Into the Fray (Daring Escapes #3) - Margaret Daley Page 0,18
at the blur of the jungle as they sped past. But nothing wiped the sensations her nearness produced in him while in his Jeep. Although he’d owed Juan a big favor because he had been there and had helped him pick up the pieces of his life after the sudden and devastating death of his wife, he shouldn’t have agreed to meet Tory. When he looked at her, he saw so many similarities with Anna, especially the love of history and preserving it for future generations.
“Juan told me that you were on vacation and stumbled upon the site of the Temple of the Stars. I’m familiar with the area in that part of the Puerto Sierra Mountain Range. The jungle is dense in many places. There are inhospitable areas. What made you go there?” He slid his glance toward her as he slowed down.
“I believed the Temple of the Stars was more than what was found several years ago. I wanted to see for myself.”
Anna felt the same thing, but she had been killed before she could persuade others of it.
* * *
When they pulled into the village at the base of the mountain range around three in the afternoon, Tory was mentally and physically drained. She was glad to stand, to leave the small confines of the Jeep, and to stretch her muscles.
"Do you have any horses kept in the village, or do I need to make arrangements for the last leg of the journey?" Guerrero asked as several villagers came out of their homes to see who was visiting.
"I brought three with me from the site."
His brow arched. "You were that sure you would bring back help?”
"No, but you'll find that I try to be prepared for everything. I’d hoped I could convince Juan I needed help, so if it happened, I would be ready."
"How did you get to the capital?"
"Usually I take the truck parked at Benito's house, but his son had to go into the capital for a few days, so he took me. He was to return to the village the day after tomorrow, in the afternoon. When you agreed to help me, I called to let him know I didn't need a ride back to the village."
Guerrero turned away to greet Benito, the mayor of the little village. Tory couldn't understand what Guerrero said because he spoke rapidly and in a low tone. The mayor laughed, looked at her, then said something to Guerrero that she was sure she wouldn't want to know. The heat of a blush began to rise in her cheeks. She was determined not to let this man get to her.
Guerrero came toward her. "We’re to share the evening meal with Benito and his family," he said close to her ear.
The nape of her neck tingled where his breath fanned her skin. She quickly moved a few steps away and faced him. "Where are we to sleep tonight?"
"Benito has an extra room since his son is away."
Tory scanned the village's one dirt street and the twenty small houses that lined it. These people didn't usually have even one spare room to lend anyone, let alone two. She realized that Guerrero thought he needed to protect her, but right now, she felt he was the more dangerous one of her two choices. Her gaze fell on the Jeep and stopped.
The village and the world faded from her view. All she saw was Guerrero next to his vehicle, standing a foot away from her, his gaze boring into her with an intensity that robbed her of rational thought. And she was to share a room with him? She was in deep trouble.
* * *
"Don't even think it, lady. I'm not spending my night worrying that someone may have gotten to you. I don't know about you, but I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night." None to be exact. After Guerrero’s little adventure with her, he had paid Juan a visit and had talked with his friend about the Temple of the Stars and Tory Winters. Juan hadn't had enough time yesterday afternoon in the restaurant to fill Guerrero in on all the essentials of her problem. Now, however, discovering Tory had the same interests as Anna in the Temple of the Stars, he was fully aware she was the best lead he had to find out who was behind the black market and Anna’s death. He planned on using it, so he could start forgiving himself for not being