Cautiously, she moved to the fire-pit to see what supplies were there. Just as she reached it, Felix’s strong voice from behind made her jump.
“Miss Landon, what are you doing?”
She spun around and faced him. Anger darkened his eyes, but there was a different emotion laced in his gaze. Why did he look sad? “I—I um, I’m going to start making breakfast.”
He arched a critical eyebrow at her. “Youare going to cook breakfast? Now that is something I will have to see to believe.”
His hurtful words wrenched her heart. Taking a deep breath, she tried to ease the pain coursing through her. Apparently, he was not a morning person. “Well, everyone looked preoccupied, so I decided to fix the meal.”
“We have no time for that, Miss Landon,” he snapped. “We shall eat fruit and nuts as we go. Make sure you are packed and ready within thirty minutes.”
Why had he gone back to calling her Miss Landon? Usually, he only called her that when they were with the other men... and right now there was no one else around. Her heart twisted. Had she done something to make him upset at her?
“I am ready, Felix.” She said his name, just to irritate him as she met his glare with one of her own.
“Splendid. Then you can eat while we wait for everyone else.”
He turned sharply and took a step to flee, but she caught his arm, stopping him. He jerked his head around and pierced her with his stare.
“What is it now, Miss Landon?”
She swallowed the hurtful feeling his tone of voice and words were inflicting on her. “What is wrong?” she asked softly.
Grumbling, he combed his fingers through his hair. “Miss Landon, I’m completely out of sorts this morning. I woke up irritable, and it worsened when I discovered one of my men went missing.”
She gasped. “Missing? How could someone be missing?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t have time to sit around and wait for Paulo. He was here last night. The other men saw him get in his tent. This morning he’s gone and nobody has seen anything. His gear and his tent are also missing.” He folded his arms and huffed. “Now, is there any more information you require at this time, Miss Landon? I’m in a hurry to leave this place and continue our trek, so if you will excuse me—”
“Leave?” Her voice lifted. “You are going to leave Paulo? What if something bad happened? What if—”
“Miss Landon,” he snapped. “I’d appreciate it if you will let me be in charge. I’m leaving Paulo because he is the one who decided not to stay with us. I cannot waste any more time looking for someone who obviously doesn’t want to be found.”
He stormed past her toward Carlos. Felix asked his friend a question, and Carlos gave his answer with a negative shake of his head and frown. Whatever was happening, Katrina knew it wasn’t good. Deep in her heart she felt that Paulo wouldn’t just up and leave. Yet knowing the answer to his whereabouts frightened her more than she was prepared for.
Within twenty minutes, the group had packed everything and was on their way. She munched on a papaya and nuts as she trudged behind Felix. For some reason, he seemed more eager to get to his destination today. It was almost as if he was walking fast on purpose—to annoy her.
She wished she knew why he acted this way. Had she said something to him last night to make him upset? Or had she really kissed him so passionately this morning and didn’t remember? Could he be upset over that?
An ache throbbed through her skull, making it harder to walk fast. She wished she knew for sure if she’d been dreaming or not. But, if she had curled up to him during the night and started kissing him, he would definitely be upset. It seemed that she couldn’t do anything to please him lately. Ever since their first kiss at the inn where they’d stayed in Manaus, he’d acted as though he didn’t want her touch.
With a heavy sigh, she realized that things between them were not working out for a reason. They were not meant to fall in love. A tear formed in her eye, and she quickly wiped it away. Perhaps it was good she figured this out now instead of later when she was in danger of really falling in love with him.
Then again, her heart told her she was already there.
