Page 23 of Bad Rio

“I can go back to the cabin myself,” she said. “It’s only right there.” She pointed at it, not many yards away.

“Sure,” he said. Maybe by the time he got back she’d be waiting for him in all her nude splendor. He touched her nose with his index finger and was rewarded by a shy smile.

With the scooter down in the tree line, it took him several moments to reach where he’d stashed it. Behind him, he heard the cabin door open and close. He smiled.

He dug the scooter out and walked it back to its original place by the shack, then hauled out the tarp. Getting ready to spread the heavy and concealing fabric over the Vespa, he hesitated.

A distant thumping sound quickly became loud.

A helo!

Diving under the tarp, Rio jammed himself up against the tree trunk. Had Becca heard the rotors?

He dared not check. If the men in the helicopter above were watching, any moving figure would be spotted.

He couldn’t afford to be found. Not only would they kill him, but worse, they’d take Becca. With all the trouble she’d caused them by escaping their grasp, they might not be kind to her once she was back in their control.

No matter what, he did not want that to happen. As he’d told her, Becca deserved her freedom, deserved to be restored to her family. She’d done nothing wrong. He couldn’t stand by and see her hurt.

And he must complete his mission.

When he judged the helicopter to have finished its pass, and listening while it continued on its straight line trajectory, he threw off the tarp and raced to the cabin. In the snow his boots gouged great chunks that flew yards in each direction. If they’d been spotted, the bird above would make a sharp banking turn.

While he listened hard, the helo kept going.

Yanking open the door, he slammed it behind him and found Becca huddled on the floor at the foot of the bed.

Under the sleeping bag.

Lifting the corner, he sank to the floorboards and climbed under with her. Pulling her into his arms, he held her close for a moment and shut his eyes. Not only was she beautiful, she was smart. She’d done the right thing. Becca wasn’t just attractive, she had a brain in that pretty head.

“Are they c-coming back?” she asked, clinging to him.

“Not sure,” he said. “Since they haven’t found us, apparently they’re going over the same ground again. It’s what I’d do.” But hewassure. They’d been flying arrow-straight. They wouldn’t be back soon.

Beneath the sleeping bag, he again tilted her chin. “Remember. No matter what, I’ll take care of you, Becca. I’ll keep you safe.”

She nodded.

This time he would not be denied. With a relief that surprised him, he let his mouth close over hers.

She accepted him as he’d suspected she would and her capitulation was sweet. Tenderly he thrust his tongue past her lips and explored the inside of her mouth. To cradle her, he placed his arm behind her neck and her head fell back. She moaned. Dragging his lips down her throat, he placed little kisses along her neck. With his free hand he cupped her cheek.

“Want me?” he asked, giving her a little nod. He needed her permission. He needed to know he’d been right about thecoincidence.

With her tongue, she wet her lips. “I’m not sure. I’m overwhelmed. Scared. My leg does still hurt.”

He clicked his tongue. “Excuses, excuses.”

She searched his gaze. “Give me some time. I need to think about it.”

Time?Within hours, he’d have to pack her up on the Vespa and leave. No way would he tell her that. If he pressed her now, and if she knew, she’d surely deny him. Let her think she had much more time in which to decide. Too bad that time was the one thing that had run out.

With a reluctance far greater than he could have imagined, he eased away. Why thefuckhad he even asked her?

“Can we have the food now?” she asked.

“Sure.”

---