“You secretly love it.”
Maybe I do, but I’d never admit it. Instead, I cross my arms and fix him with what I hope is a withering stare. My eye may be twitching, so who knows what he’s actually seeing.
“So what’s the plan,DiamondMan? Aimlessly wander around and hope we stumble into a huge purple gem with a sign that says ‘you found me’?”
He completely ignores my attitude, which is probably best for everyone. In a soothing voice, he reminds me of what Bella knows and Delaney needs to remember. “Wehave to be methodical and take notes as we go. We’ll clear this place section by section, continually reporting back up to the surface.”
I nod, his calm, focused demeanor beginning to rub off on me. “Okay,” I agree. But three hours later, we’ve run into two collapsed sections of tunnel, my back hurts from hunching over and my stomach is growling. We decide to stop for the night, eat dinner and rest up. Once the sun rises, I’ll be ready to start again.
After re-sealing the mine, we gather around the campfire and eat a simple meal of ham and cheese sandwiches and chips, avoiding cooking over the fire to prevent attracting the local wildlife. We also make double sure to seal all our trash up. Nobody wants an unexpected apex predator rooting around in the leftovers. As the sun begins to set, we look out over the Kalahari Desert, admiring the way it paints the landscape in shades of pink and gold and orange, and take a moment to appreciate its natural, rugged beauty.
Yes, we have a job to do, and everything would be prettier if there wasn’t so much weighing on my mind, but I also know I need to appreciate these things when they happen. These little slices of life my dad will never experience. I wish he were here, but I’m still content to take it all in with the group around me. At least I’m not alone.
Eventually, the group begins to turn in for the night. Hunter and Knox disappear into their tent, holding hands and whispering to each other. Linc reclines back in his tentand calls Merritt. For a man of few words, he talks to her for at least an hour, his quiet murmuring punctuated by a brief chuckle, and even a chortle or two. No doubt, he’s a man in love. Of course, Addie calls Cole, and then she crawls into the tent with Brighton. I guess that confirms my sleeping arrangements.
“Do you see it?” Ryder asks in a low voice. Despite the emotional cold shoulder I’ve given him, he hasn’t left my side.
“See what?” I straighten up, squinting through the darkness.
He points toward a cluster of bushes in the distance, and I gasp when I see the black-maned Kalahari lion slink forward. “Oh, my God.” The creature is so majestic, clearly on the prowl, and I watch closely as he warily eyes our camp. I’m holding my breath, wondering if he’ll come closer. But I think the fire scares him away, and he disappears back into the darkness. “Now I know why they call them the king of the jungle.”
“Pretty amazing, huh?”
“As long as he doesn’t come sniffing around our tent tonight, then yes. I don’t need any type of close-encounter safari.”
Ryder chuckles. “I couldn’t agree more.” A moment of comfortable silence passes between us as we gaze into the crackling fire. But then he turns his attention back to me. “Once we return to Denver, are you still planning on disappearing?”
I’ve actually been thinking about that a lot, and I shift in my seat to face him. “I’m not entirely sure,” I admit. “That was the plan, but…”
“But plans change.” He locks eyes with me. “They change all the time.”
“They can,” I say carefully.
“I’m going to tell you something, but you can’t freak out, okay?”
My pulse spikes. “Why would I freak out?” I ask casually, but inside I’m trembling. What is he going to say?
He hesitates, as though building his courage, then blurts out, “Because every time things take a serious turn between us, you run. I don’t want you running from me. Ever.” He scoops my hand up, and I watch as he laces our fingers. “Delaney Marquette, you are the most fascinating, lovely, challenging, beautiful and intelligent woman I’ve ever met. You make me want things I’ve never wanted before. And after all this is over and we’re back home, I want you to stay—more than I’ve ever wanted anything.” His voice cracks and when he looks down at our threaded fingers, that adorable chunk of bangs falls in his eye, making my insides tumble. Making my resolve melt. “Promise me you won’t disappear on me.”
My mouth opens… closes. I don’t know what to say. I’d like to stay. More than anything, to be honest. But with Voss hunting me, the last thing I want is for him to target Ryder and his friends.
“Delaney,” he murmurs, voice lowering, pleading. “I’ve only just found you. I can’t lose you. And I know I fucked up, and we never even talked about any of this, and the chances are one in a billion, but if you’re pregnant with my baby…” A fierce, protective light flashes in his dark eyes. “Then there’s no way I’m going to watch you walk out of my life. I’m going to be there for you. Take care of you—both of you. And if you let me, I’ll love you more than anyone ever has or ever will.”
Oh, God.Is he saying he loves me?
Before I can respond, he squeezes my hand and gives me an irresistibly endearing lopsided smile. “I’ll also give you the biggest damn diamond you’ve ever seen, but we’ll discuss that later. From the wide-eyed way you’re looking at me, I don’t want to scare you more by bringing up the M word. But know, it will happen. Most likely sooner than later. Because you’re it for me.”
He leans in, kissing me gently, and something inside me lurches.My heart?I’m in a mild state of panic, and when he pulls back, my palms are sweating and I think I’m seeing double.
“Looks like we’re sharing a tent,” he whispers.
I glance over at the other three tents, all zipped up tightly now for the night.
“I promise to keep my hands to myself. If that’s what you want,” he adds with a mischievous twinkle in his dark eyes.
“That’s probably for the best,” I say, but who am I kidding? There’s nothing I enjoy more than having Ryder’s hands all over me.
We were both shocked and emotionally raw after our encounter on the flight, but now I can see him for who he is. What he wants. There’s no doubt in my mind he wants me. And now I know it’s more than just convenience, not simply lust getting in the way of smart decisions.
