Free Terry Spear - [Shifter 02] by Jaguar Fever Page B

really thought I was interested in him, more than just his hair. Besides, after Bill Bettinger came to the nursery, we should be more concerned about looking for him showing up here.”
    “Everett tore into him good from what Huntley told us. I doubt you’ll have any more trouble with Bettinger,” Wade said. He hoped to have taken Maya’s mind off her worries, at least for the moment. “What do you like to do that’s fun?”
    “Swimming.”
    That made him think of her wearing the black lace bra and panties again, swimming in the Amazon. Did she pack those this trip? He smiled.
    “What?” Maya asked, observing his expression.
    David looked at Wade.
    Wade said, “The chase.”
    Maya purred, “I just bet you love that.”
    David shook his head.
    They both watched him.
    David closed his book. “I like to read, swim…” He grinned. “…and chase things.”
    “Wade said you were reading a romantic suspense story. Do you really like them?”
    David smiled. “I’m learning what it takes to get the girl during a high-action adventure.”
    Maya chuckled and rolled her eyes.
    ***
    Maya had tried to hide her nervousness about leaving for Belize, but she hadn’t been able to. Now that hunters could be in the area, she was more than anxious to get there. She had to warn Connor and Kat about the hunters. She was certain her brother and Kat would have made a couple of treks into the jungle already, exploring and marking their territory—it was just instinctual.
    Maya prayed that they were fine. She wished she could have reached them by phone, but that was one of the problems with going to remote places. Yet the remote places were just what they needed so they could shift and run in the wild.
    She was grateful that Wade had tried to take her mind off her worries. She swore she’d seen Lion Mane and Bill Bettinger at the airport earlier. The blond guy’s hair had been pulled back in a ponytail, which had changed his appearance, but the redhead—well, she had to admit they’d been really far away.
    Still… the way the blond had caught her eye and looked startled had caused a shiver to run up her spine. When she tried to get Wade and David to verify who she’d seen, neither had caught sight of them. She guessed her mind was playing tricks on her.
    “About last night…” Wade began. His whole body posture was saying she was his —his girlfriend— his thigh touching hers, his head leaning close to hers, his arm slung over her shoulders with tenderness, even the way his eyes swallowed her up. That all made her resolve— to date lots of other shifters before she settled on one —melt at the edges.
    “You were out of your head.” Maya leaned back against her seat. “I understand.”
    His mouth quirked up a little, his darkened eyes smiling. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”
    No, she didn’t. She wanted to run with Wade in the jungle, wanted to see more of him. Wanted more of his kisses. And just… more. From the dark gravelly tone of his voice, he sounded like he already knew that.
    Yet, she was afraid of… making a mistake. Her mother had made one with their father. Would she also? Daughter like mother?
    Maya rested her hand lightly on Wade’s thigh. She hated that he had to run off and confront smugglers, even though his brother would be with him. She wished he could vacation with her.
    “I want to see more of you, Maya. I’ll be at the resort if I can make it.” Wade kissed her softly on the mouth. “Just get word to your family. David and I have to stop these men.”
    She wanted to see more of him, too, but she didn’t want him to think she was desperate. Not now that she knew others of their kind existed close to where she lived.
    “Connor could assist you in locating the hunters. He won’t want to leave Kat alone, but once I’m there with her, he can help the two of you.” She didn’t want just Wade and David dealing with however many men were behind this operation.
    “If we