After my dismissal, the group breaks. The military guys leave, marching more than walking away single file. The two locals speak among themselves in thick Thai and then walk off in the opposite direction. And Archie and Tucker join me to go over the last details of tomorrow’s journey.
I hope Miss Sass will get lost to her bungalow without any further demonstration of her saucy attitude.
“Excuse me?”
No such luck. I’ve just turned to talk to Archie when she materializes behind my back, demanding attention.
“Yes?” I say, turning to her. Archie stands on my left, Tucker on my right.
I tower a good few inches over her, but the photographer doesn’t appear one bit intimidated as she asks, “Do you have a problem with me?”
Busted.
“Is it because I have tits?”
As she says the words, three sets of eyes lower to her chest.
When I raise my gaze again to meet hers, she’s giving me a hand-on-the-hip, have-you-had-enough-of-a-good-look, sarcastic pout.
Well, she can’t speak that word in front of three men and expect any other reaction. It was practically a directive to look.
“Because I can assure you I am a professional.” Flaring up with self-righteous indignation, Miss Sass continues her tirade, “Not my first drill, you know?”
“Sure,” I say, dutifully chastised. “Sorry if I appeared disrespectful.”
“You didn’t choose me for this job, did you?”
No point in lying. “No.”
“Didn’t want a woman on board?”
“Nothing personal.”
“No, of course. Well, no need to worry. I can pull my weight and take care of myself. No damsels in distress here.”
Then she stops for a second, looking undecided if she should go on with whatever she’s dying to say next.
She goes for it. “Like, for instance, I can read and comprehend the million warning signs around me.”
What the hell is she talking about?
With an evil little smirk playing on her lips, she asks, “How’s that broken phone treating you?”
I blink at her.
How can she possibly know?
The grin widens, and she answers the question I haven’t asked.
“Our bungalows are adjoining,” she explains. “Next time, I’d suggest doing as the signs say and locking your doors.” Then, with a wink, she adds, “Nice negotiating skills, by the way. I’m sure they’ll come in handy in the jungle.”
My face flames red hot, and I can only hope I’m not blushing like a schoolgirl. Also, I don’t have to look at them to know that both Archie and Tucker are tremendously enjoying me being told off. Usually, I’m the one doing the scolding.
Winter nods at them, saying, “Gentlemen,” and then walks away, leaving us to admire her miles-long legs as she saunters down the road.
As soon as she rounds the corner, Archie low-whistles. “Imagine how that feistiness translates in bed!”
And damn me, because my friend’s words conjure all kind of wrong fantasies.
“Dude?” Tucker asks. “What was she talking about with keeping the doors locked?”
And, as if my humiliation wasn’t complete enough, now I have to explain to my friends about my earlier disagreement with the local fauna…
Two
Winter
The second I get back to my bungalow, I call Lana.
“You’re never going to believe this,” I say the instant my best friend picks up.
“What?” Lana asks, with a hint of playful curiosity in her voice.
“Guess who the esteemed expedition leader who incidentally hates women is?”
“Who?”
“Naked Dummy,” I say, collapsing on the bed.
“I take it the introductions didn’t go well?” she asks, now definitely amused. Easy for her to laugh; she doesn’t have to spend the next month trekking through the Thai jungle with Satan. “And how come he hates women?”
I sigh. “Maybe ‘hate’ is a strong word.” I rest my back against the headboard and tuck my knees close to my chest. “It was more the attitude sailors used to have about women onboard ships.”
“And what was that?”
“That we’re bad luck or something. What an insufferable, dumb snob.”
“If he’s leading such an important expedition, he can’t be that stupid. Didn’t you say you’re after a legendary lost city?”
My heart does a little guilty flip. Satan’s words ringing in my ears: “…the nature of this expedition is confidential… no loose talk about a lost city of gold.”
The dude’s so paranoid he even made everyone sign NDAs about it. Agreements I might have broken by telling Lana about the real reason we’re in Thailand. But I honestly don’t see what the big deal is with all this secrecy, and she’s my best friend, so she doesn’t count.
“I’m not supposed to talk about that,” I say, deflecting Lana’s question. And trust me he can be that dumb.”
“Mm,” Lana says nothing, but still sounds as if she’s enjoying herself.
“You don’t seem sympathetic.”
“No, sorry. It’s just that I haven’t heard you so worked up about someone, well… ever.”
“I know! He’s the most annoying, arrogant bastard―”
“Does he have a name?” Lana interrupts my rant.
“Logan.”
“Kind of a sexy name to go with a sexy ass.”
“Oh, pwhff, please. I take back everything nice I ever said about his anatomy. He doesn’t deserve it. And from now on we’re referring to him as Satan.”
“How’s the face that goes with the ass?” Lana asks. “I couldn’t see over the phone; is he ugly?”
“He’s a type,” I say neutrally.
“What type?”
“Thick brown hair, hazel-green eyes, full lips, slight chin cleft, a few freckles…”
“Sounds like everyone’s type.”
I scoff. “If you enjoy watching a constant scowl. And, anyway, it doesn’t matter if he’s not repellent, physically, he’s still evil inside. Most beautiful things in nature are. Like, you wouldn’t kiss a cobra or eat a moonflower.”
“So kissing Satan would never cross your mind?”
“Haven’t you been listening? Of course it wouldn’t.”
“I have been paying attention, that’s why I’m asking. You’re the one who brought up kissing, not me.”
“You don’t get it…!”
“What? That your boss―so to speak―is tall, handsome… presumably smart―”
“And arrogant, and full of himself, definitely evil, and I hate his guts.”
“Whoa, he really crossed you, considering you only spent, what, an hour with him?”