Chapter Twelve

It was only a couple miles into the jungle. A breeze for him, but Steph didn't have a lot of experience. She'd tripped more than once on the uneven roots that snaked just under the narrow dirt path. He held tight to her hand to keep her from falling or twisting an ankle. When he'd first caught her fingers, the giant rock on her ring had pressed into his palm. He tried to ignore it. Folding his hand with hers to lead her deeper into the jungle.

They heard the waterfall before it was visible through the break in the trees. Pouring over the rocks into a little pool in the shadow of the steep cliff face. Steph stared at it in wonder. Just as he'd hoped she would. A little chunk of paradise that was on a separate plane from the rest of the world.

"Can we swim in it?" she asked him.

He felt a smile pulling at him. "If you want." That was why he'd brought her all the way out here. Rico said the spot was secluded. Open to the public, but seldom traveled. Not to mention romantic.

Steph seemed to realize that too. Turning to look at him over her shoulder with a flirty smile. "You're not gonna make me go in the water all by myself again, are you? I mean, you've probably seen a waterfall before, right?"

She was teasing him again. Feeling more at ease. That was encouraging. The truth is, that was why he'd been drawn to this place. For two days now he'd been watching her from the secure spots he'd chosen on the public beaches. Too aware of the risks to follow her, despite his desire to feel her slipping against him in the water in those tiny bikinis.

He didn't have to worry as much here. There were fewer variables. And the quiet seclusion meant that even if someone did approach, he'd hear them coming as long as he held back at least some of his attention from her. He let his dark eyes wander over her before he stripped off his shirt. He set his gun on the rocks beside the pool within easy reach and covered it with the shirt to be safe. Then he waded into the cool, clear water.

He offered her a hand, but she bit her lip, reluctant. Probably realized that he would pull her up against him in the water. Wrap himself around her. Touch her if she gave into the desire he could see in her eyes. She untied the knot on her dark wrap and let it float to the ground onto his discarded shirt. Then she stripped off her tank top, exposing her creamy belly to the sunlight. "There isn't anything in that water that's likely to bite me, is there?" she asked him.

A wicked smile lifted his face. She was putting ideas into his head.

She contemplated the hand he offered, still not quite sure if she was ready to be in his arms. She took a hesitant step to the edge of the pool. Then her foot found a puddle on the uneven rocks and she slipped. It wasn't the most graceful fall. Her arms and legs flailed when she lost control, tossing her sideways into the water. He was fighting a laugh when she surfaced again, nothing bruised but her ego.

He caught her hand and dragged her through the water toward him, but she slipped away and splashed toward the waterfall. He grinned. Some of her reluctance was real, but not all of it. It reminded him of the years of flirting. When she'd been receptive enough to let him close, but not too close.

Some women like to play hard to get. Steph didn't have to play at it. She really was hard to get. Which made the pursuit all the more fun.

"So how long do you figure we have to lay low," she asked, hoping to distract him.

"Hard to say."

"Because there's supposed to be a luau tonight on the beach behind the resort. I saw it on the schedule. It might be our best bet to see The Rug. Might even be able to take him down without too much trouble."

"It's something to think about," he said, still inching toward her again. She moved further away, but not by much. Starting to warm to the idea of being caught. He kept moving toward her with steady patience. Waiting for a signal.

"Did Silvio get access to the hotel cameras?"

"Not yet. It's a wired closed circuit feed. He's having trouble finding a signal. Could be the system's not accessible remotely."

"When was the last time you heard from him?"

"This morning." Ranger was fighting a smile. "Am I making you nervous again? I thought we were passed that."

"We are. Mostly. It's just that you brought me out to this romantic spot, and we're all alone swimming under this great waterfall, and you looking at me like that."

"Like what?" he said, closing the last few inches. She backed against the side of the pool near the pile of discarded clothes. She didn't squirm away this time. She let him press into her, his chest brushing hers under the water. He placed his hands on the rock on either side of her, bracketing her in.

"Like that," she whispered. Her breathing shallow. "I'm still having issues, remember?"

The smile pulled at his mouth as he lowered it to hers. "Oh, I remember."

Her eyes dropped to his lips a second before he kissed her. They disappeared behind her lids. He kept the kiss gentle. Slow and thoughtful. Not chaste by any stretch, but not the kind of kiss that said he was trying to rip her clothes off. And then she moaned. He deepened the kiss and she responded in kind. His hands found her waist, and then her ribs. Her skin like silk in the water. Her arms moved around his neck and he held her even closer. His fingers searching the edge of her bikini top until he could slip them inside to touch her bare skin.

He was starting to think about exploring lower when he heard a twig snap deep within the trees. It stole his attention. Steph didn't notice right away. Her mouth had started moving down his neck, her hands following the definition of his chest and abdomen. Furthering the sensations in his body even while he was reaching into their clothes to grasp his weapon. She finally went still when he clicked off the safety. Holding her breath.

Ranger pulled away from her a few inches. Enough that she was able to twist in his arms to look at the empty trail, the sound coming closer. And then a small boy stepped out of the trees. Ranger relaxed his grip. Pushing the safety back into place. A girl appeared too, followed by a man and woman who looked so tired and worn that they could only be the children's parents. They looked shocked to see a man and woman colluding in the shallow end of the pool. From the looks on their faces, he and Steph might as well have been naked and fornicating in full public view.

A few more minutes and they might have been.

"Guess it's time to go," Ranger whispered in her ear, fighting another smile. He gave her a quick kiss and lifted himself out of the pool, offering her a hand once he was on solid ground. He dragged her out of the water without much effort. She busied herself with getting dressed, but Ranger knew it would cause even more waves if the happy little family realized that there was a gun wrapped in his t-shirt. He waited until they were a safe distance into the woods before he tucked the Glock into the small of his back again.

"That was a shorter outing than I thought it would be," she said, watching him.

He pulled the shirt on over his head, a hint of a smile on his face. "Saved by the five-year-old."

She swallowed. Very aware of what almost happened. "So, where to next?" she asked.
"We could head to a beach."

Ranger grinned. "Are you afraid to be alone with me?"

"No," she said, not entirely meaning it. Though, she looked anything but afraid. Combustible, maybe, but not afraid. He took a step toward her, letting the wolf back into his smile.

"I can control myself if you can."

"Great. Pretty sure we both know how that'll go."

He felt a laugh trying to surface. She wanted him bad and didn't trust herself. A fact that had so much of her attention that she was backing away from him without noticing the Latino guy coming up the trail behind her. Her boot caught on a root and she stumbled back. Rico caught her shoulder to keep her from falling. Fear flashed through her eyes when his touch startled her and her instincts kicked in. She whipped around and landed a punch square between his eyes.

Rico's head snapped back and she covered her mouth, horrified at what she'd done. "I'm sorry!"

Ranger was laughing his ass off. It took him a few seconds to rein it in, coming up behind Steph while Rico rubbed his forehead, swearing in Spanish. Ranger put a hand on the base of Stephanie's neck. Laugher still rocking his chest where he pressed against her back. "Steph, this is Noah's partner, Rico."

"Omigod, I'm so sorry! Jeez, this is embarrassing."

"Only for me," Rico said, rubbing between his eyes. He was a lot smaller than Noah. Not much taller than Steph. He had an average build, too. Not as much muscle as the men Ranger usually hired. He had skills, though. He was clever, and he had quick fingers and a silver tongue. Made up for the laid back attitude he had from growing up in the islands. Ranger had pretty much given up trying to get him to wear Rangeman black. The blue and white Hawaiian shirt and pale brown cargo shorts blended in better anyway. And it wasn't like the black would enhance Rico's intimidation factor.

Rico's eyes moved over Steph, humor mingling with his interest. "Noah wasn't kidding. She's a force to be reckoned with," he said in Spanish. Ranger laughed. "Man, your girl's got a mean jab," he added in English.

"You should see her take down an FTA."

"Oh yeah? Bounty hunter, huh? Guess that makes sense. And if the jab doesn't stop 'em, you could always just wait for the dumpster, right?"

"See, now I'm not sorry that I hit you anymore," Steph told him. Rico laughed. "Is there a reason you're here?"

"Yeah. I had to check in and make sure everything was good before I head back. Noah's supposed to be getting dirt on this scumbag called Jim Cutter, but the scumbag came back early. He needs a diversion." A grin pulled up one corner of his mouth when he looked Steph over again, assessing her from head to toe. "Unless your betty wants to help out. I bet things would go smoother with her on board, if she's got experience."

Ranger wasn't exactly happy with that proposition. And not just because he was hoping to find some place he could get Steph naked. She'd done a lot of decoy work for him in the past, with mixed results. She was very good at it. Had a natural sexuality that drew men in when she turned it their way. But not every target was safe, and not every target was compliant.

Not that he would ever tell her not to do it. Steph could handle herself.

Ranger shrugged. "It's your call, Babe."

She contemplated it for a minute. "What kind of dirt are you supposed to be getting?"

"Evidence. Seems this guys been embezzling from the bar he owns with his partner. And it's been suggested that he spends it on blow and hookers."

"Were you hired by the partner?"

"No. The wife. She's hoping what we find is enough to put him away so he can't hit her anymore," Rico said.

Steph's spine straightened. She had a special dislike for wife beaters. Hunted her fair share of them back and Trenton. Usually took them down with a little more satisfaction than other criminals. It was something he and Steph had in common.

Rico must have read it on her face because his smile widened. "Does that mean you're in?"

"Yeah. I'm in."