Dr. Quinn stopped what he was doing and faced Miri, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Look, Miriam. When you’re a leader, you must take charge and make things happen. You can’t wait for others to come along and save you. But me? I don’t need saving. The only person I can count on is me, myself, and I. Numero uno. My favorite number. Watch and learn.”
Miri was sick of his tone. She wasn’t some baby intern who needed a lesson. She’d earned her title the same way he had—by busting her rump in grad school and paying her dues on digs and in the lecture hall. She may not have accumulated a bunch of awards and accolades, but she had enough bumps, scars, and worn-out hiking boots to prove it. Besides, some Moon City expert he was. Had he ever evenbeenon an expedition in the Amazon? Miri was seriously beginning to question the “countless” sticky situations he’d actually faced in his life.
“Being a leader also means admitting when you don’t have all the answers,” she said, folding her arms in front of her chest.
“I couldn’t agree more. Which is why I’ll be taking over from here.”
“This is a bad idea,” Rafa whispered to Miri.
“Why don’t you let me handle formulating the ideas, okay?” Dr. Quinn said, scowling back at Rafa. “Now, driver, when I say ‘go,’ I want you to floor it,” he called out so he could be heard over the idling engine. On his hands and knees, Dr. Quinn finagled a log under the tire.
“Say what?” the driver called back.
“Go!” Dr. Quinn angrily shouted back to the driver, then from his spot by the wheel, turned to the rest of the group and said, “And just like that, easy-peasy, lemon squeeze—”
“Look out!”
Chapter
Seven
Miri wasn’t kidding about herlightning-fast reflexes. One second, they were standing there, watching Quinn barking out orders—and, frankly, being a jackass—and the next, Rafa was lying with his back flat on the ground, several feet away from the van.
And with Miri resting on top of him.
It had all happened so fast. Rafa wasn’t even sure his brain had registered what was happening when someone yelled to look out before he was on the ground, followed by a sharp snap and a howling scream.
Rafa lifted his head at the same time Miri lifted hers off his chest. “Are you okay?” she asked.
Everything else ceased to exist. Those sapphire eyes stared at him with concern, silencing the world around him. God, she was beautiful. More beautiful than he’d realized before. Like a painting in a museum that appears unassuming at first, but when you get up close, you notice all its nuances and specialnessand suddenly, you can’t look away. And the longer you stare at it, the more you see.
Such as the faint, scattered freckles on her cheeks. The length of her full lashes. The slight upturn of the tip of her nose. And even that tiny chicken pox scar below her right eyebrow. But most importantly, the dip of the cupid’s bow in her lips, pointing straight to her barely open mouth. Those lips. Glistening. Beckoning. Daring him for a taste.
Rafa fought the urge to touch each feature—you can’t go pawing a Monet, after all. But he didn’t fight the urge to stare. Because she deserved to be looked at. To be admired.
Rafa steadied her body in his arms, holding her tightly as all her weight rested atop him. It felt so natural having her this close. For the second time in one day.
He could get used to this.
“Yeah, I think so,” he finally answered, begrudgingly taking his hand away from her hip and rubbing the back of his head. “What happened?”
“I…I don’t know. I heard ‘look out’ and reacted,” Miri said.
They twisted their heads toward the van, and the disorder came into focus. People on the ground groaning, dusting off, and inspecting their bodies for bumps and bruises after apparently also having taken nosedives away from the van.
And beside it, Quinn. Writhing in the mud and clutching his hand tightly against his chest. It wasn’t the time forI told you sos, but…
“Somebody help me, goddammit!” Quinn yelled. “Except you, you buffoon,” he said, elbowing the driver away from him.
“You said ‘go,’ ” the driver pleaded.
“I saidwhenI say go!”
Shit.Rafa closed his eyes for a second, willing it all away.Maybe this is a dream. Yes, that’s it. A dream.But as Miri hopped off his body and rushed over to Quinn, Rafa snapped back to reality, instantly missing the touch of her skin against his.
“Dr. Quinn, Dr. Quinn, look at me,” Miri said, squaring in front of him to check his head wound. “I think a bag fell and hit you on the head. How many fingers am I holding up?” She raised two fingers, but he swatted her away.
“Your powers of observation are severely lacking. There’s nothing wrong with my head. Can’t you seethis?” He lifted his bloody hand to her face before wincing and tucking it back into his chest. “That clumsy jackass ran over my hand!”
