Free The Pleasures of Winter by Evie Hunter

could think of – from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Veronica Mars. But in the end, there was always one man that got through the defences of the feisty heroine.
    Abbie rolled over, trying not to wake him. The stubble shadowing his cheeks made him look dangerous and even more striking. It wasn’t fair. She looked filthy and smelled rank. If she didn’t find some way of washing soon, she would go crazy.
    Abbie slithered out of the hammock and went to fetch her rucksack. The laptop was still safe in its waterproofcover. The battery hadn’t died yet. Once they got to somewhere half civilized, she would get to work on the story.
    ‘Morning, Abbie.’ Kevin stretched and yawned. ‘I don’t suppose you have anything edible in that bag?’
    ‘I wish.’ She smiled ruefully. Abbie was struck by a sudden memory of the airport at Toncontín. She had broken a five-hundred lempira banknote to get change for the phone. She patted the front pouch of the bag. Please let it be there. She gave a small whoop of triumph when her hand fastened on the packet of gum.
    She handed a stick of gum to Kevin.
    He took it eagerly. ‘Abbie Marshall, I love you and I want you to have my babies.’
    Abbie batted her eyelashes. ‘Why, Mr O’Malley, I didn’t know you cared. Just how many little rug rats are we talking about?’
    Kevin gave her an impish grin. ‘About a dozen. I like big families. Of course we’d have to practise a lot, but I’d have no problem with that.’
    ‘I would.’ Jack’s comment was almost a snarl.
    Abbie glanced at him and then quickly back to Kevin. If anything, Jack looked even more dangerous than the night before and she didn’t like the thunderous expression on his face. She offered him a stick of gum and said nothing.
    Following a breakfast of berries and chewing gum, they set out on their way. Kevin took point, slashing his way through the undergrowth, whistling as he worked. Jack fell into step beside her. ‘Cheerful bastard, isn’t he?’
    ‘And you’re not?’ She couldn’t resist snapping back at him.
    He slid an arm around her waist. ‘Baby, if that’s what does it for you, I can do cheerful.’
    Abbie slapped his hand away. ‘Please don’t bother on my account. I wouldn’t want you to get a pain in the face.’
    Jack patted the rucksack. ‘What the hell have you got in that thing?’
    ‘Nothing. Just some water.’
    Up ahead, Kevin stopped to catch his breath. ‘Your turn, buddy.’
    Abbie breathed a sigh of relief. Somehow she knew that Jack Winter wouldn’t be a bit happy if he discovered that she had ignored his order to leave the laptop behind on the plane.
    Within a couple of hours her shoulders were aching. She hadn’t realized how much the straps of her bra had protected her shoulders. Sweat rolled down her back. Could it possibly get any hotter?
    Jack’s shirt was dark with sweat. ‘OK, water break.’
    Abbie kicked at the undergrowth to check for creatures before sitting on a fallen tree. She eased the rucksack from her shoulders, pulled out a water bottle and handed it to Jack.
    ‘Good girl, thanks, I could do with that.’
    Who the hell did he think he was?
Good girl, my ass
. She was sick of the jungle, sick of him and sick of being addressed like some kind of pet. ‘Will you stop with the good girl thing, what do you think I am? A dog?’
    Jack stopped drinking and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘What’s up with you? I only said thanks.’
    ‘Keep your patronizing comments for your fans. I’m sure that they don’t mind when you call them girl or pet.’
    Jack moved closer, until he was towering over her. ‘I seem to remember that you didn’t complain last night.’
    Kevin and Zeke were watching so Abbie resisted the urge to slap him. Bloody hell, if it got out that she had been up close and personal in a hammock with Jack Winter, she would never live it down. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
    ‘Really?’ His blue eyes blazed with