“Christ, your legs are more than fine.” He pocketed his iPhone. “What’s going to bite them is not.”
My insides melted and pooled between my thighs at the idea of Andrew’s teeth sinking into my skin.
“It’s too hot to wear pants, and we bought bug spray,” I said. Andrew closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and shook his head again. I stepped to him. “I got you a gift.”
His lips curled, and light danced in his eyes. “Should I worry?”
I plopped the hat on his head. It landed crooked, giving him a rakish air.
“Voila,” I said, beaming at him like an idiot.
Andrew pushed the hat up off his eyebrows with his index finger. For a split second, our gazes collided, and there was longing in his bright eyes. Everything inside me fluttered.
“Now you’re the real Indiana Jones.”
“Only much sexier, right?” Andrew said with a quizzical smile.
He had no idea.
I nodded.
I was so fucked.
ChapterSeventeen
On the way, we explained to William why the Cascada de Belleza Escondida was the ideal next place to search for the clue. We knew where it was. It wasn’t far, and there was a chance Pérez’s treasure was still there because, after Maria’s death, Augustine fell into a deep depression, and there wasn’t any record of him relocating it from its original hiding place.
The first hour we sped on the highway, passing farms, rundown houses with horses tethered to the fence rails, and vendors on motorbikes. Then the old Jeep traversed rough terrain, climbing the road guarded by a rich forest on each side. In the last thirty minutes, we drove on switchback paths that seemed unused by cars, the contents of my stomach ping-ponging around.
The closer we got to our destination, the more enthusiastic Andrew spoke about how he couldn’t wait to write a dissertation on Augustine Pérez. Andrew was like a child waiting for Santa Claus, dying to open his presents. Whereas for me, my stomach sunk lower with the notion that soon we would go our separate ways, and I would never know the feel of Andrew’s strong arms wrapping tight around my body and bringing me against him. Preferably naked.
In a surprising turn of events—I loved the thrill of this trip.
Eventually, we arrived at the point where the car could no longer pass through the jungle. Andrew parked and turned the motor off. Giant trees dominated the skyline with their heavy tops reaching for the sun. Thick vines tangled from tree to tree, creating a complex network above our heads. No sunlight made its way through the leaves, but to my surprise, the grounds weren’t as overgrown with invasive vegetation as I’d imagined. The humid air pulsated with insects buzzing and frogs yelping. Nearby a bird shrieked. At least, I hoped it was a bird.
Andrew compared the penciled-in markings on a paper map to his portable GPS.
“We’ll walk the rest of the way.” Andrew folded the map and slid it into his front pocket. He got out of the Jeep and stretched, making my pulse work harder, and then he put the hat on. An image of Andrew wearingonlythat hat and nothing else materialized in my head so quickly that I had to turn away, afraid William would read my mind and blurt something stupid to embarrass me.
We poured out of the car, each taking a machete and a backpack. We weren’t planning to stay overnight in the jungle, but just in case, we had two days’ worth of water and snacks. Andrew opened the rear door, unhatched its side, and removed a rifle stock and barrel with attached scope.
“Whoa,” I said, frozen in place. “What’s that for?”
“Wild animals. People that want to hurt you.” He deadpanned and inserted the barrel into the wooden receiver.
He had a point. We were about to enter a territory governed by ferocious big cats.
“Wait.” I paused, pulling the water bottle from the backpack’s side pocket. “What people? Dr. Dickhead?”
“No. He might be a scumbag, but I can’t imagine him getting violent, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t others who might hurt us. Just playing it safe.” Andrew slid open the lever and loaded several rounds into the magazine, pushed the lever in its place, and slung the rifle over his shoulder.
“How long have you had it?” I nodded at the gun and took a swig of the water. Some missed my mouth and ran down my chin and neck.
Andrew’s eyes followed the drop. “Since we borrowed the car.”
“Do they teach you how to use it at Cambridge?”
“No. But my father did.” Andrew checked his GPS and nodded straight ahead. “Just keep in mind,” he said, pointing a finger first at William, who was taking pictures with his phone, then at me, “the jungle is not a playground. If you see anything cute or pretty, don’t touch it. It most likely will kill you.”
