Wild on You (27 page)

He gathered her closer. “Just one more minute.”

He was so tempting. She could lie there all morning, all day. And that was the problem. She wrestled her way out, when every cell of her body screamed to stay put, and opened her laptop. “Yes, she answered,” she said.

He came up behind her and wrapped his arm across her collarbone as he read the e-mail with her:

Addie clicked on the link, and it opened a webpage that read:

She clicked and saw that the bidding was up to $1,240. The auction ended in two hours. “Some of his more exotic hunts go for up to thirty thousand.”

“He’s not getting much of a response yet. I say we bid.”

“We have to put in a phone number.”

“Chase gave me an untraceable cell phone. We’ll use Saxby’s name. No doubt they’ll do a search on it, and I don’t want them to find my picture in case those thugs recognize me. I’ll have to change up my looks to match him.” He scratched his chin, his nails brushing against the bristle. “I’ll let this grow for camouflage.”

He recited the number, and she entered a bid. “I guess we wait to hear if we’ve won.”

Their gazes met on the word
wait
. Somehow her body wanted more of him. The heated way he was looking at her indicated he felt the same.

“No.” She shook her head to emphasize it. “Just because we’re naked, alone, and … well, naked and alone, we can’t keep having sex. It’s crazy. And I only had one wild card to play.”

He ducked his chin and gave her a seductive smile. “Seems a shame to waste naked and alone, don’t you think?”

“Risk!” She could feel herself crumbling. Damned sex god. He’d corrupted her.

A knock on the door tore her out of her agony. But it wasn’t her door.

“Hey, Risk. It’s Julian. I’m heading out, just wanted to say goodbye.”

Risk groaned as he threw on his pants and shirt, brushed his fingers through his hair, and stepped out into the hallway. Addie could hear the murmur of voices floating through the wall. She was sure there would be some good-natured ribbing, maybe Risk denying that anything had happened. Then a third voice, Sax’s probably. She would stay in the bathroom for a while. Might as well get a shower and wash away that glorious scent of the kind of lovemaking she could not partake in again.

When she emerged, Risk was sitting at her computer. He looked freshly washed himself, hair glistening with water and smelling like shampoo and toothpaste.

“Did the guys give you a hard time when you came out of my room?” she asked, grabbing up her clothing.

“Of course.” He let his gaze linger on her, wearing nothing but a towel. “I denied everything to protect your honor. But the walls aren’t that insulated, and apparently we were making noise.”

She covered her face.

“Don’t sweat it, doll. We’re consenting adults. Anyway, Julian says goodbye.” He turned back to the computer, pecked at the keys in an amazingly fast way, and then shut it down. “No response yet on the bid, but we’re still winning. Don’t worry, we’ll keep it that way. I sent the link to Chase and spoke with him. He wasn’t real happy about us—”

“Oh, geez, he knows we spent the night together, too, doesn’t he? And he’s going to fire you for banging your client.”

He gave her a droll smile. “Will you stop interrupting me? He wasn’t happy that we put in the bid without letting him know. I had warned him there’s a reason I’m called Risk when we first spoke about working together. I took the blame.”

“You didn’t have to do that. I’m just as impetuous as you are. And I’m the client. He can’t fire me.”

He gave her a soft smile. “Thanks for your concern, but he’s not going to fire me over that. Or spending the night with you. I’ll leave you to get dressed, then we’ll grab
breakfast. We’re meeting him in thirty minutes.”

She felt both relief and disappointment at not having time to indulge in any more mind-bending activities.

They had a quick breakfast, with Risk forgoing bacon in favor of the faster-cooking eggs. Right on time, they were all seated at the conference table.

Chase had the webpage pulled up on his laptop. “My computer guy, who goes by the name of hackerX, is working on the website. It’s the secure kind of members-only site that porn operations use. We’ve got ten minutes until the auction ends. Let’s take a look at satellite surveillance of Elrod’s property while we wait. He has four hundred acres deeded in his name in southern Georgia. It abuts another two hundred acres registered to a company I’m having trouble finding information on. That’s a lot of acreage to cover.”

Risk leaned forward to study the screen. “There’s a cluster of buildings that should help narrow it down. They’re nowhere near the roads flanking the property. If I can’t infil as a client, I’ll hoof it through the woods and check out those buildings. If they’ve got a tiger, that’s where it’ll be.”

“You mean
we’ll
hoof it,” Addie added. “It’s my fault that poor cub is in this predicament. If I hadn’t been trying to steal him, those jerks wouldn’t have had the opportunity to take him.”

Risk’s stare brooked no argument. “You are not going back into those woods. All I need to do is find the cub, take pictures, and get the hell out of there. You don’t need to be there for that.”

“Yes, I do. I need to be on hand to check the cub and make sure he’s all right. He may need food or medical care.”

Chase raised his hand. “Addie, Risk is right. We don’t need both of you in danger. And you’re right; the cub may need immediate assistance. That’s why you’ll be nearby, ready to provide it as soon as we can liberate the cat. But I cannot let you accompany Risk onto the property.”

“You said that getting a search warrant through official channels might take time, especially since we’re obtaining the proof in slightly illegal ways.”

“Let’s deal with that as we get there. We still have to ascertain that the cub is there. You’ve already chased two geese. This may be a third one.”

Risk’s phone rang. The incoming number was blocked. He answered it on the speakerphone. “Saxby,” he answered.

“Yeah, this is Bill. You’re the winning bid on our blind hunt. How’d you find out about us? Your name isn’t in our system.”

“A friend of mine knows a guy who goes hunting with you from time to time. I’m afraid I don’t know that guy’s name, but my friend explained the confidentiality of the situation. He said you offered different kinds of hunting opportunities. I’m bored of hunting deer. I’m out for more of a challenge, something a little more exotic. I understand your blind hunts can be pretty interesting.”

Bill chuckled. “They sure can. Seeing as you’re new, you’ll have to play by our rules. I imagine your friend explained all that to you. We got those left-wing Commies and animal activists crawling all over our asses. We don’t take any chances.”

Addie cringed, knowing exactly whom he was talking about. She mouthed,
I think that’s Elrod
.

Risk gave her a nod of agreement. “Just tell me what I need to do.”

“Good. We need some new blood. As you know, the hunt needs to be completed by the end of tomorrow. The merchandise is what you’d call hot.”

Risk met Addie’s wide-eyed gaze. “I have the next couple of days off, so that works for me.”

“Get yourself down to Buck, Georgia. From the Atlanta airport you’ll head north. Check in to the Buck Lodge on Route 62. The innkeeper will let me know when you’ve arrived. I’ll be in touch then. Bring cash. You’re lucky we didn’t have a lot of takers. You got a deal.” He rattled off the inn’s phone number and closed the call.

Addie pushed to her feet. “Hot merchandise. It must be the tiger. They’re going to let someone hunt a
baby tiger
? Even if he’s not tiny, that’s heinous. And how much of a challenge will a young, malnourished cub be for a hunter?”

“I think they’re going for the uniqueness of the hunt, not the challenge,” Risk
said.

Chase gave a nod. “Sounds like we have a viable lead. Addie, can you arrange to get your van down to Buck?”

She nodded, anxious to get the cub into her custody. “I’ll ask Shirley to drive it down.”

Chase clicked on the map site. “Should take her about eight hours. You, Sax, and Risk will fly up and rent a couple of vehicles. Addie, you and Sax will lay low while Risk checks in and gets the process started.”

“I’ll be Babbette,” she told Risk with a smile.

“Babbette,” he repeated with fondness. “Good idea.”

She turned to the others, who clearly had no idea what she was talking about. “That’s a disguise I keep with me if I’m investigating people who might recognize me.”

“That’ll work well,” Chase said. “But you have to promise me that you’ll stay put. Saxby will be your bodyguard while Risk goes undercover. Is that agreed?” He waited for her response.

“Absolutely.”

“No running off,” Risk said. “No taking matters into your own hands. You have to trust that we’ve got it under control.”

“I promise,” she told all of them.

Chase tapped his fingers on the tabletop as he seemed to assess her compliance. “Your father will have my ass if something happens to you. So if you find yourself tempted to jump into the action, and you can’t think about your own safety, think about mine.” He gave her a subtle smile before turning to the other two. “We have to consider that this is a setup. Are you ready for that?”

Risk nodded. “I’ll be armed with my hunting rifle and backups.”

Addie’s heart plunged. “But you’ll be walking right into it.”

“We’re just preparing ourselves for the possibility. Otherwise it should be a quick in-and-out operation. He’s going to show me the cub, and I’ll have second thoughts.” Risk made a distasteful face. “I can’t shoot a
baby
. What kind of guy am I? I’ll back out
and leave.”

“What about picture proof?” Addie asked, not wanting to think about him being in their lair. “Do you dare bring a camera? If this is an illegal hunt, they’re not going to let you document it. That’s how a country singer got arrested for illegally killing a bear in Minnesota. Elrod isn’t going to take any chances.”

“I can get some pictures with my cell phone. But if not, I’m still a witness.”

Chase closed the laptop. “We have a plan. Sax, assume you’re being watched, which means no contact between you and Risk. If these guys pick up Risk, follow at a distance. So far we have nothing concrete tying this hunt to Live Shot. If something happens, you’ll be the link.”

Addie’s heart plummeted. “If something happens?” She looked at Risk. “And how can you not look the least bit worried?”

“If you knew some of the missions we ran, you’d understand that this is nothing I can’t handle.”

“That doesn’t make me any more comfortable. Sneaking in is a better option.”

“I’ll guarantee you that if Elrod took the cub, he’s waiting for you to come save it. There’ll be no sneaking up on him. We need to get the cub and make you safe. This is the only way to do that.”

Chase got to his feet. “All right. I’ll arrange for payment. You pack, and I’ll have Artemis take you to the airfield.” He met each of their gazes. “Good luck.”

Sax and Chase departed. Risk must have sensed that she wanted to say something to him alone because he stayed behind.

She let out an agitated breath as she neared him. “Don’t—”

“Do anything crazy. Is that what you were going to tell me?”

“Yes, and there you go, interrupting me again.”

“I will say the same to you. You listen to Sax the same way you’re supposed to listen to me.”

She put her hands on his chest. “Don’t take any chances. Please.”

He gave her a soft smile and covered her hands with his. “I will do my best to
keep myself in one piece.” He drew his finger up beneath her chin, tilting her mouth closer to his and planting a tender kiss on her lips. “Then you’ll have to figure out what to do with me when we’re done.”

Her heartbeat hitched. “What … what do you mean?”

He slid his leg between hers and pulled her closer. “I’ve been chasing the thrill my whole life, because it was the only way I could
feel
.” He braced her face with his big hands. “And making love with you is definitely a thrill. But just holding you like this, laughing with you, waking up in the morning with you in my arms …” He shook his head. “It’s a feeling far beyond storming a compound or soaring off a cliff. Not just an in-the-moment thrill but a steady thrum. You did that to me. So now you’re going to have to deal with the consequences.”

Buck, Georgia, was a small town, no doubt about it. Sax and Addie were several car lengths behind him. Risk didn’t like her being alone with Sax. It wasn’t that he was worried Sax would make a move on her; not after their little exchange in the men’s room at the airport.

“I like her sexy little costume,” Sax had said with a gleam Risk knew well.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“You’re in love with her, aren’t you? I’ve never seen you this jacked up over a woman. We’ve had our friendly competitions, but that was more about ego. You care about this one.”

Risk finished washing his hands and flicked the water at Sax. “I care that you don’t put your moves on her and ding her heart.”

Sax flung his hands back at Risk. “Let me tell you why you have nothing to worry about, my friend. First of all, I can tell she means something to you, and I’d never put moves on a woman you care about. Second, and it pains me to admit this, she doesn’t give me a second look. I’ve even given her the Sax smile”—he demonstrated his ladykiller grin—“and nothing. I was just testing my theory, is all. And she proved it a thousandfold. ’Cause guess where those pretty blues went after they skipped over me? Yeah, you, buddy. So relax. I swear, you’re more worked up over me sitting in a car with your babe than going into enemy territory.”