She was gazing fiercely at him but tapping her own chest with an angry finger; that, and the stark anguish in her eyes told him what he knew shed never say: You hurt me, Pearce. Nothing can fix that or take it away.
No, youre right, he said stiffly. He wanted to swallow, to cough, do something to relieve the tight, raw feeling in his throat. That was a mistake. I shouldnt have done it. What you said to me-I deserved that.
She didnt answer. He heard a faint creak as she, too, leaned her hip against the railing. Beyond it-and utterly wasted on the two of them, Cory thought-the sea shimmered in the light of an almost-full moon like a tropical hideaway ad in a honeymoon brochure.
After what seemed like a very long time, he heard her say in a soft, bleak voice, Anyway, it wouldnt have worked, because nothing had changed. That was the thing, you know. It still hasnt. I still am apilot. I have a career thatwell, you know. And you want
Yeah, he said, straightening abruptly. What in the hell did he want? He wasnt sure he knew himself, anymore. Hed once thought he did, and look how wrong hed been.
Right now, all he knew was what he didnt want, which was to stand here talking about it with the one thing he wanted and couldnt have-a woman hed been craving like an addict and hadnt even known ita woman he wasnt allowed to touch. His whole body, every muscle and nerve and sinew in it, quivered with the strain of denial.
He turned and lurched for his door, at the same time plunging a hand into his pocket and pulling out his room key. It was the old-fashioned kind, the metal fit-into-a-lock-and-turn kind, and while he was struggling with it, he felt Sam come up beside him. Felt her warmth like a tropical breeze on his skinher womanly scent like an intoxicating drug. His head swam.
The key turned and he shoved the door inward. It was all he could do to say thickly, Look, Ill see you in the morning, okay? Shall we saywhoever gets up first, rouses the others?
Fine with me.
He stepped into the room and turned toward her. Instead of backing away, saying good-night, she followed him in.
The key turned and he shoved the door inward. It was all he could do to say thickly, Look, Ill see you in the morning, okay? Shall we saywhoever gets up first, rouses the others?
Fine with me.
He stepped into the room and turned toward her. Instead of backing away, saying good-night, she followed him in.
Hell. Hed forgotten the maps.
His overnighter was on the floor beside the door. He unzipped the outside pocket, took out the folded maps and handed them over without looking at her. Ive marked the rendezvous point and the location of the airstrip. His breath felt meager, his chest tight.
She nodded-he could see that much as he flattened his back against the open door, making room for her to slip past him. Then she moved, and he had time for one surprised breath before she stepped close, slipped her arms around his neck, lifted herself and pressed her mouth against his.
Oh, no, shes still the same. Still Sam. The confidence, the certainty, the sheer possession in the way she kisses me.
She knew him so wellknew just how and where to touch himhow to slide her body against hismelt her mouth into his. Fire squirted through all his veins; his thoughts turned to vapor, his bones to water.
Oh, God, shes still the same.
Sam, he said feebly when at last she pulled away, I promised I wouldnt-
You promised, she said in her old, familiar, arrogant way. I didnt.
She patted his chest once with the folded maps, then went away and left him standing there.
Chapter 4
As the plane droned steadily eastward, the sun rose like an angry red sentinel and rushed to meet it. Sam blinked as its heat struck her face and its light assaulted her eyes even through the dark lenses of her sunglasses, and she drew a long exhilarated breath. It seemed like a personal challenge to her, that sun, a gauntlet thrown down in her path. Confidence swelled inside her, warm and red as the sun.
Yes! Whatever this day brings, I can handle it.
She glanced over when Cory eased into the copilots seat beside her. Something fluttered in her stomach, up high near her heart, then eased, leaving only the quickened tap-tap-tap of her pulse.
Hey, she greeted him, not trusting herself with more, for fear the gladness, the exhilaration inside her should leak into her voice. She hadnt expected it, waking up this morning with this happiness, this almost giddy sense of triumph and well-being.
Last night had been a test of her strength and will, and shed passed it with flying colors. Yeah, sure, the hunger, the lust, the craving for him were still there, and as powerful as ever. But it wasnt an addiction. I can control this. I can handle it. I wont let myself be hurt again.
Hey, yourself, he answered in his neutral way, and she could feel him studying her with his probing, inquisitive reporters eyes.
Sleep well? he inquired.
What with the hurry and hustle of getting everyone up, breakfasting, gathering belongings and equipment, getting to the airport, filing flight plans, prepping the plane and getting underway, it was the first moment theyd had alone together since shed left him the night before.
Yes, I did. She didnt try to keep the satisfaction-maybe even smugness-out of her voice. How bout yourself?
He made a soft dry sound, then muttered something under his breath. Something along the lines of, Same old Sam
The urge to grin made the muscles in her face cramp, and she bit down hard on her lower lip to quell it.
Cory clasped his hands together, then leaned forward to gaze through the windshield at the low, cloud-shrouded smudge on the horizon. Fidgeting. The thought flashed into her mind: Thats not like him.
She said, Thats the island youre looking at out there. Well be landing in aboutforty-five minutes. He nodded but didnt reply.
After listening to the droning of the aircrafts engines for several minutes, she said, Mind if I ask you something? The look he threw her was both surprised and wary-she didnt usually ask permission. Im curious-Will and I both were, actually. Why charter a plane for this? Why didnt you just hire a boat? Woulda been a lot simpler-cheaper, too.
He gave her a look and said mildly, Im going into a terrorists hideout to interview one of the most wanted and dangerous men in the world. When Im done with that, Id rather not have to get through forty miles of jungle before Im home free.
Okay, I can see that. Then wouldnt a helicopter be more practical?
The look he gave her this time was wry. I was specifically warned not to use a helicopter. Apparently, both Philippine government forces and U.S. Special Ops are active in that area. When al-Ramis troops see a chopper they do their best to shoot it down.
Ah, said Sam, keeping her voice neutral. So she persisted after a moment, why did you ask for such a big plane? Theres just the two of you. Why not a Cessna? Itd be a whole lot easier to land and take off on those remote airstrips.
He shifted again as if something was irritating him, but replied in a calm, almost conversational way. Thats not a problem. Apparently, theres a landing strip near the rendezvous point that was built by the Americans during World War Two, and the villagers have kept it up-they get most of their supplies that way. The roads in and out of the region arent reliable at the best of times, and during the monsoon season theyre sometimes impassable. He threw her a grin. You shouldnt have any trouble. In fact, this old bird ought to feel right at home.
Sam frowned at the cloudy horizon. That still doesnt explain- Then she broke off as it hit her. Oh, good God. They have hostages. Youre going to try to get them out. He didnt answer. She looked over at him. Arent you? Thats what this is all about-the interview- Her hands tightened on the wheel. Thats how you were able to get approval from State, isnt it? I should have known.
Dammit, I should have known. Why werent we told about this? Same old storyleft hand doesnt have a clue what the right hands doing
Corys quiet, reasonable voice broke in on her silent fuming. I intend to try to negotiate for their release during the course of the interview, sure. How can I not try? What else would you expect me to do?
She let out a short, sharp breath. Nothing-absolutely nothing. Its exactly what you would do. Like I said-I should have known. She threw him a distracted glance, not even registering the puzzled look on his face or the probing intensity of his eyes as she switched to her captains voice.
Uhlook, were coming into Isabella airspaceIm gonna need to be talking to their towerif you wouldnt mind taking your seat
Oh-sure, no problem.
Sam was already fiddling with the radio and hardly noticed when Cory eased out of his seat in the overly careful, oh-Lord-dont-let-me-touch-anything way he had and made his way slowly back through the radiomans compartment. She did glance up, though, to make sure his back was still turned while she tuned her radio to a frequency not monitored by any airport control tower anywhere in the world. Only when she was certain he was out of earshot did she begin to speak into her mouthpiece, in a monotone designed to carry no farther than the confines of the cockpit.
Uncle Willie, this is Junebug calling. Come in
She waited, counting off the seconds, then repeated it. Uncle Willie, this is June-
Hey, Junie-baby, this is your old Uncle Willie. Howre ya doin, sweetcakes?
One side of Sams mouth quirked upward. Oh, fairjust fair. Got a few clouds on the horizon
Yeah? How bad? Look like it might spoil our party?
Dont know yet. Seems our guest of honor has some plans of his own. Might be a conflict, cant say for sure. Does complicate things, though.
There was a brief and thoughtful silence. Then: Okay, stay on top of it. I trust you can handle our guest if he getsuh, difficult?
Hes not exactly the handling type.
Be a shame, the voice said smoothly, if the party had to be cancelled. The other guests would not be happy.
Right. She let out a gust of breath. I know. Ill take care of it. Oh-Uncle Willie-one more thing. She lifted a hand to her right headphone, then lightly touched the tender spot just beneath a small fresh surgical scar hidden in the thick hair behind her ear. Howre those pictures Ive been sending you? Still getting to you okay?