Free Never Surrender (Task Force Eagle) by Susan Vaughan

What was different about the woods?
He shot a comprehensive glance around.
    “I—”
    He covered her mouth with his fingers. “Listen,” he
whispered.

 
     
    Chapter 8
     
    She cocked her head. When he lifted his hand, she
whispered, “I don’t hear anything. What is it?”
    “Nothing. That’s just it. The critters didn’t mind our
invasion, but now all is quiet.” The gut-sure sense of danger switched on his
experience and training.
    Detach. Absorb. Analyze .
    “What’s wrong?” She bit her lower lip, fear in her
wide eyes.
    Dammit, his cop tone had frightened her rather than
merely caution her. Perhaps she ought to be frightened.
    “Could be nothing.” Stones clattered farther down the
trail below the switchbacks. He levered to his feet and held a hand on her
trembling shoulder. His gut tightened. “You stay here while I scope it out.”
    “Have they found us? Is it El Águila’s men?”
    At the quavering in her voice, the screw tightened. “It
might be more hikers, but I won’t take a chance.”
    “What if they hear you coming?”
    He leveled a long, silent look.
    “Oops, sorry.” Juliana’s eyebrows drew together. “I
forgot you were 007.”
    “Bond, no, but on SEAL missions I earned the nickname
The Invisible Man.” He led her into the woods and behind a boulder where she’d
be hidden from the path. “I’ll come back in a few minutes. Stay here, and don’t
make any noise.”
    The slow tip of her head didn’t reassure him.
    “I mean it. Stay put.” He shed his jacket and thrust
it at her. He could move better without it. Quieter. He checked his SIG.
Replaced the weapon in his belt holster.
    Squeezing her shoulders, he planted a kiss on her
forehead.
    Before Juliana could protest, Rick vanished into the
trees as silently and invisibly as a ribbon of smoke.
    She hunched against the rock, listening. Whatever
noises they heard below could come from ordinary hikers, but maybe the Mexicans
were on the island.
    This excitement and their chat hadn’t restored her
balance after that stunning embrace. She floated between frenzied desire and
shimmering oblivion. He was sexy and dangerous, and she shouldn’t succumb, but
when he touched her, her body—and her heart—ignored all warning bells.
    Maybe she’d been alone too long. Her involvement with
Bill ended months ago. Then she’d had no time for a social life, much less a
serious hook-up. His lovemaking never radiated desire like liquid flames
through her like Rick’s kisses.
    Was she that vulnerable, or did the chemistry between
them burn hotter than his Miami sun? Dammit, she’d rubbed against him like a
cat in heat.
    The more she learned about him added up to a more
complex Ricardo Cruz than she’d expected. More than the smooth charmer she
first thought. Including his honorable retreat when she said no.
    His brother’s death from drugs had fired his zeal—his
hatred of drugs and those who dealt in the dirty business. No wonder he wanted her brother at all costs. He must think her family was dirty. Did he suspect even
her? The thought had her shifting her feet.
    And where was the man? He’d sneaked into the woods
with a panther’s stealth, evidence of his military expertise. He’d be fine.
    She drummed fingers against the rough stone. She
mangled her lower lip. Why didn’t he come back? How long had he been gone? She
stared at her watch. Five minutes? Ten?
    She tied his jacket to her pack with shock cord and
jogged in place. She couldn’t just wait here doing nothing. She was putting off
disclosing one more place Jordan might be. She had to reach her brother
first, and she’d deceive Rick if she had to. To balance accounts, she might be
able to help him now. She adjusted her pack and tiptoed into the trees.
    The scent of pine and the sweetish decay of leaves
mingled in the cold air. She concentrated on her surroundings, listening for
voices or footsteps as she tried to follow Rick’s path. The only sounds came
from branches