Beautiful Sacrifice

standing here like a floor lamp all this time,” he said. “Repayment will likely involve costumes and sexual excess.”
    She looked intrigued, then interested. Very interested.
    He groaned. “I should have thought about that hours ago. C’mon. I don’t want to mess up the religious juju happening here.”
    She nipped at his chin. “Unlike other cultures, the Maya have almost no artistic tradition of depicting the act of reproduction. Likely, sex wasn’t that important to them as a culture.”
    “Huh. No wonder their civilization fell.”
    Lina laughed. “You are such a man.”
    He smiled slowly. “That’s because you’re such a woman.”
    With a shake of her head, she followed the light beam back to the entrance of the tomb. Most of the candles had burned out, but a few were still waiting for the faithful man or men who had kept the temple clean. Despite the subtle draft from the back of the hall, the remaining flames burned bright and straight, bending only when she passed them.
    It took Hunter a few tries, but the stone slab door opened onto the jungle. He let his eyes adjust to daylight before he drew Lina out of the tomb and into the cover of jumbled limestone blocks.
    There was no unexpected shadow lurking, no sense of being watched.
    “How’s your neck?” he asked.
    “Good.”
    “Let’s go.”
    They covered the distance back to the Bronco quickly. Again, the vehicle was untouched.
    “I know a lot of places that would pay big money to havethis neighborhood watch system,” Hunter said.
    Lina smiled. “Want to drive?”
    “How’d you guess?”
    “The way your foot kept looking for the brake the whole time I was at the wheel.”
    “Did I say anything?”
    “No. You earned major points for it, too. Almost as many as you earned last night.”
    He gave her a long, sideways look. “Yeah?”
    “Oh yeah.” She tossed him the keys.
    “That’s supposed to help me concentrate on driving?”
    “Concentration equals more points.”
    “Huh. Definitely costumes are on the schedule. Along with a few other things the Hindu culture was clever enough to illuminate in the Kama Sutra.”
    Lina bit back a laugh and climbed into the Bronco. She didn’t have to give any directions as Hunter negotiated the confusing tracks that ultimately would lead to a better road. She relaxed into the seat, realizing that he was as good at backcountry driving as she had guessed.
    “Sometimes I worry that you’re too perfect,” she said.
    “What?” he asked, thinking he’d heard wrong.
    She started to explain, then made a choked sound as he turned a blind corner and slammed on the brakes.
    An old truck was approaching about fifty feet away. When the other driver saw the Bronco, he yanked the wheel and parked across the track, blocking it.

C HAPTER T WENTY-ONE
     
    T HAT’S P HILIP ,” L INA SAID . “B UT WHAT’S HE DOING HERE ?”
    “Stopping us,” Hunter said.
    He eyed the growth on either side of the truck. Too thick and sturdy to muscle through. No other routes in sight, not even the faintest trace of a footpath.
    “Wonder what kind of mood he’s in,” she muttered.
    “What?”
    “Philip can go from jovial to surly in a heartbeat.” She reached for the door handle. “Better get it over with. Waiting won’t improve whatever mood he’s in.”
    She opened the door and got out with all the eagerness of someone heading for a root canal without anesthesia.
    Hunter was one second behind her, then he was beside her. His glance swept the jungle before focusing on the man waiting in the truck. He was thick through the shoulders and tall enough that his head was close to the Rover’s roof.
    “Who the hell is this?” Philip demanded through the open window. “What’s he doing on my land?”
    “His land?” Hunter murmured. Who made him king of the Yucatan?
    Lina gripped Hunter’s hand and shook her head. “Let me handle him. You’ll just make him more upset. And don’t take it personally. He’s rude to everyone.”
    “So I’ve heard.”
    She made the introductions through the open window. Other than a flat look from gray eyes, Philip ignored Hunter.
    “You aren’t supposed to be out here,” Philip said to Lina. “Go back to the house right now.”
    She blinked. “I was just—”
    “I told you there was nothing out here worth looking at,” Philip said over her. “You have no business here.”
    “But—”
    “You heard me!” Philip shouted.
    Hunter decided that he and Philip were