Page 130 of Her Reluctant Hero
Chapter Eight
Adrian didn’t wait for Toney and Jacob to tie the boat off before he leaped to the dock. He barely registered the vibration of the dock beneath his feet as he strode toward her.
“Adrian, I—”
He didn’t let her finish. Damn, she was so pretty, even windblown, even with the flash of uncertainty he saw in her eyes. He took her face in his hands, stroked his thumb over her cheek and kissed her. Surprise had her tensing for a second, and he feared she might pull away. Instead, she relaxed, just a bit, and he came home.
She was as soft, as sexy as he remembered. Her taste hadn’t changed, her mouth moved beneath his the same way, as if those three years had never passed. He dipped his tongue into her mouth, and hers rose to meet him, glided along his, so right, so right.
He rubbed her hair, regretting the calluses on his fingers that snagged on her hair, her skin. Her fingers closed on his bare shoulders, her nails digging in briefly before sliding under the straps of his shirt, and he was lost. Dropping his hands to her hips, he drew her against him, wanting to sink into her, wanting her hands on him, everywhere.
Slowly, it came to him where they were, why they were standing here, and he lifted his head to smile. “You came back.”
She looked a little dazed, her mouth swollen, her eyes dark with a passion he remembered too well. She blinked, lowering her hands from his shoulders.
“Adrian, I—”
“Come see what we found.” He slid his hand down her arm to take her hand and guide her to theMiss M. She resisted at first, then followed him, trying to ignore how everyone else was watching them with interest.
What the hell had she done, coming here? Mallory swayed on the dock and watched Adrian beckon her. Once she’d reached home, she’d put her feelers out. The offers had come in fast and furious, but all she could think of was getting here to help Adrian. She waffled for a long time about how much help she’d give him. The cashier’s check in her bag was the least she could do. Staying to help excavate was the most.
After that greeting, she didn’t know how wise it was to stay, even as everything female inside her proclaimed they were ready to set up camp. Had he been so glad to see her? No, something in his eyes told her there was more. Something out there had gotten his juices flowing.
Something out there always did.
She approached the boat at his urging, refusing to look at the curious crew as Adrian swung aboard and offered his hand.
She took it in the name of expedience, ignoring the heat that infused her from the point of contact. As soon as her feet hit the deck, she pulled her hand away. He didn’t notice, so engrossed was he in showing her what he’d found.
The realization washed all pleasure from his kiss away. She wasn’t here for that, anyway. She was here for the find.
He presented the medallion and turned to watch her reaction. Despite herself, she caught her breath and gripped the edges of the basket. “That’s not Spanish. See the imprint? It might be a buckle. Look here.” She motioned to the slender piece of metal, separate from the medallion and the attached loop. “Is there more?”
He shook his head, his attention on the artifact. “There wasn’t time to find more. A bunch of splinters.”
She skimmed her fingers over the air just above the ancient article, wanting to touch it, knowing she shouldn’t. “We need more resources.”
“I’m calling Jeff at A&M, see if he can get us some students.”
She stepped back as Adrian dismissed the others, sending them with the artifact. He stayed with Mallory. She tensed, knowing what was coming.
He didn’t speak right away, leaned on the railing of the boat, looking out over the waves before he turned to her. “Why are you here?”
She’d planned what to say. “I needed to finish this.” This time. She wanted to say more, but he gave her that smile, that one that started in his eyes, creased his face, flashed those white teeth, infusing his being with joy. The rest of her words stuck in her throat.
“I hoped you would,” he murmured.
“Not for you.” She had to make sure he knew that. She didn’t have the safety of the barriers between them anymore, not unless she could hold her own with him.
He nodded, not expressing any surprise, masking whatever he was feeling. He’d always been good at that, though she thought she knew him well enough to read him. Not today.
“Not for this, either.” She gestured toward the ocean. “For me.” Leaving Jonathan had been hard, but being alone hadn’t been as hard as she expected. That had been the most empowering revelation yet. She reached into her pack for the envelope there. “I took out my savings. And since I cancelled my wedding, I got my deposits back. I want you to use this to help with whatever you need, hire more divers, get more equipment, whatever.”
He took the envelope, his eyes not leaving hers. “Mallory.”
“This is important. It’s important,” she repeated, and inclined her head toward the envelope.
He drew out the check, and his eyes bugged. “No hillside wedding, this.”
