Read Online In Too Deep by Sherryl Woods - Free Book Online

Okay?”
    Panic flitted across her face, but then she seemed to pull herself together. It was an act of sheer bravado, probably meant as much for herself as for him. “Okay,” she murmured.
    His heart still hammering, Rod searched the surrounding area quickly, but found nothing else amiss. When he returned, Cara was standing frozen, exactly as he’d left her. An incomparable feeling of protectiveness swept through him as he gently drew her into his arms and turned her head away.
    A heavy sigh shuddered through her as she clung to him. The flames of desire sparked to life, startling him with their brightness. He wanted her here and now with a force that rocked him. The emotions that accompanied the desire were less straightforward. Perhaps he was a sucker for vulnerability after all. Or, more likely, for soft breasts, trembling lips and hair that smelled like sunshine. He tried hard to tell himself that he owed it to both of them to sort out the feelings before he made love to her, but right now an examination of his psyche was the last thing on his mind.
    â€œWhy?” she murmured, her tears dampening his shirt. “Why would anyone do that?”
    She gazed up at him, eyes shimmering, her expression woebegone. Rod’s heart constricted painfully. His hands, trembling at the restraint, caressed her back in an innocent touch of comfort.
    â€œIt’s another warning,” he told her. “We have to get you out of here.”
    To his amazement, she resisted. “No. Absolutely not. I am not going to be frightened away by someone that cowardly.”
    â€œCowardly?”
    â€œKilling a poor defenseless animal is cowardly. I’d like to get my hands on the person who did it. I’d show you just how well I can handle that gun of yours.”
    â€œI appreciate your desire to avenge Diablo’s death,” he said, somehow impressed by the vehement indignation and outrage in her voice. Still, he knew her well enough now to recognize that they were headed for an argument. “I’d rather you used your head and took the hint. This is no place for you to be hanging around.”
    Reluctantly, he released her, wondering if there would be other opportunities for them to explore this growing awareness between them. Unable to look at her without wanting her, he turned toward the camp. “I’m getting your things and we’re going to meet that plane,” he stated decisively.
    Cara didn’t follow. It figured. When he looked back, she was standing right where he’d left her. She visibly dug in her heels. Her eyes flashed dangerous sparks. “I’m not going,” she announced.
    Rod’s patience snapped like a fragile glass figurine. “Dammit, woman, will you stop thinking with your calculator? I don’t care how much WHS stands to make on this project, it’s not worth dying for. You know damn well Scottie would agree with me. He’d insist you leave, and he’d never forgive me for allowing you to stay.”
    He thought he saw a flicker of doubt in her eyes, but it was gone before he could be sure.
    â€œAre you staying?” she asked.
    â€œA few more days, just till I wrap things up. If it’ll make you feel any better, you can wait for me in Palenque. It should be safe enough there.”
    She shook her head. “I’m staying. I want to talk to those archaeologists.”
    â€œTalk to the archaeologists in Palenque. The arguments will be the same.”
    â€œI want to see the ruins,” she insisted stubbornly.
    Her defiance and apparent lack of fear awed him, even as it exasperated the hell out of him. “Exactly how do you propose we get to them now that Diablo is dead?”
    â€œWe’ll hike. It’ll just take a little longer.”
    â€œIt will take days, and I’ll be damned if I’ll waste that kind of time on a fool’s mission.”
    Instantly, her expression turned glacial and her words