A shiver crawled down her spine. She remembered the attacker’s fierce, lean strength. She might not be as lucky the next time.
“I have a pistol,” she said. “A .38 revolver. If he breaks in, I’m not afraid to pull the trigger.”
Gage shook his head. “I still don’t like it. I’ve got a couple of spare bedrooms. My room is way down the hall.” He smiled. “You can bring your pistol. If I misbehave, you can shoot me.”
Abby laughed. The man could definitely be charming. His gaze ran over her, and there was something in his eyes that could only be described as heat. Renewed sexual awareness slipped through her, which wasn’t good. Their association was strictly business. Abby wanted to keep it that way.
“I’ll be all right,” she said. “I’ve been living by myself for years. If the guy breaks in, he’s going to be very sorry.”
One of Logan’s dark eyebrows went up. “What if this time he doesn’t come alone?”
Unease trickled through her. Abby didn’t reply.
“I’ll tell you what. If you don’t want to spend the night at my place, I’ll stay here. I can sleep on the sofa. Believe me, it’s a lot more comfortable than some of the places I’ve slept. If your visitor returns, there’ll be two of us to deal with him.”
Just the thought of Gage sleeping only partly dressed on her sofa sent a curl of heat into her stomach. “I don’t know . . .”
“It’s only one night, Abby. If you’re going on this expedition, we’ll be spending every night together until our goal is accomplished. One more shouldn’t be a problem.”
He was right. She wasn’t about to start off their venture by making a big deal out of his staying in her apartment.
“All right, fine, if you really think it’s necessary.”
“Did the assayer tell you how much a chunk of gold that size is worth?”
“It weighs a little over eighteen ounces. At today’s prices, that’s over thirty thousand dollars.”
Logan merely raised an eyebrow, giving her what she was beginning to think of as the look.
“All right, I get it. I’ll bring you a sheet and blanket.” Abby left to fetch the bedding and within minutes had a spot made up on the sofa. “There’s a bathroom at the end of the hall. Unless there’s something else you need, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“One last thing. If I make an exception and you join the expedition, I’m the one in charge. I make the rules and you follow them—no questions asked.”
Wait a minute, what? She was funding half this venture. She intended to have her say in what went on. But that could wait until they were out there.
She pasted on a smile. Everyone knew rules were made to be broken. “All right, I agree.”
Gage seemed satisfied, and Abby headed for her bedroom. She had almost reached the door when the rumble of a sexy male voice washed over her.
“Good night, Abigail.”
Abby paused but didn’t turn to face him. “Good night, Gage.”
Once inside her bedroom, she leaned back against the door, her heart beating a little too fast. Get over it, she told herself. HE’s just a man like any other. But he wasn’t. He was Gage Logan. It was like Superman was sleeping in her living room. At least to her.
Abby sighed. She’d get used to it, get used to him. They were going to be together for days, maybe even weeks. She thought of the glance he had given her, the heat in those amazing blue eyes, like the glow at the tip of a brilliant blue flame. She couldn’t afford to let down her guard with Gage Logan.
Abby vowed not to let it happen.
* * *
Gage awoke with a kink in his neck. The sofa was a little too short, but as he’d said, he had slept in far worse places. It was quiet in the apartment, Abby still asleep. Faint gray light seeped through the living-room windows. Not quite dawn, but he was used to rising before the sun came up. In the bush, it was time to rouse the camp.
Wishing he had a pair of cargo pants, Gage dragged on his suit trousers, headed into the bathroom, then wandered back down the hall to the kitchen. Searching the cupboard, he found a bag of coffee above the drip coffee maker and brewed a pot.
He almost groaned at the rich dark flavor. The first sip was always the best, clearing his head and preparing him for the day ahead.
He started back into the living room as the bedroom door swung open and Abby walked out. She was wearing a knee-length fluffy yellow robe, her glorious hair unbound, more red than gold, though when she stepped into the light, he was reminded of the ingot in the antique wooden box.
At the sight of him, Abby froze, her pretty amber eyes running over his bare chest. He couldn’t miss the interest there, and arousal slid through him, soon to become obvious. Turning, he rounded the sofa, grabbed his wrinkled white shirt off the love seat, shrugged into it, and rolled up the cuffs.
“Coffee’s on,” he said mildly, trying to bring himself under control, cursing King Farrell and the gold discovery that made it impossible to turn down Abby’s proposal.
Or her demand to accompany him. Having a woman along, no matter how competent, had a way of making things tougher. If that woman happened to be beautiful and desirable, it could be a recipe for disaster.
Gage knew that firsthand.
He managed to blot out Cassandra’s image before it surfaced, and focused on the woman in front of him. Abby lifted her copper hair over her shoulders, letting it ripple down her back, making him want to grab a fistful and drag her mouth up to his.
“You’re up early,” she said, continuing into the kitchen. “I hope you slept all right.”
“No problem.”
She glanced approvingly at the pot of freshly brewed coffee on the counter. “I just need a cup. Then I’ll shower and get dressed, and you can take me to get my car.”
He just nodded, trying not to imagine Abby naked beneath a spray of warm water. He had rarely felt such a strong attraction to a woman he barely knew, but aside from her intelligence and feminine appeal, her zest for life was contagious, stirring an excitement he hadn’t felt in years.
Gage found himself looking forward to the journey they would be taking together, even if it would be impossible for him to act on his growing desire. He was a professional, first, last, and always. Nothing was going to change that.
“Unless you have an objection, I’ll call my attorney,” he said. “Ask him to do the paperwork so we can get this project underway.”
Abby smiled so brightly, he felt a contraction in his chest.
“That would be great,” she said.
“I assume you have photos of the gold.”
She nodded. “From every angle. I have everything photographically documented.”
“Good, then we’ll stop by the bank and you can put the gold back in your deposit box. Not the map or King’s notes. I’d like a more thorough look at those before you put them away.”
“All right.” She took a sip of coffee. “I won’t be long.” Gage watched the sway of her hips as she walked down the hall, and his lower body tightened. Damn, this wasn’t good.
He sighed as she disappeared into her bedroom. Whatever happened, it was going to be a painfully long journey.
On the other hand, if King Farrell was right, two hundred million in gold would more than make up for a few weeks of sexual frustration. Gage found himself smiling.