“I’ll do it.” Sara hurled herself across Mattie and grabbed the receiver before anyone else could. Definitely a control freak.
It took a few minutes before anyone replied. As Sara talked, Travis glanced at Mattie, who looked off in her own world. He could just imagine what she was thinking about. How to get as far away from him—as soon as she could.
Nothing good had ever happened to him, and he was sure Mattie wouldn’t forgive him for his lies.
Then again, what if she did? What did he have to offer her? He was a damned tour guide—barely made enough to feed himself, let alone give her the type of life she deserved. She’d want children, and no way was he having any if he couldn’t feed and clothe them. Then there was the chance of him being abusive. Wasn’t that learned behavior?
Travis swallowed the lump in his throat. They had too many things working against them. He couldn’t do that to her—he loved her too much.
“Where are we now?” Sara’s question pulled him out of his troubled thoughts.
“About fifteen miles from the falls.”
She relayed the info, then waited.
“We can have a medic at the falls when you arrive,” the man said.
Travis nodded to Sara. “We’ll be there.”
Two and a half hours later they pulled into the area around the falls. A smaller truck was parked where they had made camp days earlier.
Travis cut the engine and helped Mattie down, then came around to the passenger side as Sara climbed down. Galen slid from the truck, his legs giving way when they hit the ground.
Travis grabbed him before he dropped.
“You don’t have to always be tough, you know.”
He smiled wickedly. “I do when women are around. Being a pansy doesn’t impress anyone, especially a good-looking lady.”
Travis snorted. “Which one of the ladies are you trying to impress?”
“Like I’d tell you.”
“Come on. Let’s get a doctor to look at that arm.” Travis helped him to the other truck where a dark-skinned man stood waiting.
“I set up a surgical area. Let’s get him on the thing so I can take a look,” the doctor said.
Travis led Galen to the table and helped him onto the top. The doctor took the makeshift tourniquet off and Travis was relieved to see that the bleeding had stopped, which meant the bullet hadn’t hit an artery.
Travis blew out a breath and turned to leave. He was 100 percent sure Galen would be all right. He’d just need to regain his strength.
He walked back to the women. “I think we should set up camp for the night instead of going on to Manu. Galen’s going to be weak. I think he’ll need a night to rest.” He glanced at Mattie, who didn’t look happy about his decision. That in itself spoke volumes as to how she felt. She wanted to get away from him. That disappointed him in a way, but she would have to wait another day to say good-bye to him forever. The thought sent a tremor through his soul. He’d never thought he’d care about anyone before—but this trip into the Amazon had changed everything—changed him.
Before he’d met her, he was a cold, uncaring man. Now he cared too much—for a woman who wanted nothing more than to get away from him—never see his face again.
He fisted his hands and stalked toward the truck. He pulled himself into the bed and tossed two tents down, then gathered the torches. If she didn’t want anything to do with him, then so be it. No problem. If he could deal with his mother not wanting him, then he could do the same with Mattie. He’d learned early that women wanted only one thing from him—and it had nothing to do with a happily-ever-after.
Chapter Twenty-One
Mattie picked at her food, her appetite nonexistent. She had too much on her mind. When Travis said they were making camp for the night, her anxiety took hold. They were at the falls. Where they had made love the first time. She didn’t know if she could fight her desire for him with the memory running rampant in her mind. She loved Travis with her whole heart, something she’d never experienced before, but she wasn’t sure she could trust him. Could you build a solid foundation without that? Until she knew the answer, she needed to stay away from him. Her sanity was on the line.
Dana came to sit down beside her. “Something wrong?”
Mattie sighed. She wished she could tell the truth. “No. Everything’s fine. How about you?”
Dana laid her chin on her fists. “I’m confused. I have no idea what that man back there was after.” She took in a breath. “I heard something about a map but that’s it. I believe he was talking to Travis. Do you know anything about this?”
Mattie thought it best to say she didn’t. The more people that knew about what Travis had been trying to do, the more likely he could be arrested. Her heart would break if that happened.
She shook her head. “I haven’t a clue.” She hoped she sounded sincere. “Did the guy say anything else? Was he working for someone or alone?”
“Someone named Harding was mentioned. Do you know who that could be?”
Mattie had no idea who Harding was—maybe she’d better ask Travis. On the other hand, remember you need to stay away from him.
“I think I’ll go check on Galen.” Dana rose from the table. “I’ll see you later.”
Mattie watched her leave, then glanced at the falls. The cascading, crystal clear water mesmerized her.
“I need to talk to you, Mattie.” Travis stood directly behind her, his gaze drilling into hers.
She rose. “What’s there to say?”
His eyes lost their luster. “I think you should know why I’m the man I am today.”
Mattie held her breath, afraid he’d change his mind. She wanted to know what made him tick—why he was so cold and distant.
She sat down and signaled him to do the same. “Okay. Tell me who you are, Travis Kane, and don’t leave anything out.”
He sat across from her, threading his hands through his hair.
Seconds ticked by and Mattie started to think he’d realized his blunder.
“My parents divorced when I was two. I don’t even know my father. After the split, my mother commenced to marry one man after another. Her third husband was a diplomat. In a way, he was the catalyst to me becoming a guide. He and my mother were married about seven years.” He took a breath and released it. “He was abusive to me.”
Mattie touched his arm. “Oh, Travis. I’m so sorry.” At least now Mattie understood a few things.
“I know that my rough childhood isn’t enough of an excuse for the things I’ve done. But I do want you to know, Mattie. I never would have allowed the team to pay for anything I’d done.”
“What made you change your mind about the treasure?”
He laughed. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Mattie tipped her head and smiled. “Try me.”
“Dreams.”
She frowned. “Dreams?”
He nodded.
“Could you elaborate on that?”
“I had some strange dreams that told me I needed to work on myself as a man—on my honor. They worked.”
“That’s it? You gave up all that treasure because of a series of dreams?”
“Well, that and my grandfather’s journal. He was the one who left me the map.”
“Did he want you to find the treasure?”
He shook his head. “No. He wanted me to take the knowledge to the grave with me.”
She clasped his hand. “What was in his journal?”
He sighed. “I’m not ready to talk about that yet. But I did want to tell you about my childhood. Why I’m closed off to everyone.”
“What about your mother?”
“We’ve never been close. I always felt like a burden to her. I haven’t seen her in almost a year.”
She squeezed his hand tighter. “I’m sorry. It’s been a while since I’ve seen my parents as well. We live a distance from each other.”
“Do you miss them?”
Mattie
wasn’t sure if she should tell Travis the truth. It wasn’t like they’d been abusive.
She shifted on the seat and looked down, then shrugged.
Travis tipped up her chin. “You can tell me anything, Mattie.”
“I don’t have any reason to be angry with them. Only that my father invested in the stock market and gambled—lost a lot of money. I really didn’t have much growing up.”
“How did you become a botanist?”
Mattie sighed. “A lot of hard work. I received scholarships to pay for college.”
“Where did you go to school?”
“Jersey.”
“How did you end up in St. Louis?”
“I applied for a fellowship and I got it. I’ve taught at Wash U for seven years now.”
He frowned. “So why come here?”
“I've wanted to for five of those seven years. When the opportunity arose, I jumped on it.”
“Are you glad you did, or would you like to erase the past five days?”
How could he even ask that? She wouldn’t change a thing except maybe their run-in with Glass. “I’m glad I’m here, Travis.”
“What does that mean for us?”
“You tell me. Do you want more?”
“I don’t have anything to offer you. It’d be like the life you lived before college. All I have is two run-down estates that belonged to my grandfather.”
“Do you really think that matters to me? I want to be with you, Travis. I don’t care about anything else.”
He frowned. “You say that now, but how will you feel a year from today?”
Mattie cupped his hand. “Why don’t we cross that bridge when we come to it?”
*
Why couldn’t they cross that bridge? Life was unpredictable. Anything could happen. Travis leaned in and kissed her lips softly. He pulled back and smiled at her. “You’re right, but would you be willing to give up your job to relocate?”
“Yes. In a heartbeat,” she said, then squeezed his hand even tighter. “I can teach anywhere in the world, Travis, and as far as traveling to remote parts of the country, I’d go anywhere in the world as long as we’re together.”
Travis brought her hand to his lips. Suddenly everything seemed right somehow—like the part that was broken inside him had suddenly mended. Mattie had done that for him. She made him feel whole for the first time in his life.
“I’m turning in,” Sara said from behind Mattie, then gave Travis a nasty look and walked away.
Mattie snorted. “She doesn’t appear to be happy.”
Travis kissed her hand again. “No she doesn’t, but then when has she been?”
Mattie nodded. “You have a point. I really don’t think the jungle agrees with her.”
The doctor chose that moment to exit the tent where Galen lay resting. He walked straight to them. “Your friend’s arm is fine. The bullet went straight through. I cleaned it out and stitched him up. His young lady will see that the dressing is changed. I’m needed in another part of the jungle. Radio if there are any other problems.”
“All right. Thanks, Doc.”
He raised his hands in protest. “It’s my job. Now I must leave.”
When he headed for his vehicle, Travis returned his attention to Mattie and gave her a wicked grin. “How about a swim?”
Her lips curled into a smile. “I’d love one.”
Travis glanced at the opening to both tents, then rose and took Mattie’s hand and led her to the edge of the water.
He unbuttoned his shirt and worked it off his shoulders. As he did, he sneaked a peek at Mattie, his blood warming at her scantily clad body. She had to be the sexiest woman he’d ever known.
He quickly kicked off his boots and removed his pants. Still wearing his boxers, he took her hand and they waded out into the water, the cool, silken feel stirring his body even more.
When they were chest deep, Travis dived under the water and swam until his lungs fought for air. He resurfaced to find her gone. She had to still be underwater.
Seconds ticked as he waited for her to surface. When she did, he felt her right next to him, just a few feet from the falls.
Travis circled around her like a jungle cat until he moved in as if she were prey.
She turned to look at the falls. “Do you think these falls have a hidden cavern?” She glanced back at him.
“Maybe.”
“Do you think we should check?”
Travis treaded water as he contemplated the question. “Probably not. Who knows what’s hanging out in it? Snakes like cold, dark places.”
“Snakes?” She backpedaled away from the falling water.
Travis laughed and swam after her. “Why are you so afraid of snakes, Mattie?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because they’re slimy and like to bite.”
“Believe it or not, most snakes avoid confrontation with humans. They are as leery of us as we are of them.”
“Even anacondas?”
“Most of the time, unless they’re hungry. Let’s stop talking about snakes. Come here and kiss me.”
She swam toward him, gliding through the water, igniting a fire inside him. Every day the woman was beautiful, but she was downright breathtaking in the moonlight.
He reached out and drew her to him, her slippery skin burning his. He rubbed her back and his lips claimed hers in a passionate kiss, one that made him forget his surroundings.
She wrapped her legs around his hips and rubbed against his hard cock.
“My God, Mattie. You’re driving me crazy.”
She grinned. “But in a good way, right?”
“Yes, definitely in a good way.” He found her mouth again and moved his lips over hers, crushing her close to him. Teasingly, he nibbled at her bottom lip, then sucked it into his mouth.
She moaned as her arms tightened around his neck.
Travis wanted her so bad he could hardly contain himself. He had to move closer to the pool’s bank, get his footing before they went any further.
With his mouth on hers, he glided through the water with one arm, while his other hand found her breast and kneaded it thoroughly, her nipple drawing up against his palm.
His foot hit bottom and he waded closer to the edge. He worked his tongue at the seam of her lips and as she opened, he plunged inside her mouth, twisting his tongue wildly with hers. Another low groan from her had his body fighting for control. He slid his hand down her stomach and into the waistband of her panties, fingering the folds of her heat. He plunged inside and she sucked in a breath. He loved how he could make her excited—enough to make her breathless.
She tore her mouth from his and flung her head back, allowing him to place feather kisses down the column of her neck, then farther. He nuzzled her breast then teased the nipple with his teeth, all the while enjoying her gasps of pleasure.
When he could no longer hold out, he worked his boxers down, pulled her panties aside, and entered her, the intense heat driving him to a feverish pitch until he felt her body coil around him and he came.
Travis held her tight, wanting to stay close to her. He loved her and at that moment he knew she was right. As long as they were together, nothing else mattered.
When their breathing leveled out, Travis looked into her eyes. He needed to tell her how he felt—what he wanted for them.
“I love you, Mattie. I think I have since our first night here.”
She took in a ragged breath.
He wasn’t sure what she was going to say. Tears clouded her eyes.
“I love you too, Travis.”
“Will you come back to North America with me? I need to travel to Nova Scotia and check out my great-grandfather’s estate.”
She nodded. “I’d love to come with you.”
“What about your new species of plant? Don’t you have to go back and show your colleagues what you’ve found?”
“Dana can do that. I want to be with you.”
“Are you sure? I don
’t want you to have any regrets.”
She kissed him tenderly, then backed away. “I won’t have any.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mattie woke and rolled to her side, surprised and anxiety-ridden when she found Dana’s cot empty, her bedding as if it had never been slept in. She hadn’t considered the different indigenous tribes in the area and how one group had nabbed Dana the last time they were at the falls.
She rose and threw on a pair of khakis and hiking boots, then exited the tent, relieved to find Dana sitting at the table with Travis and Galen.
Mattie inhaled and grabbed a cup and filled it with coffee. She sat down next to Travis. She no longer cared who learned about their relationship. They’d all know for sure when they arrived in Manu and she left with Travis to fly to Nova Scotia.
Mattie looked forward to spending time alone with him, to get to know him better. She had no idea where their relationship was going or if he wanted a forever with her, but that didn’t matter as long as she could be with him for now.
“Good morning,” she said as she clasped Travis’s hand under the table. “How are you feeling, Galen?”
The man smiled. “I’m feeling like a new man this morning.” His comment had Dana’s face reddening.
What was up with that?
Mattie glanced at Travis. “Does that mean we’re headed back to Manu?”
“I think it’s best we do.” He glanced around the table for any objections. None came.
“Let’s eat and then load things and get out of here.” Travis took a long swallow of coffee.
Mattie studied Dana from across the table. Dana’s gaze was glued to Galen, who sat beside her. There was definitely something going on between them. She could already see hurt coming. No way was the man going to think about anything serious, and she knew Dana well enough now that anything casual wasn’t in her nature. She wanted what Mattie wanted. Love and commitment.
A tray was placed in front of her and she looked up at Travis, who was handing them out.
He winked at her. “Eat. It’s going to be a long drive to Manu.”
She smiled, then picked up her fork and dug into the meal. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she started to eat.
Five minutes later the food was gone and she stood and took her tray to the garbage container. She then went to pack her belongings and wake Sara.
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