Dead Reckoning (24 page)

One step closer. “I didn’t ask. This isn’t a request.”

“Look, Brutus, you’re not—” She clamped her mouth shut, realizing she’d nearly spouted off about who was the boss. “I’m not going. That's it.”

“Reece.”

“I know who you are. But Brutus fits better.”

He quirked an eyebrow, his eyes sparkling. On the incline, he shifted—one leg behind and one in front as he squinted at her. “Shiloh, you need to get back in the water.”

She held his gaze, lost for a second in how warm and inviting his eyes were. She let her attention drift to the glass-like lake. “I can’t.” Too many memories.

He inched closer. “You have to overcome this. The sooner, the better.”

Again she looked into his eyes, feeling their warmth all the way to the pit of her stomach. Maybe he was right. She’d let the fear drown her, disabling the exhilaration she always found in the water. So, yeah, he had a point. “Maybe.”

A half smile. “Good.”

She let him lead her to the edge of the water. “We’re alone,” she mumbled, glancing around.

“Yeah, they had a training exercise, but we’ve only got a couple of hours.” He crossed his arms, grabbed the edges of his shirt, and pulled it off . Shiloh averted her gaze, heat rushing into her cheeks. He nodded at her.

“What?”

“You first.”

“Oh.” Wiggling her toes, she watched the water and sand squish between them. She slowly walked in, allowing the water to seep over her ankles … her calves. She felt his assessment. Was she too slow for his liking? Finally, she folded her arms. “I can’t do this with you watching.”

Without a word, he shallow dived into the water. A huge fountain of white foam roared up from where he impacted.

This was her chance. She struggled for footing and then hurried back to the grassy knoll. She spotted Gita, standing atop the hill. Shiloh waved and smiled. The woman waved back—and then her eyes widened.

Shiloh turned. Reece barreled toward her. He bent and flopped her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“No!” she gasped, wriggling and pounding his back. “Put me down!”

He jogged into the water.

“Put me down! NO!” she screamed as her body flew through the air.

The surface loomed before her. She inhaled deeply and snapped her mouth shut just milliseconds before she went under. Cold glory enraptured her. Yet fury drove her to the lake floor. Serve him right if she drowned. Make him sweat? The idea curled around her like a water moccasin.

But he didn’t come for her. Rising, she promised herself he wouldn’t forget this. He’d pay. And she’d make sure he paid good. She burst from the lake and whipped her hair
from her face, searching the area around her. Hands skimming the water, she turned in circles. Closer to the lake now, Gita laughed.

“Where is he?” Shiloh shouted.

The woman shrugged.

Shiloh's legs whipped out from under her. Underwater, she fishtailed, probing the depths. There
!
She swam toward Reece. He torpedoed away. Up for air, she batted the strands that drooped into her face. She kept her movements small as she circled, hoping to spot him before—

“No!”

Shiloh spun at Gita's warning, but not in time.

Lurching, Reece grabbed her shoulders and dunked her, wishing he could laugh. When her face went under, he noticed her mouth open and released her. Wading a few feet away, he watched her sputter and cough.

“I’ll kill you!” she growled, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You idiot. You could’ve drowned me.”

Good. Her mind wasn’t on the fear. “You’re too good of a swimmer for me to take you that easily.”

Although she was good, Shiloh would need some tips on aquatic games. He saw her plotting, pretending her eyes were stinging worse than they were. Maybe in chlorinated water, she’d be in pain, but right now, she was buying time. He’d wait. Let her think her plan could work. She would launch at him— her hands going for the jugular probably. She didn’t know he was a former Navy SEAL. He’d been trained for this.

Shiloh dropped below the surface.

His heart skipped a beat at the unexpected move. He saw her slithering toward the far side where the reeds clogged the water. At least they were in the mountains, or she’d be swimming in sewage.

Lowering himself so only his eyes were above water, Reece watched the ripples and bubbles, effectively monitoring her movement. Reeds swayed. Then … nothing.

Curiosity piqued, he eased himself under. Nothing. Where did she go? He peeked above. How had she—

A swift knock against his skull sent him spiraling into the water. He reached. Grabbed her shirt. They wrangled. She wiggled free.

He rose to the top and broke the surface, waiting.

She erupted, shouting, “Ha! Nailed you!”

“You’re a fast learner.” With firm strokes, he moved himself farther out in the water. “But can you do it again? Without the reeds for distraction?”

Challenge glinted in her blue-grey eyes.

Reece dove straight to the very bottom. Almost right away, he spotted her attack. He torpedoed out to the buoy, pausing halfway. Her lithe body streamed through the lake less than ten feet away.
Atta, girl.
Once within reach, the buoy would give her a moment to catch her breath. This was a walk in the park for him. Hand resting on the metal bobber, he rose and waited.

Shiloh was right behind him. She poked her head up and splashed him!

He shook his head, wiping the lake water from his face. “You’re a brat.”

She chuckled and held onto the contraption. Angled around, she clung to the buoy—her body bent in half with her toes nearly above the water. “So, you tired?”

“What?”

With a huge push, she shot up and dove in. Using a wicked breast stroke, she sliced through the water with great speed.

Unbelievable. He’d taken that break for her! He grinned. Then with butterfly strokes, he barreled after her, chiding himand
self for once again underestimating her … but she was injured. Had been through a traumatic experience.

He treaded water and glanced toward the shore. She wasn’t more than eight feet ahead. What he wouldn’t do for a prop to scuttle past her. Pumping his arms again, he prayed he could catch her, or he’d never live this down. With each rise, he measured the distance, glad to find himself gaining steadily.

Closer … he had to catch her. Miller would love this.

His finger grazed flesh—a foot.

Rising one last time, he found himself almost even with her. Arms wrapped around her waist, he pulled her down and then burst up. Together, they were instantly bathed in the warmth of the Indian sun. Slick rocks beneath their feet made traction difficult. Shiloh wobbled and slipped, a laugh seeping from her chest.

Reece couldn’t help but grin as she panted and sloshed toward the bank. She gripped her knees and bent to catch her breath.

With a hand on her back, he chuckled. “You’re a she-devil, you know that?” Inhaling deeply, he waited for his heart rate to slow. Then let his breath out.

Shiloh dragged herself upright, her head tilted back. “I haven’t swum that hard in years. I thought I would drown trying to beat you.” She eased herself down, sitting so only her head and shoulders remained above the water.

Something swished toward her.

What was—

Shiloh sucked in a breath. “There's something in the water.” She scooted around.

“Keep still.” Reece tensed, uncertain what sort of hairy creature swam this lake.

She yelped.

Like a flash the furry animal darted upward. It sprang toward Shiloh and latched onto her shoulder. With a scream,

she batted it off . The thing scampered onto the bank and sat staring at them, brown eyes blinking.

Hand clamped on her neck, Shiloh spun and gaped. “A monkey? In the water?”

Reece noticed a red trail of blood sliding down her neck. “You okay?” He sloshed closer.

“Just a scratch.” Shiloh winced.

“Let me see.” He lifted her hand from the scratch—she faltered, but he caught her and held her in place. Sure enough, a two-inch scratch. “You’re up-to-date on your shots, right?”

“Of course.” She frowned and shrugged away from him. “Can’t believe that thing was swimming!”

He cleared the hair from her shoulder to keep it from irritating the wound. “The scratch isn’t deep, but get Hinck to put something on it. The waters here aren’t polluted like the lowlands or cities, but you’ll want to make sure.” The stitches in her shoulder caught his attention. Gently, he fanned his thumb over them. “Your stitches held, despite that killer breaststroke.”

“I had someone to beat.” Blue-grey eyes skidded into his, and she froze.

His hand slid down her arm. The way she seemed to shudder under his touch sent warmth through his chest. Stalled, his heart tried to recapture a normal rhythm. Her gaze tiptoed around his. He brushed the strands of hair from the side of her face, drawing her eyes to his again. So incredible. Her skin was so soft … eyes so beguiling. Her lips drew him closer.

Snap out of it, Jaxon!

The mental stab jerked him back. What was he doing? He took a step away, only then realizing his arm had been around her waist.

“I see you two have met Aras.”

Reece whipped his head toward the voice. Miller stood with the monkey and a look that said he’d seen everything.

“That beast nearly sliced my neck.” Shiloh trudged from the lake, stomping her feet on the bank. She wrung her hair, acting as if nothing had just happened.

Reece wished he could say the same thing. His buddy wouldn’t say a word about this. He’d wait for Reece to bring it up, which he wouldn’t. Ever. Right now, right here, he left whatever misguided emotional rebound had taken place.

“We thought of dyeing her hair blue so she couldn’t sneak up on us. Besides, Aras is a little wild. We think it would fit her personality,” Miller said, walking up the hill with Shiloh.

Reece appreciated his friend giving him space. Unable to follow and wanting to recover from the insanity that had blindsided him, he dove into the water, ready to beat his mind and body into submission.

An hour later, he sat on the grass, limbs aching as he studied the sunset. What kind of jerk takes advantage of a woman less than thirty-six hours after her fiancé and his father are killed? He needed to back off . Way off . Shiloh's heart belonged to another man, and Reece had no business encroaching on that. Even if he had a suspicion she’d talked herself into that engagement, she must have some pretty deep feelings to be willing to give marriage a try. Then there was the whole matter of faith. From all appearances, she had a beef with both her heavenly Father and her earthly father.

Obviously, the magic he’d sensed between himself and the amazing Shiloh Blake had been one-sided. Her reaction to him in the water—Stockholm Syndrome. Had to be. She was vulnerable and shattered.

He vowed not to cross the line again. He had once before. Visions of Chloe swarmed his mind, stinging reminders of how he’d failed her, failed the mission, failed the agency, failed himself. He’d gotten too hung up in what he thought was love. And she died.

This time he wouldn’t make that mistake. He snatched his shirt and stomped back to camp. In his hut, he grabbed clean clothes, only then noticing his secure cell light blinking. He and Nielsen had agreed on no contacts until the dust settled. It hadn’t even been thirty-six hours. Flipping open the phone, he tensed.

H
E’D ALMOST KISSED HER! HOW SHE WANTED HIS KISS.

And that was the problem. She was ashamed of herself. Khalid hadn’t even been dead three days. The enigmatic thing choking her reason was how she’d never wanted Khalid's kisses. He’d kissed her twice since arriving in India. Each time made her tense.

Not with Reece. How could that be? She didn’t even know the man the way a girl should before something like that.

“Shiloh? You with me?” Reece leaned in, staring from his spot next to her at the picnic table.

Only then did she notice the camp had gone mysteriously quiet.

“S-sorry.” Clearing her throat, she tried to gather the remnants of conversation from her subconscious but came up blank. Did he know how unnerving his presence was? She didn’t want to look at him. Didn’t want to talk to him.

He straddled the bench, facing her as she cupped a bowl of stew. “I have to leave to take care of some things.”

Her courage failed. She studied the murky meal with chunks. “You said you wouldn’t leave me.” She hated the desperation in her own voice, but it consumed her. “Fifty feet—you said you’d never be more than fifty feet from me.”

“Shiloh …” The way he whispered her name pushed her to her feet.

He caught her hand and then slowly released it.

In the distance a storm rumbled, mirroring the one in her heart. She needed to get away from him. She started toward her hut.

Reece followed and tugged her around. Quietly, he closed the space between them. “I would never leave you here if I felt there was danger. Miller is my equal in every way.”

“No,” she snapped. “He's not you.” Aware that the guys in the camp pretended not to listen, she fled toward her only sanctuary.