Page 30 of Entangled

“True.” He chuckles darkly. “Why not?”

“Guess there’s never been anything I loved enough to permanently mark my body with.”

I shrug as we crest the top of the trail, coming to a stop at the sight of the high cascade of water waiting to greet us. The people who made it here ahead of us are already making their way down to swim in the pool surrounding the waterfall. I quickly drop my backpack at the base of a nearby tree and slide my shoes off while Coop sits down to unlace his sneakers methodically. As I scan the pool, my eyes snag on a beaten down path leading farther up toward the falls and exhilaration shoots through me. I quickly walk over to where the cute tour guide stands, ignoring his nervous glance in Coop’s direction.

“Is it safe to jump from the top?” I ask, because despite what people might think about me being reckless. I don’t have a death wish. Just the opposite in fact. I want to feel painfully alive for every moment of my time here on earth, because you never know when your time is up. Doesn’t mean I’m in a rush to meet my end though.

The tour guide nods in answer as if he’s worried opening his mouth will make him look guilty of something. But that’s good enough for me. I take off for the path without missing a beat.

“Where you going, Princess?” Coop’s demanding voice calls out behind me.

I ignore him, steadily making my way farther up the path.

“Dammit.”

I hear his muttered curse and a smile tugs my lips up in response, guessing that he’s already making his way over to catch up. I’m halfway up the path when I hear him and glance over my shoulder, his unamused expression causing a light laugh to leave me.

“I would have been more than happy to offer up my services if the hike wasn’t exhausting enough for you.”

“Come on, Coop.” I reach out to grip a nearby tree branch, steadying myself as I climb. “You said to save the rest for when we got to the top. Technically we’re not at the top yet.”

We reach the end of the trail a few minutes later and step out onto the small rocky area abutting the fast stream of water falling over the ledge. I heave a breath of exertion and sit down on a nearby rock, looking out at the endless stretch of the green rain forest below us in appreciation. Coop takes a seat next to me and we sit in companionable silence for a moment, catching our breath and taking in the view.

“Tell me something.” I break the silence first, eyeing his imposing form next to me in order to get a better read on him. “How’d you find me today?”

“Luck.” He shrugs, turning his head to meet my gaze. “After you left me on the beach I figured I’d stick around for a couple days and see if I ran into you again. I was going out for breakfast this morning and saw you walking down the street. Paid that idiot tour guide more than I should have for him to let me come today.”

“Why?”

“Why, what?”

“Why stick around to find me? Why pay the tour guide?”

“Because.” He pauses, eyes raking my face. “I told you the other night… you’re a dangerous thing and I’m not done with you yet.”

Fuck me.

I don’t say anything to him for a minute, so caught up in the pull of his night-forest eyes and the thrum of energy between us. I realize it’s what I had felt like was missing these past few days and sent me endlessly searching, but everything I’d found had just brought him to mind. I’m not the one who’s dangerous here… he is, this living entity between us is.

I sigh and shake my head, speaking softly. “If you’re looking for something more here, Coop… I’m not your girl.”

He tilts his head in consideration, eyes narrowing just a bit. “Why?”

“Because I don’t do complicated. And more is always complicated.”

He nods, looking out over the rain forest for a moment and I can practically see the wheels turning in his head.

“You like me, right?”

My lips twitch against my will at his question, it’s such a girl thing to ask. “Yes.”

“And I’m ninety-nine percent sure that the sex was just as good for you as it was for me.”

“Pretty sure that was obvious,” I answer, rolling my eyes at him.

“Then I’m not asking for anything more than to spend some time with you.”

“I leave for Monteverde tomorrow.”

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