Whitewater Rendezvous

delicate pale eyelashes, and the blush of color in her cheeks from all the excitement.

As if she could feel Chaz’s eyes on her, Megan turned to meet them with her own. They looked at each other a long moment. Something passed between them, but Chaz couldn’t put words to what it was.

Something powerful, though. An unspoken understanding of some sort.

Maybe it’s only the shared near-death experience, she considered, the reaction of two bodies pulsing with adrenalin.

Whatever it was, it was there and suddenly gone, broken when Megan looked away.

A long moment passed in silence before Megan spoke. “I’ve been kind of a jerk since I got here,” she admitted sheepishly. “And I’m sorry for that. As well as being sorry for the stupid mistake that could have gotten us both killed.” She looked at Chaz, then, with such vulnerability that it made Chaz’s heart clench in her chest, and said, “I hope you’re okay.”

“I’ll be fi ne.” Chaz found she was unable to tear her eyes from Megan’s face. “Truly. Don’t think any more about it.”

Megan moistened her lips. “Thanks, Chaz,” she said in a low voice. “I really mean that. I don’t know what he would have done if you hadn’t reacted so fast to stop him. You risked your life for me.”

Chaz could think of nothing then, but how much she wanted to kiss Megan. What’s happening to me?

“No problem. I’m glad you’re okay.” She knew her voice sounded husky. She forced her attention back to the fi re. “You should turn in.

Lots of paddling tomorrow. I’ll be along shortly.” If I go back to the tentwith her now, I’m not sure I’d able to stop myself from kissing her.

Megan nodded and got up from her seat. “Whatever you say.

Good night.” She briefl y laid a hand on Chaz’s shoulder before retiring to their tent.

The touch lingered long after Megan had gone. You got it bad, girl, Chaz admitted to herself. She built up the fi re again, too keyed up to sleep and in no hurry to subject herself to the experience of lying beside Megan, unable to touch her. How will I get through the next week?

O

Megan’s nerves were on edge, and she felt as though she might jump out of her skin at any moment. The whole episode with the bear

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KIM BALDWIN

had completely unnerved her. It still seemed unreal, like a 3-D movie.

She started at every small noise from outside the tent.

But what had left her even more unsettled was the look—the feeling—that had seemed to pass between her and Chaz. There had been a totally unguarded moment between them that had spoken volumes, though she doubted either of them could really explain what it was and what it meant.

It was as though she had briefl y glimpsed a sixth sense she never knew she had. Did Chaz feel it too? She wondered. She didn’t act likeshe did, sending me off to bed.

Whatever it was, it fascinated her—she had never felt more alive.

It scared the hell out of her, too. What was I thinking? She berated herself as she stared at the ceiling of the tent, waiting anxiously for the sound of Chaz’s approaching footsteps.

Pick about the most remote spot on earth for your vacation, whereyou have absolutely no control over anything. Oh, and make sure youpick somewhere where you can get eaten alive while you sleep. Andwhile you’re at it, develop a serious lust for some gorgeous guide whowill hardly give you the time of day. Smart. Real smart.

O

Megan dreamt of the bear.

She was, frankly, surprised that she’d fallen asleep at all, but when the adrenalin rush had worn off, she had crashed big-time, her body fi nally succumbing to the sleepless nights and the exertions and excitement of the day.

Sometime around three in the morning, she’d awakened in a cold sweat, thrashing furiously in her sleeping bag, desperate to escape the dream bear’s clutches. She was instantly enfolded in the comforting arms of a sleepy Chaz, who held her and murmured reassurances until they both fell back asleep.

When she awoke the next morning, she was alone.

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Дата добавления: 2015-11-14