Glenna McReynolds by River of Eden

Author:River of Eden
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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CHAPTER 16

She knew, even before she came fully awake, Annie knew her fanny pack was missing. The hand that automatically went to her waist only confirmed the truth: Will Travers had taken her orchid.

But he hadn’t taken it very far. Halfway out of the hammock, she spied her pack hanging from a hook above the stove. She reached up and slipped it off. A quick check inside proved he’d taken nothing, except her exclusive knowledge that the flower even existed.

Or nearly exclusive knowledge, she amended, turning the specimen jar over in her hand. She’d showed it to Mad Jack in Belize, and Corisco Vargas knew about the Epidendrum luminosa. The bastard had stolen one from her in Yavareté.

With a soft curse, she set the orchid aside and made quick work out of her morning ablutions. Her green pack was lying next to the galley’s small sink, with everything she needed inside except a comb. She did the best she could with her fingers and poured herself a cup of coffee, before picking up the orchid jar again. She couldn’t help but wonder what Will had thought when he’d first seen her prize. Mad Jack had been impressed, damned impressed. He’d also told her it wasn’t worth dying for, and if he got so much as an inkling as to where she’d gone after leaving his place, he would have her butt in a sling so fast it would make her head swim.

She turned the jar to better catch the light. When she’d been released from Yavareté, Gabriela had helped her gather up all her botanical specimens, but the orchids hadn’t been among them. More than her physical condition, the loss had come close to sinking her into despair. Then, just before she’d boarded the plane, Vargas had pressed a wrapped package into her hand. Why he’d given it to her, she still didn’t know, but she’d known exactly what it was, and hadn’t let it out of her sight since.

If she could find more blooming orchids, she would let the one he’d taken go. She’d promised herself as much in Wyoming, that she wasn’t coming back to Brazil with a vendetta in mind.

But if she couldn’t find another one—and the odds were against her—she might have to reconsider her plan to avoid Vargas at any cost.

The muscles in her back twitched, an involuntary and unnecessary reminder of Yavareté, and her mouth tightened. In Wyoming, everything had seemed so clear. In Wyoming, all she’d wanted was more orchids: whole flowers, cuttings, dried specimens, roots, stems, leaves, seeds, everything. On the Rio Negro, nothing was clear, least of all what she wanted.

She thought back to the previous night, her hand going to the large chunk of rock crystal hanging around her neck. The jaguar fangs on either side curved against her fingers.

He’d kissed her. Twice. And everything Corisco Vargas had beaten out of her was coming back. She’d sworn off men, so help her God, but Will Travers kissed like an angel, his mouth so hot, and sweet, and tender.

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