“Kaka?”
“Another local people.”
“That’s it?”
He moved her hair over her shoulder. “I also had a field assistant.” With whom he’d had a brief sexual relationship. But he didn’t add that. It was only relevant to him in that it had been a long time ago and was seeming more remote by the second.
“Still, it’s got to be dangerous,” she said.
“It’s worth it.”
“How close do you have to get?”
“To within fifty meters. The first bull I ever anesthetized was standing in a bai—”
“What’s a bai?”
“A big wet, grassy clearing in the forest. They go there to drink. Anyway, the water was about three feet deep, and I had to walk into it to hide behind a small bush so he wouldn’t know where I was when I shot him.” He chuckled, remembering. “As soon as the dart struck, he splashed water all over us with his trunk and body, drenching everyone. And the next three minutes felt like hours as we waited to see where he’d go.”
“Where did he go?”
“He ran to the water’s edge and into the forest, and we rushed behind him. Our Bambenjelle trackers led the way. We ran for fifteen minutes before we caught sight of him again. It was quite a chase.”
“And you’ve given up all that to work in Earl’s feed store?”
She spoke lightly, but he could tell there was something more serious underlying her tone. He suspected she wanted to know what he was really doing here, how long he’d be staying. He also suspected she’d already guessed the answer.
“I’ve recently improved my situation, remember?” he said. “I’ll soon be working at the high school with you.”
“But you could never really be happy with either job, could you?”
He sat up, finished his wine and stood. It was getting late. If she was still awake, Liz would be wondering where he was. “Probably not,” he admitted. He wanted to make love to Reenie, to wake up in the morning with her naked in his arms, to have breakfast together.
But he knew he couldn’t have a casual relationship with Reenie. She had three children. She deserved someone who could offer her a commitment.
And then there was Liz and Keith and the past…
“That’s what I thought,” she said.
He reached out and took her hands. “Reenie, if things were different—”
She pulled away. “Don’t explain. I understand.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
She grinned and managed a little shrug. “I don’t want to hurt you, either.”
Had she possessed a little less spunk, he probably could’ve walked away from her right then. But she had the spark of a fighter in her eyes, one that said she might be down but she was far from out.
Bringing her to him, he ran his hands up her backside, pressing their bodies tightly together. He was looking for a good excuse, anything that might let him bend his own rules a bit.
Her defiance offered him that.
He meant to lower his mouth to hers, to at least leave with a taste of her on his lips. Wise or not, he refused to begrudge himself such a small concession. But he’d underestimated her. Giving him a devilish grin, she turned her face away at the last second so that he barely caught her cheek.
“Good night,” she said, stepping out of his reach.
He hesitated for a second, wondering if she knew what she’d just done to him. He had a feeling she did.
“Don’t challenge me,” he murmured.
“Why not?” she responded flippantly.
“Because you already know what I want.”
“And?”
“Getting it wouldn’t be good for either one of us.”
“Maybe I’m tired of being good,” she said. “But I’ll respect your wishes. Good night.”
Before Isaac could even blink, he was standing out on her front stoop with the door closed firmly behind him. Maybe I’m tired of being good? If she wanted a torrid affair and was taking volunteers, he wanted to be the first in line. But—
Remember Liz. I should be happy the evening has ended so benignly.
Only he wasn’t happy at all. All he could think about was how hungry he was to feel Reenie beneath him.
He knocked.
When she opened the door, it was only by a few inches. “Did you forget something?” she asked innocently.
He pushed the door open wider. “Yeah, this.” Taking hold of her shirt, he pulled her to him, and kissed her, really kissed her. This time he didn’t give her the chance to turn away, but neither did she try. She put her arms around his neck and arched into him. One of them moaned; or maybe they both did. Then she parted her lips, letting him drink deeply, until desire burned through him like a good shot of whiskey.
When he finally let her go, they were both shaken and breathless. “Some people just don’t know what’s good for them,” he muttered, his eyes taking in her flushed face, her half-lowered eyelids.
“Are you talking about me or you?” she challenged.
He met her gaze. “Maybe both.”
“Then consider that kiss something to remember me by,” she said.
The door clicked closed once again.
Isaac frowned at the panel, then stabbed a hand through his hair. Damn, she was frustrating. Why couldn’t she simply agree that they had some type of powerful attraction going on that was better left alone—for everyone’s sake—and then leave it alone? Instead she had to make him feel as though he was missing out on something he might later regret.
Go home. Complete your grant applications. Get the hell out of Dundee. This woman could stand between him and the future he had scripted for himself. He’d never run into anyone else like her.
On the other hand, if she could take the heat, why was he the one backing away?
He pounded the door again. “There’s more where that came from,” he called. “But you’d better be damn sure you know what you’re asking for if you ever invite me back.”
Then he walked away.
LIZ WAS UP. Isaac could see the kitchen light burning through the front window when he pulled into the driveway, and sighed before letting himself into the house.
“Isaac?” his sister called as he closed the front door.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
She came to stand at the threshold of the kitchen, wearing an elegant cream-colored silk robe. She looked as though she’d been losing even more weight. She didn’t seem to be doing well in Dundee. She had no friends. Keith called her occasionally, but she was distant even with him.