks.
With lighter loads, she and Pascal would be able to make it down the mountain today. That meant no tents were necessary, and the climbing equipment was now superfluous. As she transferred Raul’s harness to a different pack, she felt an ache of loss that they wouldn’t have that strong sense of connection on the cliff face again.
She carried the two extra backpacks to where Pascal was wrapping Raul’s ankle. The muscles in the prince’s neck and jaw stood out as he fought the pain. Too bad Pascal couldn’t wait for the painkillers to kick in.
“All packed and ready to go, but I kept a couple of your palace protein bars. Hope you don’t mind,” she said, trying to distract Raul. “I was curious to taste them since I’ve never had gourmet camping food before.”
His forehead was beaded with sweat, but he attempted a smile. “They may ruin you for the store-bought variety forever. Our chef is amazing.”
“Oh, I know. I’ve had her French toast on the jet. It makes all other breakfast food pale in comparison.” Erica licked her lips.
Raul’s gaze lost its glaze of pain and focused on her mouth. Not what she had intended, but if it took his mind off his injury, that was an extra benefit. Except that it sent her imagination into overdrive, and she wondered what it would be like if he pressed his lips against hers. A ripple of heat ran through her, but she shoved it down.
“Bien, all done,” Pascal said, standing.
Raul huffed out a sigh of relief. “It feels more stable now.”
“The helicopter has locked on the beacon,” Dario said. “They’ll be here in twenty minutes.”
“Let’s get going,” Raul said.
Before Erica could move, Dario and Pascal had knelt on either side of Raul, looped his arms over their shoulders, and surged to their feet, bringing him upright with them as though he weighed nothing.
“Don’t put any weight on that foot,” Erica warned as Dario and Pascal walked Raul toward the forest. She slid one of the excess backpacks over her shoulders and carried the other one as she followed the three men, watching Raul’s gait.
Surprisingly, the prince was obeying her instructions, using only his right foot to walk. Smart move if he wanted to heal before the royal wedding in ten days.
It was too bad Dario had reminded Raul about the big event. Before the prince had injured his ankle, she had seen him change on their trip. His mood was lighter, with fewer shadows lurking in his eyes. His laughter had erupted more frequently, and the angles of his face looked softer and less drawn. His famous smile was no longer a mask; there was genuine pleasure shining in it.
Satisfaction warmed her. She had done that with the help of the mountains. Maybe he could manage to carry some of the lightness back to the palace with him.
And maybe he would take another climbing trip after the wedding. Of course, she would be with the jet in the Caribbean while Gabriel and Quinn honeymooned on rock star Kyran Redda’s private island.
An odd jealousy nagged at her chest as she imagined someone else belaying Raul. Or sitting with him, gazing at the view, while the setting sun turned his hair to the color of spun gold.
The sound of helicopter rotors jerked her out of her ridiculous thoughts.
The four of them stopped at the edge of the forest as a Calevan military helicopter skimmed over the treetops to hover above the meadow, the long grass and wildflowers rippling wildly in the downwash. Pascal left Raul with Dario and went out to the center of the field.
As the weighted cable began to lower, Raul shouted, “Erica!”
She turned to find his gaze locked on her with a combination of longing and determination. She moved closer so he wouldn’t have to yell over the noise, stopping right in front of him.
He leaned down so his mouth was beside her ear, his breath tickling the whorls and sending a delicious shiver through her.“When you get back down the mountain, let me know. You have my satellite phone number.”
“Won’t Pascal tell you we made it?” she asked.
“I don’t want to talk to Pascal. I want to talk to you.”
“Oh.” Her heart did a little dance step as happiness spun in her chest. He wanted to speak withher! “Okay. I’ll do that.”
He lifted his head slightly so he could look directly at her. He smiled, but in a way that was private. Her blood fizzed in her veins. “We’re still connected,” he said, reminding her of last night. For a moment, it was hard to draw breath into her lungs.
“Señor, they’re ready for us,” Dario shouted.
