He let go of her foot and held out a hand to help her up. “Checking up on me?”
“Of course.” She shifted to use her good foot and then clasped his hand and let him haul her to her feet. He was remarkably strong.
“My real surname is Kwong.”
“How much of what you told me was the truth?”
“As much as I could.” He moved his shoulder under her arm so she could use him as a crutch. The closeness was unexpected. How could he possibly still smell so good when he’d been living out here for months? He should stink, but there was a hint of eucalyptus and salt. She inhaled again. Trees and ocean.
“I’ve got an instant icepack back at camp,” he said. “We’ll patch you up, get some sleep, and in the morning, I’ll take you to my main camp. It’s where I’ve got the information you’ll want.”
This time she would use him the way he’d used her and perhaps she could bring Stonefish down. “All right. Let’s go.”
Chapter Four
Leeproddedthelumpon his head and winced. This is what he got for letting his emotions get in the way. Before Nhiari his focus had been absolute. His one goal was to end Stonefish. Now, things were… murkier.
He’d considered letting Nhiari go when she’d tried to sneak out last night. It would have been easier than having to be on his guard all the time, and the ranges were so extensive she wouldn’t have caught him, but he hadn’t been able to.
Some part of him wanted to prove himself to her. To show her he wasn’t all bad. A delusional part of him was trying to convince himself they could have a future together when all this was over.
So he hadn’t played any games, letting her think she’d got away before catching up with her. He’d come right out and spoken to her.
He hadn’t expected to be pelted with a rock for his troubles.
Nhiari still slept, and that in itself was a miracle. He hadn’t put much faith in her request for a truce. Probably wouldn’t for a long time yet, but the fact she slept showed she trusted him to some degree. Or was regrouping.
After administering first aid to her ankle the night before, he’d convinced her to take his mattress and pillow and she slept curled on her side facing him. In her sleep her expression was calm. There were no furrows on her forehead or a downturn to her mouth. She seemed peaceful. Beautiful. Almost angelic.
He smiled. That would change when she woke, and he almost didn’t want to wake her, but they needed to reach the next camp before too many people were about. He didn’t want some random good Samaritan reporting they’d heard or seen a motorbike in the ranges that morning.
The sun’s rays were a smudge above the ranges and bushes were getting more shape and colour.
He moved over to Nhiari but stayed standing a few steps away so as not to startle her. “Nhiari, it’s time to wake up.”
She snorted and her eyes scrunched but didn’t open.
Cute.
“Wake up, sleepy head, or I might have to tie you up and leave you behind.”
That got her eyes open, but she blinked sleepily, gazing up at him. The morning they’d woken together, a smile had crossed her face and she’d stretched lazily, wishing him good morning.
Today however, her brain slowly ground into action as she shifted away and sat up, her stare now wary and unsure. She flinched as she put weight on her ankle and the rest of the sleepiness vanished in the pain.
“Careful.” He held out a hand to stop her from getting up. “You sprained your ankle, remember?”
She didn’t respond but took the protein bar he handed her. He moved away, giving her space and time to wake properly. Was she always this slow in the morning, or was it because of the lack of sleep the night before?
He wished he had more experience of her waking in the mornings.
Lee cleared his throat and ate his own protein bar while she reviewed her surroundings and then prodded her ankle.
He joined her. The cold pack had brought the swelling down and compression and elevation overnight had helped. “How does it feel?”
“Not as bad as last night.”
Good. “Keep it strapped at least until we get to the main camp.”
