Setting down the book on the bed, Josie asked anxiously, “Is he going to be all right?”
“Yes.” He went to the basin and poured clear, fresh water over his dirty hands. “His uncle put a proper splint on his leg. The helicopter just left to take them all to the hospital in Marrakech.”
“Thank heaven,” Josie whispered.
Kasimir didn’t answer. But as he dried his hands, she saw the shadows beneath his eyes, the tightness of his shoulders.
Without a word, she came up behind him. Closing her eyes, she wrapped her arms around his body, pressing her cheek against his back until she felt his tension slowly relax into her embrace.
A moment later, with a shudder, he finally turned around in her arms to face her.
“You were the first to reach him,” he said in a low voice. “Thank you.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “It was nothing.”
Kasimir gave her a ghost of a smile. “You were much faster than I thought.”
“I told you my father and Bree were gone a lot,” she said in a small voice. “My babysitter was a former championship snowboarder from the Lower Forty-Eight.”
“You grew up in Anchorage, didn’t you?” He gave a low, humorless laugh. “Had a season pass at Alyeska?”
“Since I was four years old.” She gave him a trembling smile. “If it’s any consolation, I’m faster than Bree, too. She’s horrible on the mountain. Strap skis or a snowboard on her feet and she’ll plow nose-first into the snow.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“But you and I,” she said quickly, “it was a close race...”
“Not even.” He bared his teeth in a smile. “You won by a mile.”
With an intake of breath, Josie searched his gaze. “Kasimir, you have to know that I never meant to—”
“And I see you’ve packed. Good.” He glanced down at her backpack. “I’ll show you to your new tent.”
“Fantastic,” she said, crestfallen. Against her will, she hungrily searched his handsome face, his deep blue eyes, his sensual lips. She didn’t want to be away from him. She didn’t. “If not for the accident,” she said, glancing at him sideways, “the race could have ended very differently...”
“Josie, please,” Kasimir growled. “Do not attempt to assuage my masculine pride. That would just add insult to injury.” Picking up her backpack, he tossed it over his shoulder. “I’ll send over your trunk of new clothes later. You’ll likely only be here at the camp for another week or two.”
“Just me? Not you?”
He set his jaw. “I’m going to go look for your sister.”
“I thought you said it was too soon,” Josie said faintly.
He gave her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’ll leave you and go get her. Both the things you wanted. It’s your lucky day.”
It was ending. He was leaving her. She thought of the time she’d wasted, longing for him to kiss her and doing nothing. Waiting—always waiting—with a timid heart!
“But you said you couldn’t trust me. That if you brought back my sister early, I might demand a hundred million dollars for my land...”
He gave a hard laugh. “You’re more trustworthy than anyone in this crazy, savage world. Including me.” Grabbing her upper arms, he looked down at her. “Serves me right,” he muttered. “I never should have tried to get around my promise.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Take me with you.”
His eyes widened, then he slowly shook his head. “It’ll be better...for your sake...for both of us...it’s best that we separate.”
“Separate,” she echoed, feeling hollow.
“Until the land comes through.”
She swallowed. “Until we divorce.”
His lips curved into a humorless smile. “You know what, I’m almost glad I lost.” He tucked a loose tendril of her brown hair behind her ear, then looked straight into her eyes. “Save yourself, Josie. For your next husband. For a man who can deserve you. Who can love you,” he added softly.
Turning away, Kasimir started to walk towards the door.
“I intended to lose the race,” she blurted out.
She heard his intake of breath. He slowly turned to face her.
“Why?” he asked in a low voice.
She gulped. She had to be brave. To tell the truth. And do it now. Now, without thinking about the risk or cost. Now.
Josie crossed the tent to him. Standing up on her tiptoes, she put her hands on his shoulders and looked straight into his startled blue eyes. “Because I wanted you to seduce me,” she whispered.