Page 34 of Hotter than Wildfire

“Yeah? Where to? San Diego?”

“No, Seattle.” He pronounced it See-ehttel. “Nose around. We’ll dig up your bear bait, stake it out, rattle her, make her show herself.” Hehsilf. “Then down to San Diego.”

Montez got up slowly, a little dizzy. “If we’re going to dig around for intel, you’re going to have to do something about that accent of yours. Sticks out like a sore thumb.”

“Dude. Can’t believe you said that.” Piet plastered a hand over his heart, looking pained. His baritone switched to that of a suburban dad who coached Little League, with just a touch of surfer in it. Indistinguishable from a million other American male voices. He shook his head sorrowfully. “Hurt my feelings, man. Don’t do that again.”

April 11

The next time Ellen woke up, he was still by her side, looking just as solid, as irremovable as before, only with a few extra lines in his face.

It was morning, late morning of a sunny day, to judge from the buttery quality of the sunshine. The windows were open, light cotton curtains fluttering in the breeze. The wind carried in a soft, regular plashing sound. They were near the ocean.

She moved her head, her hands. No more IV line. Her hands were free. She twisted slightly, ease in her movements. Her shoulder was a little sore, but the fiery pain was gone.

Her gaze roamed quickly around the room then landed back on Harry Bolt’s face. He looked even older, grooves etching deeply in his cheeks, smudges of exhaustion under his eyes.

“Hi.” The deep voice was quiet, one corner of his mouth lifting in a half smile.

“Hi.” She felt breathless. It wasn’t physical weakness. She felt better, as if someone during the night had lifted that boulder from her chest.

The day was bright and sunny, the sound of the ocean pulsing melded with the faint sounds of a jazz sax in another room. She could smell salt water, fresh cotton and…coffee?

She pulled in a deep breath. “Am I smelling what I think I’m smelling?”

A smile flickered on his sombre face. “Absolutely. As much breakfast as you can eat.” His hand covered hers. “Please tell me you feel hungry.”

“Oh yeah,” she breathed.

His hand over hers was hard and warm, so warm some heat trickled up her arm. His smile had warmed her, too.

Um, actually, to tell the truth, his smile hadn’t just warmed her. His smile had sent a burst of heat running through her entire body, the most amazing sensation. The sensation of…of life.

Suddenly, she couldn’t stay on her back like a half-dead creature for one second longer. She bent her legs, digging in her heels, lifted herself up on her forearms…and found herself sitting up, pillows at her back. He’d lifted her up with total ease, as if she were a child. Carefully and smoothly.

“There you go.” He smiled into her eyes and for the very first time, Ellen realized how incredibly attractive this man was. The outsized body, the gorgeous golden coloring—even his stubble glinted gold over that square-jawed face—it all added up to one hugely attractive package. Her fear of him had masked it, but the fear was gone now and she felt it in full.

That, in itself, was amazing. Something about the time she’d spent on this bed, drifting in and out of consciousness, had drained the fear right out of her.

She had a sudden muscle memory of him holding her hand for hours. Days.

“What day is it?” she asked suddenly.

“Thursday.”

Ellen blinked. “I’ve been out for four days?”

“You haven’t been out all this time, no. You woke up a few times.” His eyes narrowed. “You don’t remember?”

Maybe. Awareness was seeping back into her consciousness, a friend that had been gone too long. “Where am I?”

“My place. This is my study.”

Her eyes refocused on him. “I’ve been here four days,” she repeated, just to get it straight.

“Yeah.” His lips pressed together into a thin line. “I told you this before. I didn’t take you to a hospital. You were shot and hospitals and doctors must report gunshot wounds to the police. I imagined you didn’t want that. Those men meant business.”

“You’re right,” she whispered with a shudder. “I didn’t want that.”