Free Daughter of Destiny by Lindsay McKenna Page B

now, and maybe he’ll have some names for us shortly.” Jake glanced at Kai. She was lying back against the seat, her eyes closed, her hands resting in her lap. He could see the dark shadows beneath her eyes. And couldn’t help noticing how long and thick her eyelashes were against her coppery cheekbones.
    Snorting, Kai growled, “His explanation felt right to me, but this is another world I know nothing of. Rich millionaires paying thieves to steal Native American power objects to gloat over?” She glanced toward Jake through slittedeyes. “Smythe was hard to take. I hope not all Aussie males are like him. I could barely tolerate his overinflated ego.”
    Chuckling, Jake said, “Mike Houston did warn us ahead of time, remember? He said some Aussie men were throwbacks to the 1950s when men were like Neanderthals. They haven’t yet learned to evolve like American guys and become humble. I’m sure it will happen over time.”
    Kai joined his laughter. Her heart twinged as she looked through her lashes at Jake’s strong profile. Oh, he was terribly handsome, there was no doubt. Those high cheekbones and his aquiline nose proved his Cherokee heritage, and he had his mother’s eyes. Kai remembered Jake’s mom. She’d had the largest, most beautiful golden eyes Kai had ever seen—so full of life, sparkling with intelligence and wisdom. Jake had inherited her gentle wisdom, too.
    For that, Kai breathed an inner sigh of relief. He could have been like Lionel Smythe, who thought he was God’s gift to women.
    When Smythe had given her an obviously ogling look, Kai had glared back at him, with such fierceness the man practically went ashen. He got the not-so-subtle message that she wasn’t the least bit interested in him. Right now, men weren’t on her list of favorite subjects. Well…most weren’t. Jake was okay, but he was an old friend from her past—although it was a past she wanted to forget. Having him on this mission stirred up painful memories of her childhood. Kai sighed, desperately wanting to sleep. “Are we there yet?”
    â€œYep, we are. Take a look, here’s the hotel. Nice design. We’re home….” He turned the car onto the asphalt driveway. Ahead was a red stucco building with walls shapedin curves, reminding him of a woman’s wide hips. Or of the smooth, feminine curves of Uluru, perhaps. There was a huge fountain of water on one side of wide stairs leading up to double glass doors. The water trickled down in a three-foot wide channel over smooth red rocks.
    Everywhere he looked, Jake saw dark-skinned Aboriginal people, from teenagers to the elderly. They were dressed casually in everyday Anglo clothing, with no hotel uniform in sight. A youth of about eighteen, with curly black hair tamed into a ponytail at the back of his head, came forward with a wide smile on his face.
    â€œWelcome! Welcome! We are glad you had arrived….” He opened the door for Kai.
    She couldn’t help but return the young man’s infectious, toothy smile. His dark brown eyes were filled with genuine warmth, and as she unwound from the car, she felt her tiredness receding. After all, his people were her people, and she never forgot that. Indigenous people around the world were all connected on a much deeper level.
    She saw him look at her with admiration and he pointed to her skin. “Your color is familiar. Are you Native American?”
    â€œYes, I am. Eastern Cherokee.”
    Thrusting his hand out, he said, “I’m called Sam. We are one.”
    Gripping his large hand, Kai shook it warmly. “Yes, we are one,” she said, suddenly choked up by the young man’s sincere demeanor.
    â€œCome, come, I will take your bags. We have cool lime water with honey waiting for you inside.”
    Jake smiled at Sam as the two of them shook hands. “Sounds good to me.”
    Kai nodded. “I’m