“We’ve all unintentionally hurt people.”
Shaking his head, he muttered, “That’s not what I meant.”
She laid a hand on his arm, feeling the tenseness of his muscles. “I know you’ve led a…colorful past. And I won’t deny I’m curious, which is only natural considering how much time we’ve spent together. But whatever mistakes you’ve made, I can’t imagine anyone more capable or resourceful or tenacious than you’ve been since those men grabbed us.”
She couldn’t see his face in the darkness, but he covered her hand with his and spoke quietly, “I’ll get you out of this, Chloe.”
“We’ll get each other out,” she replied, leaning her head against his shoulder. “We just need some rest tonight. Tomorrow we’ll find civilization.”
“And then you can have that salad you’ve been fantasizing about.”
In response to the mention of food, her stomach growled softly. “Actually, that red meat you mentioned is starting to sound pretty good.”
“Then I’ll buy you a steak as soon as we find a restaurant,” he promised rashly. “With a salad on the side. Followed by sherbet—pineapple or orange, right?”
“You’re starting to know me well,” she teased.
When he spoke again, his mouth was very close to her ear. “Maybe I am.”
All she had to do was turn her head and their lips would touch. Her curiosity about kissing him would finally be satisfied.
Only a few days ago, Chloe wouldn’t have had the courage to move. But the last forty-eight hours had changed her. She had learned to take advantage of every opportunity that presented itself to her.
She turned her head.
Chapter Ten
Chloe’s lips brushed Donovan’s jaw, just as they had the night before when she’d given him that impulsive good-night kiss. And then she adjusted her aim so that their lips met.
For only one tantalizing moment he responded. His lips moved against hers, warm and firm and skilled. It was wonderful—but unsatisfying. She wanted more.
She could almost feel his urge to take her into his arms and deepen the embrace. A short, hard tremor seemed to course through him at the same time a jolt of pleasure shook her—and then, abruptly, he drew away.
“I’ll consider that a very nice thank you,” he said, and though he tried to speak lightly, his voice was rough-edged.
She moistened her lips, which still tingled in reaction to that brief contact and ached with a hunger for more. “Donovan—”
“Bryan will be glad to see you if—when—we do find our way back,” he added, drawing even farther away from her physically so that they were barely touching now. “Your sister, too, of course. I just hope she doesn’t blame all this on Bryan, since she seemed so eager to find fault with him, anyway.”
He’d used Bryan’s name like a shield—and she realized now it wasn’t the first time he had done so.
Leaning back against the cool rock wall, she told herself she shouldn’t take his withdrawal as a personal rejection. Under the circumstances, he was being prudent to hold back. After all, he worked for the man with whom she’d been discussing marriage. And he probably wondered—as she did—if their emotions were being heightened by the drama of their situation. If there was a natural tendency to turn to each other because they had no one else to turn to.
“Grace won’t blame Bryan for this,” she said, deciding to follow his example. “At least…I don’t think she will,” she added a bit less confidently.
“If she does, she’ll just have to get over it. This wasn’t Bryan’s fault.”
“I’ve already assured you that I know that. And Grace will understand once she hears all the facts.”
Donovan grunted. “Yeah. Then she’ll probably blame me.”
“She’ll blame the people who are responsible. Just as I do. And you aren’t one of them.”
After a short pause, Donovan asked, “You and your sister are very close, aren’t you?”
“Of course. We’re twins. And best friends. I know your first impression of her wasn’t good, but she’s really a lot of fun. She’s big-hearted and generous and has a great sense of humor.”
“And a temper.”