She wasn't like any other woman he'd ever known, and he'd known more than a few in his time.

Evelyn Carnahan was smart, brave and beautiful and what Rick O'Connell was feeling for her was far more than he'd ever felt for any woman. He also didn't have a damn idea what to do about it.

They were opposites in every way and he didn't know how she felt about him. He remembered her initial observations after his behavior towards her at the Cairo Prison and he couldn't disagree with her. She had saved his life and for that he would always be grateful.

Tea with Jonathan and Evelyn that afternoon had been an interesting experience. While Jonathan had chattered on about the bag of Egyptian treasures they had found on the back of one of the camels when they had returned, he sensed that Evelyn was trying not to watch him. He figured that because he was trying not to watch her. It confounded him because he'd never had trouble talking to a woman, but Evelyn was different. She had left him tongue-tied more than once and it mattered to him what she thought of him. That was the reason he'd apologized for kissing her.

He hadn't spoken to her much when they'd ridden out of the desert because he was trying to figure out what was going to happen with them. He'd taken her and her brother to Hamanaptra as he'd promised and now that they had returned, their contract was completed. There was no logical reason for him to stay but he didn't want to go either.

"Why the long face O'Connell?" He heard the cheery voice of Jonathan as he approached and Rick stopped.

"It's not a long face Jonathan, it's a tired face." He said as he forced a smile on his face. "Getting chased by 3000 year old mummies isn't exactly my idea of a good time."

"Well at least we got something out of it, eh? How do you suppose it all got there?" He said, referring to the bag they'd found.

There was only one person that Rick could think of and he was now a permanent resident of Hamanaptra. "Beny I'm sure. The little weasel saw all that treasure and decided to take as much as he could. And because it wasn't enough, he took more."

"Pushed his luck." Jonathan stated.

Rick nodded. "That's why we're here and he's there."

"Well better him than us I'd say. If we hadn't been where we were, we might have ended up like that poor chap."

"If I'd let your sister stop and fish out that book, we might have." He frowned at the thought.

"What is it with you and Evie anyway? You've been at sixes and sevens with each other since we left the desert."

"The hell if I know." He sighed.

"That's a load of pig swallow and you know it. My sister's taken a fancy to you, though she'd never admit it and I know you've taken a fancy to her too."

"She saved my life." He said simply.

"Come now O'Connell. You forget who you're talking to."

Rick was getting annoyed. "Why are we having this conversation?"

"Because Evie is my baby sister and the only family I have in the world. She's always been a trusting sort and she's gotten hurt in the past because of it. I just don't want to see it happen again."

That was enough and he grabbed the front of Jonathan's shirt. "I'd never hurt your sister."

"Then go talk to her and smooth things over. I'm not saying this because I'm her brother but because it's the truth; you'll never find another girl as fine as my sister. She's gotten under your skin and I'll wager it's never happened to you before."

"Jonathan." Rick warned as he tightened his grip again.

"Now hear me out my good son, Evie and I have decided to go back to England. Our parent's house had been to let for the last few years, but the tenants have to move because the old boy paying the lease had been transferred to a new post. We decided that instead of trying to find a new tenant, we'd go home for a while. It's been ages since we've been there and Evie says she needs a change of scenery."

He hadn't expected that piece of news and stepped back in surprise. "When did you decide all this?"

"When you left after tea." Jonathan told him.

"That doesn't make any sense. She loves Egypt."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I think after what she's been through and what she's seen, England seems like a good place to be right now."

Rick didn't know what to say.

"Nothing's stopping you from following her." Jonathan reasoned.

"Why in the hell would I do something like that?" He was incredulous.

"Because you'll regret it if you don't and so will she."

"You sound awfully sure about this." He said as he let go of his friend's shirt.

Jonathan looked at him with exasperation. "O'Connell, you haven't heard a bloody thing I've said! From where I'm standing, neither one of you will find anyone better than each other."

Rick knew that he would never find anyone better than Evelyn, but he was certain that she could find someone better than himself.

"You're wrong you know." Jonathan seemed to read his mind.

"What are you talking about?"

The look of exasperation was still there. "You're the first chap my sister has ever really warmed up to and that's saying quite a bit. Then there's the fact that you're at loose ends and as far as I can tell you don't have any immediate plans. So why not just come with us?"

"And what do you suggest I do once I get there?" He wouldn't admit the idea intrigued him because it would keep him close to Evelyn.

"You probably know Egypt as well as my sister and with all these tombs being discovered, adventurous chaps like our American friends would want to do some treasure hunting."

Rick shook his head in disbelief. "You have a short memory Jonathan, they're all dead."

"Yes, yes I know all that; I was there. But Evie could help you because she knows so much more about that sort of thing." Jonathan told him. "Just think about it."

Rick nodded if only to get Jonathan to stop talking.

"Well, it's been a beastly few days and I'm ready for a good long sleep. Good night O'Connell."

"Good night Jonathan." He replied as the Englishman walked away.

Everything in him said to dismiss Jonathan's idea. But as he began to walk back to his own quarters for some shuteye, he decided he'd give it some serious thought.