Heaven and Earth
Page 30

“No joke?”
“No joke,” he admitted. “Charts, graphs. A computer analysis, before and after. A merging of the intellect and the physical. Worked for me.”
“I’ll say.”
He flushed a little. “Well, it didn’t take long to figure out that if I was going to be hiking trails, climbing into caves, hacking through the occasional jungle, I’d better be able to handle the physical part of the job. Walk a few miles in a hundred percent humidity, carrying a full pack and sensitive equipment, you realize you’d better put in a few hours a week at the gym.”
“Whatever the reason, the results are fine.”
She rose to change machines and gave him a quick pinch on the butt as she passed. When he only stared at her, she laughed. “You can pinch me back anytime, cutie.”
She worked her quads, pleased to note that she’d ruined his rhythm.
“Have you taken a tour of the island yet?”
“Not complete.” He lost count of his reps, and struggled to get his pacing back. “I’ve been working, more or less, inch by inch.”
“Next time the two of us have a couple of hours free, I’ll show you around.”
He was starting to heat up, and it wasn’t just the exercise. “I can be free anytime.”
“Now, that’s a dangerous thing to say to a woman. I like it.” She all but purred. “I like a man willing to take risks.” She licked her lips. “Have you been thinking about me?”
“Only ten or twelve times a day.”
“Ah.” She wriggled off the bench as he picked up free weights. “Another risky statement. Not to be outdone, I’ve given you considerable thought as well.”
She walked to the weights, but instead of selecting hers, skimmed a fingertip over his arm. “Mmm. All slicked up, aren’t you? Me, too.” She shifted closer, brushed bodies. “Wouldn’t we just slither and slip all over each other right now?”
Maybe, just maybe, if all the blood hadn’t drained out of his head, he’d have caught the hard-edged glint to her eyes when she smiled. But even the best man often stopped thinking with his brain when a hot, sexy, willing woman was rubbing herself against him.
“Let me put these down,” he managed. “Before I drop them on my foot. Or yours.”
“I like lean muscles on a man.” She squeezed his biceps. “Long . . . lean . . . limber.”
The weights clanged like a pair of anvils against the stand. He fisted a hand in her hair, drew her up, had his mouth a breath from hers.
Then her elbow rammed straight into his gut.
“Back off!”
He coughed. It was the only way his body could gather air. “What? What the hell?” He was too shocked for anger, too busy trying to breathe normally again to do anything but stare into her suddenly furious face.
“You think I want your hands on me?”
He managed the breath, rubbed gingerly at his stomach. “Yes.”
“Well, think again. Nobody juggles me with another woman.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“And don’t pull that innocent act. Maybe you think you can pretend you forget you’ve been hitting on me when you decide to hit on her, and vice versa, but that’s taking the absentminded professor act one step too far.”
“Who? What?”
She bunched both fists and nearly used them. Very nearly used them. “You’re not worth it.”
She turned on her heel and stalked into the women’s locker room.
She kicked the wall, just because it felt good, then limped to her locker. She was just about to strip off her sports bra when Mac swung in after her.
“You turn around and march straight out of here,” she ordered. “Otherwise I’m arresting you for lewd and lascivious behavior.”
He didn’t turn, he didn’t march. He stalked, seriously surprising her, until he stood toe-to-toe with her.
“I’m entitled to an explanation of what just went on in there.”
“You’re not entitled to anything from me. Now beat it.”
“If you think you can sashay in there, tease me half to death, punch me in the stomach—”
“It was an elbow jab. And I’ve never sashayed in my life.”
“You deliberately came on to me with the express purpose of slapping me back. I want to know why.”
“Because I don’t like cheats, I don’t like sneaks. And I don’t like men who try to see how many women they can sleep with at one time, especially when they’re trying to add me to the list.”
“I haven’t slept with anyone. I haven’t even gone out with anyone since I’ve been here.”
“Let’s add ‘I don’t like liars’ to that list.”
He took her firmly by the elbows, lifted her straight off her toes. “I don’t lie. And don’t even think about spitting any magic at me.”
She opened her mouth, shut it again. When she spoke, it was dead calm. “Take your hands off me.”
He set her on her feet, took a full step back. “I’ve made it clear I’m interested in you on a personal level. It happens that I’m not interested, at the moment, in anyone else on that same level. I haven’t juggled anyone. I don’t have the reflexes for it.”
“You bought a bottle of fancy wine and spent an evening snuggled up to Mia.”
“Where the hell do you get this?” Flustered, he dragged his hands through his hair. “I went to Mia’s for dinner, though that’s completely my business. She’s one of the main reasons I’m here. That’s a professional interest. However, I also happen to like her very much. I didn’t sleep with her, don’t intend to sleep with her.”
“Fine.” Because she’d started feeling like a fool even before he’d released her, she turned to her locker.
“It’s your business, like you said.”
“You’re jealous.” He paused a moment, as if to gather his wits. Or his temper. “After I get over being
seriously pissed off, I might find that flattering.”
She whirled back. “I’m not jealous.”
“Replay that little scene,” he suggested, jerking a thumb toward the gym. “See what you come up with. Now, I’m going to go soak my head. I suggest you do the same.”