Page 164 of Her Reluctant Hero
Adrian guided the forty-five-foot yacht out of the harbor, eager to get to the site. The craft was almost more than he could handle on his own, but the lure of spending Smoller’s money had been great, and this boat had features that made managing it alone simple.
The fact that this one had a queen-sized bed in the stateroom was incidental. He’d be sleeping in it alone. The thought made his heart clench. The one person he loved who was still in his life and he’d pushed her away. No matter his intentions, she didn’t know and wouldn’t forgive him.
She’d probably gone to the police without him, so he needed to be on the watch for them as well as Smoller. Since everyone was out of the way at the barge, Smoller would make his move soon. Adrian would be there when he did.
He’d also replaced his dive equipment with Smoller’s money, and while diving alone went against every safety precaution he knew, he had to see what was going on with his site.
A noise below tightened his nerves and he throttled down, lowered the anchor so he could investigate. Probably something had shifted when he hit the open water, but—
Mallory stepped out of the galley as he hit the last step out of the pilothouse. His heart slammed against his ribs. Why wasn’t she on the way to Texas, to safety?
She tucked her arms smugly around herself and tilted her chin up, daring him to throw her overboard, no doubt.
He shook his head. “I should have known.”
“Known what?”
“That you wouldn’t listen. Why won’t you listen?”
“To your nonsense? Your arrogant ‘I can do this myself’ bullshit? What are you trying to protect me from, Adrian?”
She’d seen right through him. His surprise must have shown on his face because she barreled on.
“Yes, I know you were trying to protect me. I’m not an idiot. Is it Valentine? Do you think he’ll try to hurt me?”
“No. Yes.” He backed up, passed a hand over his hair. “I don’t know. I do know that I couldn’t keep the others safe and I won’t risk you.”
She braced her hand against the doorway as a swell rolled the boat. “But you’ll let me risk you?”
He blew out a dismissive breath. “I’m no risk.”
“Yes you are. I’m not going to lose you again. You can’t do this by yourself, so here I am. I’m not walking away. You can throw me overboard or turn around and take me to the harbor, but even then, you won’t be rid of me that easy. I love you.”
He couldn’t be hearing her right, and though his brain told him to turn this boat around and dump her on the dock, his heart wanted to sweep her into his arms and never let go. She loved him. “After everything?”
Stepping forward, she curved her hand over his cheek. “I think it’s time for a new beginning. Let’s leave the past in the past, all right?”
Stomach churning with joy and fear, he closed his hand over her wrist and smiled down into her eyes. If she meant so much to him, how could he risk her? “Not easy to do. We are archaeologists.”
“Oh, you pick now to be funny.” She eased closer, her body brushing against his. “On the streets of Belize City you scream at me like a crazy man, but now you want to be funny.”
He released her wrist to fold both hands around her waist. His blood heated with her nearness, the scent of her, the softness of her. “I’m done being funny for now. I love you, Mal. Kiss me, woman.” Because God knew what lay around the corner.
With a teasing smile of her own, she stretched up and pressed her mouth to his.
“I love you,” she said again, dropping back on her heels and releasing him. “Now show me your boat.”
Apparently spending someone else’s money was easy for him. She was glad he’d bought a good-sized boat, because she never would have been able to stow away on a boat the size ofThe Mysterious Miss M. All she’d had to do here was slip into the head while he released the boat from the dock.
Now she moved past the galley, which housed a refrigerator, dishwasher and stove, down into the sleeping quarters, with its queen-sized bed.
Adrian followed her. “What do you think?”
“Nice bed.”
“It is that.” He stepped up into the galley. “With a fridge and stove, we won’t have to eat much more cold Spam. I sent a boy to the market to stock up. I bought new dive gear as well, but I don’t have a suit for you.”
“Doesn’t matter.” She sat on the bed and leaned back on her hands. “I got my own.” She nodded toward the closet where she’d stashed her gear.
