“Most of the scientists are away at the glacier, and the contractors are eradicating noxious plants at the far end of the island.It’s tomorrow night we must worry because everyone is coming back then.Keith mentioned they usually have a party when everyone is here.”
Tawera slipped an arm around her waist and drew her close.“Don’t worry.We will make this work.”And then he kissed her.
10
Out of Control
Threedayslater,Nyreewas still thinking about their kiss and how her knees had buckled.She’d participated in the kiss with too much eagerness.
She hadn’t intended to kiss him again or let him touch her at all.He’d taken her unawares, and the gleam in those sexy eyes of his had told her he’d known what he wanted.
It seemed men had changed little across the generations.
“Nyree!”The sharp note in Carolyn’s voice told Nyree this wasn’t the first time Carolyn had tried to grab her attention.
“I’m sorry.”Nyree shoved the sexy Tawera from her mind to focus on right now—the museum where she and Carolyn had met this morning and the day’s schedule.She gripped her duster a little tighter.Nyree loved this job, and she’d hate to put it in jeopardy.It was bad enough that she was hiding Tawera.She didn’t want Keith or Carolyn to brand her as unreliable.
“I want you to take the tours today,” Carolyn said.“I have a sore throat, and I’m not feeling well.A woman on the tour three days ago coughed and spluttered all over me.”
“Carolyn, why don’t you go back to bed and catch a couple of hours of sleep?”Now that she studied Carolyn, her paleness and the shadows under her eyes were noticeable.“I can take care of the preliminary stuff.I’ll take the morning tour and open the shop once I’ve finished.It’s more important for you to rest and get better.”
“That’s what I told her,” Keith said, appearing behind Carolyn.“My wife is very stubborn.”
“I can cope with this, and if I run into problems, Keith will be around.Please, Carolyn, rest.The shadows under your eyes show your restless night.”
“She lay awake half the night,” Keith said.“Love, Nyree is right.You’ll get better faster if you relax now.Besides, we don’t want Nyree or the scientists to get sick.”
Carolyn retreated to their quarters, still arguing, but Keith mouthed a silent thank you over his shoulder as he escorted his wife away.
Nyree hustled to the shop and wished she’d taken the time to restock the previous day.She glanced around for Tawera.When she couldn’t see him, she silently hailed him.
To her surprise, he answered her telepathically.
“You called?”Tawera asked, his tone teasing.
She frowned even as she thrilled at the intimate rumble of his voice curling into her mind.Manu still hadn’t replied, and this was yet another thing to communicate to her tribal leader.He’d be sick of her by the time she finished this assignment.
She’d noted Tawera had picked up more modern slang from his reading.At present, he was devouring detective novels and books detailing the history of New Zealand.
“If you’re not busy, could you help me stock the shelves at the shop?I should’ve done it yesterday evening, but exhaustion got the better of me.Carolyn is sick, and Keith has escorted her back to their quarters.”
“I was walking on the beach.The cruise ship staff have come ashore already, so I don’t stand out.They think I’m a scientist, and the scientists think I’m one of the crew.”
“Thanks,”Nyree said.
She started dragging boxes of T-shirts from the storage room.
“I’ll take those,” Tawera said, appearing in the doorway.“You bring the lighter stuff.Don’t argue.I know you’re strong, but this will be faster.”
With practiced ease, they refilled the shelves and readied the store for the incoming passengers.
“I’m taking the tours, and I’ll open the shop once I finish,” she said.
“Can I take your tour?”
“Yes, but you’ll be sick of listening to my voice soon.”
“Never.”He leaned closer and kissed her cheek, retreating before her mind kicked into gear.His decadent soapy scent and a hint of the green pine that clung to his skin filled her nostrils and tormented her because she wanted to inhale more.
