He handed her another leaf.“Have you enjoyed yourself?”
“Yes.”She wove the strips together creating a rope like she’d been taught.“It’s such a different life, but the people are so lovely, and I enjoy being connected with nature and the slower pace.I finally felt as if I was doing something meaningful.”She scowled.“But I won’t ever be able to come back thanks to Vance and Agus.”
He stroked her thigh and warmth spread through her body.
“Tell me about Agus.What does he do?”
“From what I can gather he’s a smuggler; drugs, cargo, whatever you want.He might also be a pirate, stealing from boats coming through the area.”
“Are people scared of him?”
“Some are.As long as you do what you’re told and stay out of his way, you’re safe.”She sighed.“But some see him as a saviour, bringing wealth to the island.”
“How did you stay off his radar before Vance came?”
“I had nothing of value and he didn’t know who my parents were.Those who knew kept quiet.”The first couple of weeks she’d been a little concerned, but Agus had lost interest when a large group of surfers had arrived.
Damien took a long drink from his canteen and then gestured with it to her legs.“Do you want to use a little to clean up?”
She hesitated.“How much have you got?”
“About nine litres.”
She shook her head.“We might need it.I’ll go down to the ocean when it’s clear and wash.”
He nodded and clipped the canteen back to his belt.
“Will Agus give up searching for us?”
“I hope so.The chopper is probably part of the relief effort, or the military taking stock of the damage.Agus will want to talk to whoever’s in charge.”
She nodded.“So what’s plan C?”
He smiled.“A boat’s our best bet.We can’t keep trekking through the jungle as we are.Your foot will get torn to shreds.”
He was right.Her feet already stung with dozens of micro cuts.“Do we need to wait until that chopper leaves?”
“Yeah.”He scanned the canopy and seemed satisfied.“I don’t want to get caught out in the open when it flies over.They might think we need rescuing.”
He spread a dark sheet over the ground between two buttress roots.“Lay down.Get some rest.We’ve got some time before we need to leave.”
“What about you?You haven’t slept at all.”He had to be exhausted.
“I’m used to it.”He grinned.“Special forces, remember?We’re the best of the best.”
She smiled because he wanted her to, but she touched his arm.“Tell me if you need me to stand guard while you sleep.”
His expression changed from surprise, to gratitude, to something deeper.He leaned forward slowly, his eyes on hers and then lightly kissed her lips.“You’re killing me,” he murmured.
Her heart thumped and she wanted to deepen the kiss, but he pulled back and tapped on the blanket.“Bedtime.”
Her heart rate didn’t slow as she lay down.Damien wasn’t the kind of man she was used to.Her peers at university had been more interested in extra-curricular activities than learning, and the men she met at her parents’ social events were all looking to get ahead and if that included seducing the boss’s daughter, all the better.Only Vance had fooled her.
She shook the memory away.
Childish or selfish.
There was nothing childish or selfish about Damien.
