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

were edged with ice. “Are you calling me a fool?”
    The question was meant to intimidate, and he could imagine that many a man had backed down under that frosty gaze. He matched her scowl for scowl. “If you persist in this crazy idea of trekking off to chat with the archaeologists, yes.”
    â€œFine,” she snapped right back at him. “You think it’s unnecessary, then you can stay here. I’ll go alone.”
    Taken aback by the glint of determination in her eyes, he simply stared at her. He didn’t doubt for one minute that she meant exactly what she said. She would go alone. Stubborn pride, if for no other reason, would cause her to stalk out of here, knowing full well that it was risky. The woman was maddening. No wonder Scottie was in the hospital. Twelve years of this would give any man palpitations.
    Frustration twisted his insides into knots. If he’d been a lesser man, he might have strangled her on the spot. As it was, the temptation to turn her over his knee was almost too overwhelming to ignore. How had Scottie put up with this rebellious stubbornness?
    Suddenly, Rod was struck by the urge to laugh at the image of his boss as the victim of his daughter’s temper. Scottie was no victim. Hell, he’d probably encouraged that fiercely stubborn streak. Right now in fact, Scottie was probably sitting in his hospital bed howling with glee as he imagined his beloved Cara down here shaking the daylights out of Rod’s equilibrium.
    â€œYour father knew, didn’t he?” he muttered, jamming his hands into his pockets and glaring at her.
    She regarded him with a puzzled expression. “Knew what?”
    â€œHe knew you’d drive me crazy. He’s still mad at me for taking him for all that money last time we played poker.”
    A delighted smile tugged at Cara’s lips. He suddenly wanted desperately to kiss that smile away, to plunder her lips until they were swollen and pouting and begging for more. He wanted to leave her so breathless she’d forget all about taking off on her own. My God, she truly was driving him insane!
    â€œI drive you crazy?” she repeated, her eyes lighting up in impish amusement. “How amazing.”
    â€œYou don’t have to sound so thrilled about it.”
    â€œHey, I would have settled for respect, but since you seem to be reluctant to bestow that, I’ll take driving you crazy. At least it means you’re hearing me.”
    â€œOh, I’m hearing you loud and clear, and I don’t like it one bit.” His own voice began to rise. With great restraint he lowered it to what he hoped would be a threatening growl. “Now maybe you’d like to listen to me. You will be on that plane this afternoon if I have to tie you to the seat.”
    â€œYou and whose army?” she inquired curiously.
    â€œDammit, woman!”
    â€œYou swear entirely too much.”
    He rubbed his head, which was beginning to pound like the very devil. “Especially since you arrived,” he conceded. “Now I am going inside for your things, and I expect you to be ready to leave when I come out.”
    He didn’t wait for another argument. She could fight him on this all the way to the airstrip, but she was flying out of here today. Sabotaging the radio and ransacking the campsite were nuisances, but shooting Diablo had been the act of someone who was deadly serious.
    It took him less than five minutes to throw Cara’s few belongings into her overnight case and backpack. When he went outside, she was gone. So was the map.
    â€œDammit all to hell!” he bellowed. Then he began to chuckle. He decided he could allow himself to indulge in the brief moment of levity. He knew exactly where Cara was heading, and unless she’d taken along a machete to deal with the undergrowth it would be slow going.
    She was quite a woman, he admitted. Anyone who dared to take her on in a fair fight would be