Guarding Gaby Read online

  Every vertical inch felt like scaling a mountain. He had to stop too often, but he persevered until he was on one knee with his good leg prepared to rise—

  “What are you doing?”

  His head snapped up too quickly, and the room started to spin.

  “Are you trying to finish the job they started?” Her eyes were red from crying, her hair was whipped in a thousand directions, her clothes were bloody and rumpled.

  He thought she’d never looked more beautiful in her life.

  “Pretty girl,” he said stupidly.

  She had her arms around him as she lowered him to the sleeping bag. “What?” She goggled at him.

  “You’re gorgeous.” He settled back with a sigh.

  She started to laugh. “Okay, it’s official. You’re delirious.” But her eyes looked worried. “I have to get you proper medical attention.”

  He shook his head slowly. “Unh-uh. What you have to do is go back.”

  “I’m headed for the house as soon as you’re set. I won’t be gone long.”

  “No.” His eyes kept wanting to close. “To New York.”

  Through the fog he could see her roll her eyes. “You’re not only delirious, you’re insane if you think I’m leaving you here like this.”

  “Dangerous, Gaby. Chad…smuggling.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Almost got…proof. One…week.”

  She stared at him. “Chad’s a smuggler? Eli, I know you don’t like him, but—”

  He managed to squeeze her hand. “Don’t…trust him. Frank…murdered.”

  She looked stunned. “You can’t mean Chad. Eli, that’s crazy. He’s not that kind of person.”

  Her utter shock cleared away some of the daze. What did he really know about who she was now? He’d said too much. What if she tipped off Chad? “You’re right. Forget it. Fever. Don’t—” He rose. Grabbed her arm. Used the pain to keep him awake. “Don’t say a word, Gaby. Not to anyone. Please.” The darkness edged in again, but he fought hard to shake it off. “Let me sleep…little. Wake me in…hour. Have to get you back home.”

  “I’ll be fine.” She stroked his hair. “I won’t be gone long.”

  “No!” Fear arrested his collapse. He sat up straight. “No, Gaby. Don’t leave. Don’t do…anything.” He shook his head. “Damn it, need to be…alert.” He was losing the struggle for consciousness, and he’d never been more afraid in his life. “Please, Gaby. Have to…explain…danger.”

  “Okay, Eli,” she said, easing him down. “Okay. I won’t do anything right now. I’ll stay right here. You just rest.”

  “Promise…” He battled the muzziness, locking his gaze on hers.

  “I don’t know—” He tried to rise again. “Okay, okay. I promise.”

  He let his head fall back. “Thank you.”

  “Wait—drink some more first.”

  He smiled. “Like…other way…better.”

  He heard her giggle. Then he heard nothing else.

  It was the longest night of her life.

  Gaby wanted so badly to leave him in search of more competent help. She was scared witless that her lack of training would wind up killing him. His pulse remained too rapid—his complicated watch gave her the timer she’d lacked—and he felt hot. She’d crushed some acetaminophen she’d found in his medical kit and dissolved it in water, then used her previous method to feed the concoction to him. The taste had been horrible, but she would endure much worse to be sure he survived.

  Wake up, Eli. Tell me what on earth you meant about Chad.

  Chad. Another worry. If she were gone all day, how long would he wait before seeking her out? If he discovered that she wasn’t, in fact, sleeping, where would he look? Would the search for her prevent him from his manhunt for Eli, or would he make the inevitable connection—and how would he react if he realized they were together? His interest in her was clear—well, at least, she’d thought it was clear until Eli’s mysterious mumblings.

  Chad…a smuggler? How on earth could Eli believe that?

  And that Chad had something to do with her father’s death? The very idea was beyond bearing. Chad was far from perfect—he was jealous and could be overbearing, but…murder? He’d been so kind to her, all the while knowing—

  He’d have to be a monster to soothe her while knowing that he was responsible for her loss.

  No. She must have misunderstood. Eli was delirious, after all. Merely fever ravings. But she couldn’t get out of her head how he’d fought his way back to consciousness to warn her. To beg her.

  She was so tired, she couldn’t think straight.

  Eli’s hour had come and gone, but sleep was healing. Gaby itched to seek out aid, but she was also afraid to leave his side.

  Sleep sang a siren song. She’d just close her eyes for a few minutes, then she’d wake him up, and they would talk. Make plans, the most urgent of which was to get him qualified care.

  But for now, she would lie down beside him and see if she couldn’t recover some energy herself.

  Eli came to as the wet tongue lapped his cheek. “Gaby,” he murmured, unwilling to leave the dream he’d been having of her, soft and naked and as eager for him as he was for her.

  Another lick, and he smiled. Felt the presence beside him. Rolled over to nuzzle her nape, to cradle her in his arms—

  Pain stabbed him like a red-hot poker. His eyes flew open.

  The dog settled on his haunches and whined.

  “Oh, man—” Eli reached up to scrub his cheek, but agony stopped him.

  The figure beside him stirred. Long, dark hair shifted to reveal her face.

  Gaby. Right here at his side, as he’d wished for every day since he’d left her, however much he’d convinced himself otherwise. He raised himself up on his good arm and simply looked his fill while she was unaware.

  Every line of her face was familiar to him. She probably had no clue how much time he’d spent studying her when she wasn’t looking, all those years ago. The woman who’d emerged from the girl was even more breathtaking, but it wasn’t simply her features or her undeniably lovely figure.

  It was Gaby herself, her huge heart. Her amazing courage. That fascinating mind.

  Gabriela Navarro, woman of a thousand faces, some he knew intimately and some he’d never met. He wanted, even more than he craved to clear himself, to be granted the gift of time to explore all of them.

  But if he didn’t clear himself, he would never have that chance. He’d be in jail or, more likely, dead.

  The dog whimpered again, and Eli noted what he should have seen before, if he hadn’t been so besotted with Gaby.

  Dawn was approaching. He had to wake her and get her out of here. Now. “Gaby,” he said softly.

  She didn’t stir, no doubt exhausted by the night.

  “Gaby.” A little louder. “Wake up.”

  The faintest of twitches.

  He could tell himself that he was only trying to be heard, but when he bent to her and nuzzled beneath her ear, he knew his motives to be selfish. “Gaby, love.” He inhaled the scent that was not powders or creams or perfumes but purely Gaby. A lifetime would not be enough to sate himself.

  She twisted a little, but toward him, not away, and he couldn’t help the smile that curved his lips. You trust me, he thought. On some level. If only her conscious, too-discerning mind would play along.

  So he kissed her, right on that tender part of her neck.

  She hummed, a soft little pleasure sound.

  Oh, Gaby… He was in no shape to make love to her and there was no time, but he would gladly hand over his soul to the devil for just a few minutes more of this.

  Few minutes. He gave a mental snort. He wanted eons to cherish her. To explore every delectable inch of her flesh.

  But morning approached, so he took more desperate measures. Pressed his mouth to hers, and found himself sinking fast.

  But he could also feel her rushing to the surface.

&nbs
p; Then she was kissing him back, her body against his, her arms sliding around his neck, little moans issuing from her throat—

  To end the kiss required every ounce of discipline he had. With effort, he drew away.

  She gave a little sob of protest, and he nearly gave in again. Instead, he raised himself to sitting. “Good morning.”

  She granted him a sleepy, slightly pouty smile. “Come back here.”

  “Oh, sweetheart, you have no idea how much I want to.” He scooted against the wall to keep from reaching for her. He couldn’t help a wince.

  “Oh—” She sat up. “Eli, I forgot for a second.” She walked to him on her knees, touching his forehead. “You’ve got a fever. Here—” She looked behind her. “More water.”

  “Gaby. Stop. We have to talk.”

  “But you—” She registered his seriousness. Sank to her heels. “Right. Chad and…my father.” Her eyes locked on his. “The very notion—I just can’t believe—not that you’re lying, but—” She threw up her hands. “How can you be sure? And why haven’t you gone to, I don’t know, the FBI or someone?”

  He sighed, fatigue settling in. “It’s a very long story, Gaby, and I want to give you all the details, but right now isn’t the time.” He indicated the opening. “It’s nearly dawn. You have to get back to the ranch before anyone knows you’re gone.”

  “I can’t leave you.”

  “You have to.”

  “You need a doctor.”

  He laughed without humor. “Sweetheart, I was injured worse than this in a third world country without half the medical supplies in this cave. I’ll be fine—”

  “You’ve passed out on me three times!”

  He waved her off. “We don’t have time to argue. I’m covered for antibiotics, even if this took weeks, which it won’t. I’ll have to replenish the fluids I’ve lost, but I can capture my own water when what I have runs out. I have food. I’ll be fine here.”

  “Then so will I.”

  “Sweetheart.” He closed his eyes and prayed for patience. “What I can’t do is deal with Chad or his thugs in this condition. If you honestly want to help me, then keep them away from me until I regain some strength.” He held her gaze. “If you go missing, who do you imagine Chad will automatically blame? If you thought the manhunt for me was intense, just wait until he can’t find you. You have to go back, and you’ve got to do it now, when the light is enough to make your way but not so good that others will spot you easily.”

  “But—”

  “I’m right, and somewhere inside, you know that.”

  “Come with me,” she pleaded. “I can hide you in the cellar when necessary.”

  “I have all the essentials at hand. I’m not up to walking back to the house yet, and you can’t carry me—or drag me. Not with so little time left.” He fell back on last night’s ploy, grabbing her hand. “Please, Gaby. Trust me. I’m trying to protect you.”

  Her expression made it clear that was the wrong tack. “I’m trying to protect you!” she cried. “I’m not the one who lost half his blood, who might die from infection, who—” Her eyes were bright with tears.

  He caught her then, and pulled her into his chest. “I’m not going to die, I promise. And I understand that I’m asking you to do the hardest part. I wish like hell I could keep you here with me. I don’t want you out of my sight, but I just—” He pressed his face into her hair. “I have to stop him. I couldn’t prevent his father, and my mother died because of that. Your father asked for my help, and I failed him. I can’t fail you, too. Not again.”

  Her face rose then. “My…father? Asked…you? Why?”

  This was the part he couldn’t get into now. He wished he never had to tell her that her father had been involved. “He was trying to gather evidence against Chad, but he needed someone on the outside. He was aware that Chad’s father set the fire that killed my mother and blamed it on me. He was certain I would be interested.”

  “I can’t take it all in. Chad’s father…your mother. Chad and my—” Her chin rose. “He says he wants to marry me, but if he killed—” She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s complicated, and—” He glanced at the opening.

  “We don’t have time,” she finished for him.

  “Yeah. I’m sorry. If you’d go back to New York—”

  “Not a chance.” Her expression was somber now. “Don’t waste your breath. I deserted my father before, but I won’t now. Not even for you.”

  He nodded, clear that he had no choice. “How good an actress are you?”

  She seemed amused. “Butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth.” She smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

  “Good. Stay out of Chad’s path as much as you can. When you’re around him, just try to remember how you felt when you trusted him. Act natural.”

  “You don’t ask much, do you? So does that mean that the next time he wants to talk me into bed, I go?”

  He’d remained cold-blooded up to now, but he couldn’t stop himself from grabbing her. “Don’t you dare let him close to you in an effort to protect me.” With his good arm, he shook her gently. “Do you hear me?”

  She stepped away and shouldered her pack, never taking her eyes off him. “If you think I’m going to shy at whatever is required to keep you safe, you’ve got another think coming.” She headed for the opening.

  “No, Gaby—you can’t—”

  “I’ll be back after dark.” And she was gone.

  “Gaby, no!” He yelled after her and staggered his way to the mouth of the cave—

  Knowing it was too late, and he was too weak to catch her.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The walk back was easier in some ways than the earlier one, but in other aspects, much harder. She could see better, and she knew where she was headed, yes.

  But leaving Eli went against every instinct she possessed. She was worried sick about his condition, despite his assurances. In most situations, he would, no doubt, be able to handle anything. He was strong and fit—she couldn’t afford to focus on just how fit that rugged body was—and he was very smart and resourceful. From what she’d seen, his cave was amazingly well provisioned, and the cave itself was difficult to find unless you knew where to look.

  But he was injured, and he’d been tended by someone who barely knew how to apply a band aid, much less perform field surgery.

  Where had he obtained his medical knowledge? His understanding of how to collect water in the desert? He’d been clever as a teen, but these skills were light years beyond. Where had he been since she’d last seen him? And how did that fit in with the laptop and the solar charger?

  Most people had found the young Eli a mystery, but she’d believed she’d known him better than anyone but Eli himself. This man, however, was someone with an edge and a darkness far beyond that half-wild boy’s.

  She lifted one hand to her lips and rubbed them softly, remembering his kiss. The thrill of awakening to his caresses, the rush of intense pleasure that was a forbidden taste of what she’d craved so desperately as a girl.

  No man had ever had the power to really touch her deep inside. And now she knew why.

  She’d been waiting for Eli.

  Somewhere below the conscious level, the girl who’d wanted him to be her first was still there. A virgin of sorts, though she’d had other lovers. She’d had sex, but she’d never truly made love.

  She saw her house up ahead, felt the thread between her and Eli stretch and stretch, almost to the point of pain, and understood that however far apart they were, it would never completely break.

  Don’t you die on me, Eli Wolverton. Don’t you dare rob us of the chance to clear up what happened nine years ago.

  To finish what you started tonight.

  Just then, Buddy raced up beside her. “Oh, no—I wanted you to stay and guard him.”

  But she knew as well as she knew her own name that Eli had sent the dog with her for the very same reason.
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  Oh, Eli…

  Her heart warmed, and she smiled.

  At the back door, Gaby cast one last glance toward the horizon. The hours until dark seemed endless, the mile or so between the locations as far as moon from earth.

  She sighed and let herself in. How in the world would she ever pass the time?

  She entered the kitchen, began filling a dish with water for Buddy and setting out his food. She should eat, as well, but she had no appetite. Eli was out there alone, perhaps too weak to drink the water he should, maybe even now raging with fever, and here she was—

  Stop it. But out of her fears, an idea formed.

  She could cook. Make him a feast. He’d ordered her to stay away, but he was delusional if he thought she would abandon him in his condition. She would be careful, of course; she wouldn’t risk leading anyone to him.

  But she would be back. The first instant she had a chance.

  She’d always been very good at reaching any goal she set. The malaise of the last few days evaporated, even though she knew far too little about what was going on around here. She needed to be cautious and very smart.

  But for the first time since she’d answered Chad’s phone call in New York, Gaby knew what she had to do next.

  She headed for the shower, stripping as she went.

  Hair wrapped in a towel, Gaby padded into her room for the underwear she’d forgotten.

  Then she heard a loud knock at the door. A voice. “Gabriela.”

  Chad. Her heart jittered. How good an actress are you?

  She raced to wrap herself in a robe, wishing she had time for more.

  Another brisk knock. “Gabriela. You’re not answering the phone, and I’m worried. If I have to break down and—”

  “Coming!” She opened the door. “Chad, what on earth—?”

  His gaze ranged over her. “You’re here.”

  She clasped her robe at the neck. “You have this knack for waking me up. What’s wrong?”