“Go,” he told her. “I can’t leave while you’re standing here with me, and we need to get on the road.”
She sighed and moved away. She’d just reached the bathroom door again when his next words stopped her.
“Abby.”
She turned to him.
“I’m going to need you again tonight.” He licked his lips as his gaze devoured her, and yet, there was something more in his eyes. He was upset. For wanting her? For needing her? Or for knowing that he wouldn’t be able to fight the need tonight? It didn’t matter to her.#p#分页标题#e#
“I’m going to need you too,” she whispered. A grin tugged her lips as she heard the purr rumble up from his chest behind her. She was definitely going to need him too.
Chapter Six
From the journal of Abby Lane
The Professor knows I’ve been sneaking away from camp. He called me into his tent tonight, and I was afraid he would send me home. I can’t go yet. There are more questions I need to discover the answers to.
Instead, he shocked me. He knows what I am searching for! He introduced me to one of the other students traveling with the group. She is always with him, and now I know why. She's his daughter, and they know the legend of the paka watu. Jess has been searching for information on another legend, one about wolves, and has come across bits and pieces of the cat people in her research.
We share so much in common. I feel as if she is my soul sister, both of us immersed in legends of the past and the belief that they are more than stories, more than tall tales spun before a fire to entertain. We believe. For the first time in so long, I am not alone.
Professor Mueller and his daughter will help me. She’s hit a dead end on her project and wants to work with me. I promised her I’d help her too. We spent the evening chatting as if we’d been friends since birth, instead of meeting for the first time mere hours ago. She is by far the most intelligent woman I’ve ever met, and I can see the pride in her father’s eyes when he looks at her. Would my father have glanced my way with the same expression? I’d like to believe he would have.
Professor Mueller has warned us to be discreet and watch where we are when we talk. I’m realizing he is a bit paranoid. He swears there is evil out there and it is watching us closely. He urges us to be careful.
Jess and I laugh, but we relent at least in where we speak. We’re in the same tent now, and she’s joined me on my nightly forays to visit with some of the bushmen. They seem drawn to her blonde beauty and effervescence. It makes them more receptive to talking with us. She seems to have that effect on people. Where I am more quiet and introverted, she is bubbly and outgoing, very much a people person.
One thing is certain. This trip was meant to be. No matter what answers I find here, or if I only find more questions, I have found something I didn’t even realize I was missing. I’ve found family in Jess and Professor Mueller. They have both accepted me into their inner circle as if I’ve always been there. Jess says it is because I share their passion, and it makes me just as crazy as they are.
* * * *
Abby paused with her shirt above her head at the knock on the door. It wasn’t like Tah to knock on the door, but who knew how much food he was bringing back with him this morning. He’d certainly burned a lot of calories with her the night before.
She pulled the T-shirt he’d purchased over her head. They definitely needed to talk about his taste. Her jeans were snug and sat so low on her hips she was afraid to bend over for anything, in case she ended up mooning the room. And the T-shirt, though plain, was v-necked, giving anyone who cared to look a great view of her cleavage, which she had in spades thanks to the curve-hugging bra he’d purchased. But God, it felt so good against her skin, along with the matching panties. He’d even thought to pick up some thick white socks.
She cautiously pulled open the door and felt her stilted greeting dying on her lips as she took in the two men standing there, the two very big men.
“Uhhhh,” the dark-haired one glanced at the number on the door before looking back at her. “Is this Tah’s room?”#p#分页标题#e#
It only took her brain a few seconds to place them. Logan and Reno, the two buddies always around Tah at the bar. He must have called them. Why hadn’t he told her that?
“He’ll be back in a minute.” She went with her gut and held the door wide, inviting them in. Obviously, Tah trusted them or he wouldn’t have called, told them where he was, and had them join him. “Come on in. You can wait for him here.”