I dont need your money. He strapped his rifle to his horse, adjusted a pack.
Then why wont you help me?
He checked the horses cinch. Ive got commitments. I need to make another freight run over the mountains before the rains hit. And its too dangerous.
Im not scared.
You should be. His eyes snagged hers again, and shivers ran over her skin. There arent many women up here. Youd be a target for every renegade in Peru.
Ive made it this far. And Ive got a gun.
He scoffed. Youve got no idea what youre up against.
Sure I do. Shed faced a few tough moments on her trip so far, but shed survived. And she wasnt weak or afraid. I can handle myself.
He stalked back toward her. And before she could guess his intention, he stepped close and grasped her chin. He leaned over
her, so close his thighs brushed hers. Her breath backed up in her lungs.
You think you can stop a man who wants you? His voice was graveled now, raw, and his dark eyes burned into hers. Hell, you think you could fight me off?
She trembled, lost in those hot, hot eyes, the feel of his callused thumb on her throat. You wouldnt hurt me, she whispered. I trust you.
Then youre a fool. Because I stopped playing the hero a long time ago. His eyes stayed on hers for a beat, long enough for her to see his anger, his desire, and then he dropped his hand and stepped back.
She swayed, shaken by the stark intensity in his hungry eyes, her nearly overpowering urge to pull him close.
Ill take you to the next village over, he said, his voice stripped flat now. I need to pick up my string of llamas and board my horse. Someone there can take you to a safer town.
He strode back to his horse, launched himself into the saddle, then rode up to where she still stood. He hauled her up, and she settled behind him, wrapped her arms around his back.
But if he thought shed given up trying to convince him, he was wrong. Because her people needed that dagger. And no matter what happened, she couldnt let them down.
Damn.
His soft curse brought her attention back to the village. What is it? She scanned the streets, saw the three men mounting their mules. Her pulse sped up, and she gnawed her lip. They wont follow us, will they?
You can bet on it.
She swallowed, and a nervous flutter invaded her chest. She didnt need more danger dogging her trailthat mysterious man shed glimpsed was enough. So what are we going to do?
Ride like hell, darlin.
He wheeled the horse around, prodded him into a run. But as they thundered up the road and into the mountains, she remembered the hunger in Logans eyes, that thrilling heat.
And she wondered who was the greater threatthe outlaws or Logan Burke.
Chapter 2
And even the punishing pace hed set through the mountains hadnt eased it. Hed driven the gelding hardracing through empty creek beds, scrambling up the rocky terrainbut he still hadnt shaken the desire that swamped him, that hunger that pounded his blood.
He angled his horse up another steep slope. Dara leaned closer against him, and he stifled a groan. He was far too conscious of her slender arms encircling his waist, the soft breasts caressing his back.
Touching her had been a mistake all right, stirring up cravings he could never indulge inespecially with a woman like her. But hed just have to ignore them. Once they got to that village, he could leave Daraand temptationbehind.
It wouldnt be soon enough.
They reached an outcropping of rock above the trail, and Logan slowed. He reined the gelding to a much-needed stop, studied the thin gray slash switching across the mountain below. A mile back, some dust puffed up, then dispersed on the rising wind.
Are they still following us? Daras throaty voice rippled through his nerves.
Not trusting himself to look at her, he kept his gaze on the dust. Yeah, theyre down there. And closing in fast. Too fast.
Damn. Hed banked on their giving up. Renegades were a lazy bunch, more likely to drink themselves into a stupor than come haring after him. And this was a long, hot ride across parched terrain in the brutal, midday sun.
But Dara was a tempting prize, worth a thirsty trek through the hills.
Worth killing him for.
He hissed out his breath, turned the horse to go, but then a wisp of dust farther back caught his eye. He paused, squinted at the distant haze, and the muscles along his shoulders tensed. Had the men split up? Or was someone else out there?
He watched, narrowed his eyes. His pulse drummed a hard, slow beat. A hawk drifted past, towing a shadow over the hill. The tall grass dipped in the wind.
But nothing else moved, and he finally eased out his breath. It was probably just the wind whipping up dust, or some wild guanaco passing through. At least he hoped that was it. He had enough trouble on his hands with the thugs.
He glanced at the approaching men again, bit off a curse. Under normal conditions, their pack mules couldnt
match his geldings speed. But his horse was carrying a double load over steep terrain.
He kneed his horse into motion, then steered him into the brush. What are we doing? Dara asked.