Bring It On - Kira Sinclair Page 0,30

swirling in the wake of its passing. Angry sounds echoed back as it settled into the branches of another tree behind them.

Lena’s hand covered her chest, hoping that the pressure would keep her heart from escaping along with the bird.

Colt was there beside her, his hands running over her body looking for any sign of damage.

“I’m fine,” she croaked through a tight throat. Frowning, she tried again, “I’m fine, just startled,” and was happy to hear no hesitation in the words this time.

Although her legs still felt a bit wobbly. Colt wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her up. Lena was grateful for the support, but knew it couldn’t last. Locking her knees, she said, “Look, admit it, we’re stuck out here for the night. We need to find some shelter and stop wandering around aimlessly over unfamiliar terrain.”

The flashlight Colt had trained towards the ground bounced up to hit his face at an eerie angle. It highlighted the sharp contours of his jaw and cheekbones, leaving large sections of his face in shadow. It made him look…austere, a word she never would have used to describe him before now.

“No, the path has to be close. If we can find it we can follow it out.”

The flashlight between them flickered ominously.

Lena looked pointedly down. “We need to conserve battery power.”

Colt’s face tightened. “It isn’t safe out here. I need to get you back to the resort before something terrible happens.”

Lena frowned. What the hell was wrong with him? Colt was usually the most levelheaded person in a crisis. Driving one-twenty down a country road might have been the stupidest thing the man had ever done, but getting himself out of the car, calling 911 and then applying his own tourniquet to his broken and bleeding leg before he passed out had taken nerves of steel.

Colt was a problem solver. A Boy Scout for heaven’s sake.

Maybe she wasn’t the only one who’d been scared out of her skull by that bird.

“Don’t they teach you to stay put when you get lost? Besides, the only thing I’m in danger of is twisting my ankle because I can’t see where I’m walking. It’s late, Colt. I’m tired. We need to find someplace to sleep and then hike out in the morning.”

She watched as his eyes roamed her face. No question, he wasn’t happy, but even before he opened his mouth she knew she’d gotten through to him.

“All right. I remember seeing a cave behind the waterfall. I’ve been hearing the rumbling for the past few minutes. We’ll find the cave, make camp and then leave at first light.”

Lena’s eyebrows beetled. She didn’t hear anything. Taking a step sideways, she moved out of the shelter of Colt’s body and finally heard it. His tall frame had apparently been blocking the sound.

“Great. Lead on.”

Twenty minutes later they broke through the line of trees surrounding the pool. Somewhere along the way they’d circled around, coming out about thirty feet closer to the falls than where they’d both left the clearing. No doubt they’d spent some of the past few hours walking parallel to the falls instead of directly toward them.

“Remind me to give you a compass for Christmas,” she quipped. “You can keep it with your stash of condoms.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll have one delivered from the mainland tomorrow.”

“Why? We coming back out here?”

Colt spun suddenly on his heel. Lena collided with him. His arms steadied her even as they pulled her closer.

“Not on your life.” His eyes blazed, not with passion but with determination and fire. His fingers gripped her upper arms, digging almost painfully into her skin. She tried to move, but realized she couldn’t even wiggle. “Promise me you’ll never do something like this again.”

“Like what? Go hiking? Have a picnic? Get lost? I can promise you I’ll try.”

Colt’s jaw worked back and forth, his molars grinding tightly against each other.

Lena took a slow step closer and said quietly, “Colt, let go. You’re hurting me.”

His hands burst away from her body. She rocked slightly, surprised by the sudden loss of his support.

Spinning away, he raked his hands through his hair, leaving it disheveled and standing on end. “I’m sorry,” he said, still facing away. “I’m just…worried. I can’t believe I let this happen!” he roared.

She was finally beginning to understand.

“You let this happen?” she asked slowly. “I don’t remember you being the only adult in this situation. Why are you to blame for us getting lost?”

Spinning back to her, he barked, “Because