“How will we know if we find it?” Guillermo asked.
“You probably won’t,” she said, twisting her hair into one of those sexy messy buns that left random loose strands trickling down her neck. Strands that Ford desperately wanted to brush away from her beckoning skin. “It’s likely going to be well hidden, so you might not even notice it right away. Keep your eyes out for any formation that looks like there might be a cave inside.”
“Right. And if you find anything, mark it and we’ll meet here in an hour,” Ford said, grabbing a canteen and a small backpack of tools. “Use the walkies if there’s a problem.”
He tossed one of the walkie-talkies to Guillermo, and then the four of them split up.
Rough, jagged rocks littered the terrain from the river to the bowl. It was hard to imagine Chimalli and Yaretzi traversing this area every day for water. But Chimalli was a warrior, and warriors didn’t shy away from treacherousness. So Ford held out hope that this was the right spot.
And thathewas right.
Corrie flitted about on the rocks, hopping from boulder to boulder with ease and precision like a woodland fairy. No... like an elegant gazelle. No wonder she’d escaped that jaguarundi—which was still impressive even if itwasonly the size of a large housecat.
“Better be careful up there,” he said from his position on a lower, much smaller set of rocks.
“I’ll be fine. These giant things aren’t going anywhere. It’s those smaller rocks you need to watch out for. That’s a broken ankle waiting to happen, and, no offense, Ford, but I can’t carry you.”
“Well, no offense, Corrie, but I don’twantto carry you, either,” he said, trying to be playful.
And botching it on one of the rocks.
“Shit!” he said as a rock rolled out from under him. He managed to catch himself in time to miss smacking his head against the hard stones, but not without also managing to scrape his forearm when breaking his fall.
“Are you okay?” she asked, rushing over.
But he put his hand up to stop her. He needed to spare some semblance of his dignity.
“Yeah.” He picked up a small stone, as if that single rock was to blame, and threw it before picking himself up and violently brushing off his clothes. At least he didn’t break anything. Just a couple of scrapes and a bruised ego.
“I told you, those little rocks—”
“Yeah, yeah. Got it. Size matters, ha ha ha.” He rolled his eyes, then twisted his arm to assess the damage. The top layer of skin was curled back, exposing the raw flesh underneath. It stung, but he wasn’t about to whine about it to Corrie. Give her more ammunition to tease him with.
“Come on. It’s easier if you walk up here,” she said, reaching her arm down for him.
God. How embarrassing.
But Ford didn’t particularly care to fall on his ass again, so he took her hand, using his legs to push himself onto the rock with her. Not expecting their combination of strengths, however, they stumbled, almost causing Corrie to tumble backward off the rock. Ford wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her toward him to stop the fall.
Which, except for the fact that the move had saved her, was a horrible idea. Because now, with her body pressed against his, he never wanted to let go. As he’d often suspected, her body was soft, molding into his as he held tight. Her breasts, which he’d fantasized about more times than he cared to admit, were wondrously full and pushed into his abdomen. But the most remarkable thing about her was her eyes, and the way they looked at him. The same look she’d given him all those years ago.
She gripped his shirt in her hands, twisting the fabric in tight fists, as her breathing kicked up a notch.
Should I? Dare I?
A crackle came over the walkie-talkie.
“Everything okay? We heard yelling. Over,” Guillermo said.
She cleared her throat and loosened her grip as Ford released her and reached for the walkie-talkie.
“Yeah, we’re fine.”
“All right. Thought we’d check. Over and out.”
Ford avoided eye contact as they resituated themselves.
“Well, that could have been bad,” she said.
