“I can see now why you stopped me.” She wrung her hands against her middle.
“This close to water, you will see many types of frogs. The ones that are not poisonous are the green or brown ones. Just remember what I told you about their bright colors.”
“Yes. I will certainly keep that in mind.”
“Good girl.” He winked. “Shall we continue now?”
She motioned her hand toward the small trail they were taking. “Lead the way, my good man.”
Chuckling, he wandered to the front of the line with Carlos and proceeded with chopping branches once more. Every few steps he peeked over his shoulder to see what she was doing, and he was happy to realize she walked more cautiously followed in his tracks without deviating from the path.
It took a few minutes before he realized he’d been smiling... and it was due to Katrina. So, he quickly dropped his smile into a scowl. Falling in love with Katrina would be dangerous, nearly as perilous as the howler monkeys, fire ants, and the poisonous purple and yellow frog.
If Felix was to banish Katrina from his thoughts, he should try thinking more about the women he’d met in England, but the more he remembered their characteristics, the more his head hurt.
Those women were only in London during the Season to put on a show for the available men. It was their sole purpose to snag a husband no matter what means they used to get one. Men with more money and a title were singled out. Men like Felix—second sons—were not necessarily sought after. Men like Felix were the ones these women liked to use and toss away like leftover food. He was quite certain Katrina was the same kind of woman who would break a man’s heart.
He shook his head. What was he thinking? He shouldn’t be comparing her to anyone! Her only purpose was to keep him entertained during the journey to her father’s plantation. If she made him laugh, that was fine. If she made him smile more than usual, he could handle that. Of course, he didn’t think he could handle anymore sultry kisses like the one she’d given him last night.
He wiped the thought out of his head and concentrated on the trail in front of him. Unfortunately, Katrina’s pretty face kept appearing in his mind. The way she laughed, the way she stared at him with dreams in her eyes, and the way her face softened whenever they were close. He enjoyed watching her expressions when he introduced her to a new animal in the jungle. Her eyes were so wide with interest and so amazingly green.
When he remembered how she acted with the frog, he couldn’t stop the grin from stretching across his mouth. Even his men thought she was funny. And to think she had held a frog before...
His thoughts screeched to a halt. Confusion filled him like it did whenever he thought of her too intently. During what time in a wealthy, pampered girl’s life, would she have the occasion to hold a frog? She’d made it sound like she was used to holding those slimy creatures...and wasn’t bothered by it.
Indeed, that woman was very odd.
He slowed his steps and reached for his canteen. Carlos noticed and stopped walking to drink from his canteen, as well. Felix glanced at Katrina. She stood motionless, too, but seemed satisfied to just look around the ground and up into the trees.
Turning away from her, he lifted the canteen to his mouth and relished the refreshing water swishing down his throat. The humidity was sweltering and very uncomfortable today, which was normal for this time of year. But rainstorms were usually normal, too. He glanced into the sky which was nearly blocked by the overhead canopy of trees. Gray clouds now covered the sky. That definitely explained why it had been more humid in the past few hours. They would get rain any minute, he was sure. Although he looked forward to the break in the mugginess, he wasn’t looking forward to Katrina’s squawks and whining because of the mud and wetness.
“Miss Landon,” he began as he corked his canteen and hooked it back over his pack, “it appears that rain is in our near future.” He pointed upward. “Perhaps now is a good time to get out your raincoat.”
She arched a critical eyebrow as she wiped the sweat off her forehead. “Raincoat? Whatever for?”
“To protect yourself from the rain, of course.”
She shook her head. “Mr. Knightly, have you not noticed that my clothes are practically drenched from the sweat covering my body?” She gestured her hand toward him and the other men. “In fact, we all are in the same quandary. At this point, I welcome a little rain shower.”
“Rainshower?” Felix asked as his men guffawed. “You think this is going to be ashower? Andlittle?”
Katrina flipped a hand in the air. “Do you think I’ve never been outside when it’s raining? There have been many times in my life I have walked up and down the streets during a storm.” She folded her arms and lifted her stubborn chin. “I assure you, Mr. Knightly, I shall be all right, and I promise not to melt from a little rain.”
Felix gritted his teeth. The impossible woman would not listen. Then again, she’d been like that when he first met her. Why did he think she’d change? “Forgive me for thinking differently, Miss Landon. Shall we proceed with our hike?”
“What an excellent idea.” She pointed to the path ahead of them. “Lead the way, Mr. Knightly.”
He turned and caught the twinkling mirth in the other men’s eyes. They, too, knew Miss Landon would not like the jungle rainstorms. Apparently, Katrina would just have to experience one firsthand before she realized Felix knew what he was talking about.
Continuing their journey, he waited impatiently for the rain to come—if only to see Katrina’s reaction. He’d never been the kind of man to sayI told you so, but right now he looked forward to it with great expectation. He loved to watch the play of emotions crossing her face whenever she was caught off guard. He thoroughly enjoyed turning her world upside down. Strange that he would think this way, since he couldn’t recall the last time he’d been so enthralled with a woman as much as he was with her.
“Miss Landon?” Carlos asked after a few minutes of silence.
“Yes?”
“Might I ask what kind of rainstorms you are used to?”
Felix glanced at her, waiting for her answer. She swiped a lock of hair out of her eyes and smiled at Carlos.
