He choked on the mouthful of nuts and things, and I rushed over to thump him helpfully on the back.Reaching for the canteen, I offered him a drink of water.I’d been right.His canteen no longer had a lid.
He finally quit choking and looked up at me with tears streaming down his face.It ruined his stern expression.“You, woman, are dangerous.”
I gave him another sweet smile.“Why, thank you for noticing.”I unwrapped the chocolate and popped a piece in my mouth.
He patted the log beside him, and I plunked myself down.He moved slightly, snugging his leg against mine and we sipped our chicory not-quite-coffee in companionable silence, staring at the fire.
Odd how I’d known Ryland for less than twenty-four hours and yet I felt more comfortable with him than I did with just about anyone else except perhaps my BFF and roommate, Sasha.
Ryland shifted his weight.“You know, we should probably talk about what we’re going to tell the Coast Guard when they get here.”
“What do you mean?
“Well, the poachers don’t know I was here, and they definitely don’t know they nailed me with that arrow.I’ve been after these guys for a long time, and if I report them to the Coast Guard all I’m doing is letting them know I’m on to them.They’ll melt back out of sight, and the organizer will send another group out to do the dirty work.I’ll be right back to square one.”He gave me an apologetic look.
I wasn’t sure what he meant.“So what are you suggesting?You need to have that wound looked at.”
“And I will, but not at the hospital on the mainland.My group will find someone who can take care of it quietly.They have people they can call.No hospital reports, no record.”He placed a hand on my knee.“Can I count on you to back me up?This is really important.”
I sighed, plucking his hand off my leg and placing it squarely back on his own.I was such an abysmal failure when it came to judging character, especially men’s character.“So just because I slept with you, you think I’ll lie for you?”
“No!”He swore vehemently.“I am so bad at this.I slept with you because you’re beautiful, compassionate, and amazing and I thought we had a connection.Believe me, my job was the farthest thing from my mind last night.And I’m not asking you to lie.Just don’t tell the whole story.”
This is what I’d wanted, so why was I upset?A one-night stand with no strings.I hadn’t exactly worried about politics last night either.“Don’t worry.Not like I haven’t been here before.”Damn.Maybe I wasn’t cut out for this kind of thing.I should just stick to my fantasies and my battery-operated boyfriend.
Ryland reached for my hand, but I jumped to my feet and put some distance between us.Definitely easier to deal with if I couldn’t feel the heat of his body pressed against mine.
He sighed, his expression so sad I almost relented.“It has nothing to do with you, with us.It’s about catching this ring of black-market poachers while there’s still some animals left to protect.Imagine what could happen to the spirit bear if they knew it was here.”
Diego looked from Ryland to me, whining softly in distress.He obviously sensed the tension in the air, and he didn’t like it.
Diego liked Ryland, which meant he must be a good guy.Just because he’d taken me up on my invitation and now intended to abandon me didn’t make him an asshole.I’d just blown the whole thing way out of proportion.
Yup, one-night stands were definitely not my forte.
I turned to face him, crossing my arms on my chest.“Fine.I’ll keep your secret, but I want one thing from you in return.”
“And that would be?”
“Don’t touch me again.Not now.Not on the boat when it gets here.When we get back to the mainland, we go our separate ways and that’s the end of it.”
Ryland stared at me silently for so long I thought he was going to refuse.A tiny, silly part of me, buried way down deep, hoped he would.That part of me was hoping he would throw himself at my feet and declare his undying love for me.
It was also the part that believed in unicorns, leprechauns, and happily ever after.It was a pretty dumb part, which is why I kept it buried deep.Nothing spelled disaster more than a romantic in today’s crazy world.
“Are you sure that’s what you want?”He tilted his head quizzically.“I thought we had something here.”
Yeah, well, so had I but I’d been wrong.“I’m sure.It was just sex.I was horny, and you were available.Nothing special.”
The look on his face reminded me of a lost puppy at the animal shelter when someone walked away and left it behind in a cage.I had to fight the urge to go throw myself in his arms and kiss the hurt look off his face.
Then it was gone, and in its place were the ice-cold eyes and deadpan expression he’d had when we first met.“I’ll call and see when to expect our ride.”He turned on his heel and strode toward the radio.
I walked back to the log and sank down.I wasn’t sure my legs would hold me up much longer.I could hear Ryland talking to the dispatcher, but I couldn’t make out what was being said.
I didn’t care.It was over.Not that it had ever started.
Diego pushed his warm head into my lap, silently offering me his support.I stroked his head with a hand that I couldn’t stop from trembling.
