She should go to bed and forget about him, as MacDuff and Jock were doing.
But she would only lie there and not sleep. That would amuse Caleb even more. Okay, she told herself, stay here by the fire and wait until you’re sure he is safe. He’d told MacDuff he wouldn’t be long out there in the mist. It wouldn’t look weird for her to stay up a little longer and enjoy the fire.
She got another cup of coffee and settled down to wait.
*
Caleb didn’t come out of the woods for another two hours.
She smothered her relief as she jumped to her feet and started to leave the campfire and head for her tent. “The coffee’s hot,” she called. “You should have come earlier if you wanted anything to eat.”
“Stop right there.” He was running along the bank and barred her way. “I’m damp and I’m cold and evidently I’m going to starve, but I’m not going to do it alone. You’re coming back to the fire and keeping me company while I dry out.”
“We said what needed to be said last night.”
“You don’t have to talk. I might prefer that you don’t. But I always like to look at you. Come on.” He turned and headed back toward the campfire.
She hesitated. Then she slowly followed him and dropped down on the ground before the fire while he poured a cup of coffee. “There might be some rolls and cheese in that metal saver over there.”
“That you weren’t going to offer me. So I don’t have to starve?” He shook his head as he sat down and crossed his legs Indian-fashion. “I’m not hungry. The adrenaline is still pumping. I find it interesting that you’re annoyed with me but that you still waited up until I came back.”
“I wasn’t sleepy. I wasn’t waiting for you.”
He tilted his head and gazed at her appraisingly. “I think you were. Tell me, were you afraid Cira would strike me down out there in the mist? She wouldn’t do that. I told you: She likes me.”
“Why should I be afraid for you? As MacDuff said, he’d bet on you against anything you might run into.”
“But you still stayed up and waited.” He nodded. “I’d do the same. Only I’d probably go after you.”
“Finish your coffee. I’m not going to sit here and chat. You should have been back hours ago.”
“I told you: I don’t have much of a window to do what MacDuff needs me to do. He and Jock have time to play with those lights. I’ve got to help set them up and get out of here.”
“Why?” She shook her head. “Never mind. One of your commitments. It doesn’t matter. I never know what you’re doing. It’s none of my business.”
“And you like it like that.” He took another sip of coffee. “So do I, most of the time. But I liked it that you made it your business to sit here worrying about me tonight. It made me feel … warm. I think it might have erased that lingering bit of anger I was feeling toward you.”
“And that’s supposed to make me feel all soft and fuzzy?”
He chuckled. “Heaven forbid. There’s nothing soft and fuzzy about you, Jane. But it should make you feel a good deal more secure. I really did want to punish you.”
“Bullshit.”
“But it’s gone now. Do you want to know what’s in its place?”
Lust. Heat. Erotic fantasy.
“No, I don’t.” She got quickly to her feet. “I’m going to my tent. Will you still be here in the morning? Or did you finish tonight?”
“I have a few more things to do, but I’ll be out by noon.”
She started toward the tents. “Have a good trip.”
“I’ll walk you to your tent.” He rose to his feet. “You’re in escape mode and you might be conveniently busy tomorrow morning. I consider that I deserve a prize for interrupting my business to help MacDuff. We’ve already discussed the fact that I’m not one of the good guys.”
“And I’m the prize? No way, Caleb.”
“Not the grand prize. Though I do think I deserve it. I just want to see you smile at me. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed seeing it during these last months.” He grimaced. “Though you were never very generous with me in that regard. You were always too wary.”
She stopped outside her tent. “And I’m supposed to grin at you like a Siamese cat to please you?”
“That would be nice, but not expected.” He smiled. “So I’ll smile at you and set the example. Good night, Jane.”
“Good night.” She stared up at him. The moonlight was dim, but the glow of the fire in the distance outlined his features: the curve of his lips, the indentation in his chin, the slash of dark brows over his eyes. Everything was sharp and defined in this light. Usually, she was so aware of the power and personality behind those features that she didn’t notice the details. But every feature was intriguing. “And I don’t need examples. And I wasn’t worried about Cira. I thought you might fall off that damn pole and bust your head. That happens even to men like you.”
He laughed. “It certainly does. And if I was that clumsy, I’d deserve it.”
“And it doesn’t change anything.”
“Then I’ll have to work on it.” He turned away. “I’ll be back as soon as I finish up my business. Sleep well, Jane.”
“I will. I won’t have anyone to keep me awake by doing—” She inhaled sharply, staring at him. Profile. Sharp silhouette. Black and white.
He looked back over his shoulder. “What?”
“Nothing.”
She turned and bolted into the tent. Her heart was jumping out of her chest.
She stood there in the dark for a moment, trying to get control.
It couldn’t be, could it?
Of course it could.
Okay, give yourself a little time to check and then try to make sense of it.
She should have been happy and relieved.
But she couldn’t imagine a worse scenario for her.
CHAPTER
4
An hour later, she was walking quickly up the hill toward the tent MacDuff always allotted Caleb when he was here.
“I’m coming in, Caleb,” she called sharply when she was a few yards away. “I thought I’d warn you. I’d appreciate it if you don’t cause me to have a heart attack or use one of your other methods of ridding yourself of people.” She pushed through the canvas opening. “Because I sure as hell don’t want to be here.”
“You’re angry.” In the darkness, she could see him raise himself up in his bedroll across the tent. “I told you that we don’t have to deal with this right now. It’s probably best that we don’t. Go away, Jane.”
“I can’t go away.” She was in the tent and fumbling with his lantern. “Oh my God, you think this is about sex? I’m not here to pay any debts, Caleb.” She finally got the lantern lit and turned to face him. “You’re naked.” She took his blanket and tossed it over him. “Get some clothes on.”
“Presently.” He was studying her. “I don’t feel the need of any barriers against you as I did two minutes ago. It may be better that I find out the problem first.”
“Suit yourself.” She came a step closer, reached down, lifted his chin, and glared down at him. “You’re the problem.”
“I gathered that. In what way?”
“Here.” She rimmed his left eye with her forefinger. “And here.” She touched the faint slant at the corner. “I thought I should remember her. But it was you.” She dropped his chin and stepped back. “It was always you, dammit.”
He stiffened. “I don’t like this. I believe you’d better be a little clearer, Jane.”
“Do you think I like it?”
“What is this about?”
“Not what. Who.” She tossed the sketchbook she was carrying under her arm onto his lap. “Lisa.”
His face remained impassive, but she saw the ripple of shock that went through his body. “What do you know about Lisa?”
“Not enough. All I know is that I have to sketch her every time when I wake up after going to sleep.” She dropped down on the floor next to him. “But I’m going to know more. Look at the sketches.”