“There aren’t any bears in Albania,” she said. “Are there?”
Hawk nodded solemnly. “Albanian bears are noted for their stench.”
Amber glared at him over her shoulder before disappearing behind a clump of shrubs. He was such a tease sometimes. Looking around, she relieved herself quickly in a shady area. As she readjusted her clothing, the sound of crushed twigs behind her gave her warning that she was no longer alone. She turned and ducked at the same time, lunging forward and using her weight as an element of surprise.
She knew Hawk had been setting her up with that stupid bear story. Her “assailant” toppled onto his back with a grunt. She climbed astride, careful to avoid the rib cage. Leaning forward, she gripped his hips with her thighs. Strong hands came up to hold her waist.
“Ha! What do you think of th—You’re not Hawk!” She sat up, too startled to attack. But she could have sworn it was—
“No, ma’am,” the stranger said, amusement in his voice.
“What the hell are you doing, straddling my husband?” a woman’s voice cut in.
Amber had barely registered the similarity between the stranger and Hawk before the woman charged at her. No time to think. Rolling off, she kicked out at the new assailant.
“Hawk!” she called out.
22
Hawk heard the thumps first, then thevoices. He limped over to the clump of vegetation that screened his view. He was in no hurry. He had known for some time that they were being watched.
Pushing through a leafy shrub, he came upon a sight that brought a grin to his lips. Hell, who would have thunk it? He approached the man standing nearby. The man didn’t turn. Both of them watched the two women going at it for a few seconds.
“Mine’s going to win for sure,” the man said.
“Sorry, Kisser. I have the winner. Why do you think I let you attack her? I knew she could take you down.”
They finally exchanged glances. The other man looked him up and down.
“Sorry, cuz,” he drawled. “She had other things on her mind when she jumped me. That’s why Lena is a bit…ah…mad. Your companion was overly enthusiastic about straddling me.”
Hawk narrowed his eyes. Amber on top of Steve, he could take. Amber being amorous with him was a different matter altogether. “Did she tongue you?” he asked, remembering a certain incident when Marlena, Steve’s wife, had mistaken Hawk for Steve and had been rather amorous herself.
“She was about to,” Steve said, a corner of his mouth lifting.
Marlena must have stopped her just in time. Good thing. Steve would have gotten revenge, even at the risk of being beaten up by both his wife and cousin. Hawk’s grin widened. “Well, then, I still win,” he mocked. “M. will never let you near Amber now.”
A small branch flew over Steve’s shoulder. “That’s the way to do it, babe,” he called out approvingly. “Ohhh. Nice move there. Trust you to end up with a woman in the middle of the woods, Hawk.”
“She’s my guide,” Hawk said. Among other things.
Steve glanced at him briefly. “Since when have guides in Albania lost their bad breath and facial hair? Did she do that number on your pretty face, by the way?”
Hawk grinned. “Why, you afraid my woman’s gonna do the same to your wife?”
Steve gave a snort and looked back at the two fighting women. “Lena will kick my ass if I jump in there and stop her in the middle of a cat fight.Yourwoman, huh?”
Hawk crossed his arms and leaned back against a tree trunk. “Yes.” And it felt good saying that. He had seen the possessive looks his cousin had given Marlena the first time he had met her in D.C. and had wondered at what made a man feel like that about a woman. Now he knew. He looked at Amber, busy dodging Marlena’s kicks, and felt a rush of masculine satisfaction knowing that they belonged together and there was no doubt in his mind that he had every right to call her his woman. He wanted to be with her more than anything else. And if it meant staying in Macedonian hell awhile after this was over to convince her, he would do it. The decision was made just like that.
He straightened from his pose. “Come on, shark bait,” he said to his cousin. “We’ll be brave SEALs and go in there together.”
“But Lena’s winning,” Steve protested as they walked into the fray.
Both of them parted the women. Steve wrapped his arms around Marlena from behind; Hawk blocked one of Amber’s punches and swung her over his shoulder. Both women immediately turned their attention to their captors.
“Put me down right now,” Amber said, her voice breathless from exertion.
“Can’t have you girls making all that noise, babe,” Hawk said. “Now, now, you don’t want to kick my injured ribs, do you?”
