Georgie just raised her eyebrows at him.
Matt drew her close. “The thought of you on those guys’ radar gives me chills. I’ve seen what they can do, what they can make average people do in order to save their loved ones.” He kissed her. “The day the Ridge flooded was terrifying. I didn’t know who was alive, and I kept imagining seeing Faith’s or Lara’s bodies floating past me.” He stiffened in her arms and Georgie stroked his back. She’d never considered what it had been like for him. He’d been stuck on the other side of the flood waters unable to help.
“Then we won’t investigate the other islands.”
He kissed her again. “Thank you.”
It was an easy promise knowing how much it scared him, and Lee’s words niggled in the back of her brain.Tan is the least of your worries.She didn’t want to get too close, didn’t want anyone to come after her or her loved ones. “What do you want to do while we’re waiting then?”
His hands dipped lower. “I can think of a few things to keep us occupied.”
She grinned. “Do tell.”
And Matt proceeded to show her exactly how creative he was.
***
Matt almost didn’t hear the police car arriving. If it hadn’t been for Georgie pushing him away, he would have missed the rumble of the engine through his haze of desire. Georgie clambered to her feet and tied her bikini top back into place, brushing the sand from her body before replacing her T-shirt and hat. Such a shame to see her clothed. She combed her fingers through her hair. “How do I look?”
“Like you’ve been making out on the sand.” He grinned and adjusted himself, staring off into the bush trying to ignore his rock-hard boner. If his sister was in the car, he didn’t want her to see him like this.
Yep, the thought of Nhiari did the trick and he got to his feet, brushing the sand off Georgie’s back. He checked the time. Less than an hour since Darcy and the others had left.
Not enough time for the police to get here.
His heart leapt as he scanned the surroundings for somewhere to hide. There weren’t a lot of shrubs. “Georgie, it can’t be Dot.”
Her eyes widened, but immediately she headed away from the turnaround spot and into the bush. They moved to what little shelter there was behind the low trees.
Georgie’s Akubra hid her blue hair, but her T-shirt was too bright. He stripped off his darker shirt. “Put this on.” While she did so, he did a quick sweep to ensure no animal traps were in the area.
Clear.
He crouched next to Georgie as the vehicle pulled to a stop and cut its engine. They were too far away to see anything. He switched off the radio in case someone tried to contact them and scanned the area behind them, mapping out their escape route.
Two car doors shut and then voices raised. “Are you sure they’re gone?” a female asked.
“You saw the ute drive away,” a deep male voice answered. “The drone followed it back to the house. They won’t be back today.”
Matt’s skin prickled. The male voice was familiar, but he couldn’t quite pick it.
“How long do we have to wait?”
“He should be here within ten minutes if he knows what’s good for him.”
Matt exchanged a glance with Georgie. They had to be the smugglers, and higher on the chain than the two Georgie had caught. Getting a look at them would help Nhiari. He leaned closer to Georgie and whispered, “Have you got your phone?”
She nodded and slipped it out of her pocket.
He held out his hand for it and she shook her head.
Like hell she was taking the photos. “I blend better.” She sighed, handing him the phone. He passed her the radio and then made sure her phone was on silent. “Move further back. Radio Darcy and tell him what’s happening.”
Georgie kissed him. “Be careful.”
Matt nodded and waited until she’d moved another twenty metres away and he couldn’t see her. Then he moved forward, muscles tense, keeping an eye on where he stepped. The pair had stopped speaking, but he smelled cigarette smoke. Idiots could start a bush fire if they weren’t careful.
He peered through some bushes and spotted the sleek, brand new black Dodge RAM. Matt almost laughed. No way they would blend in with a car like that. He took a photo of the car, making sure to get the licence plate number and then sent it to Nhiari’s phone. No signal, but it would send when there was one.
