The Adventurer

down and scooped her up out of her chair.
    "What do you think you're doing?" But her pulse was already racing with anticipation.
    "What does it look like I'm doing?" He stalked out of the kitchen, carrying her weight easily. "I'm taking you to bed."
    "Oh."
    "Is that all you can say—
oh
?" He carried her through the bedroom door and dropped her lightly down onto the bed.
    She smiled in the shadows. "The truth is, it's so terribly romantic, I'm left speechless."
    He grinned as he began stripping off his clothing. "You're bound and determined to think of me as a romantic hero, aren't you?"
    "It's not a fantasy, you know. You are a fascinating, romantic man and I—" She broke off abruptly as he came down beside her on the quilt. It was not yet time to tell him how passionately in love she was. He was not yet ready to let himself believe in love even though she was certain he was in love with her.
    "You what?" Gideon gathered her close, nuzzling the delicate curve of her shoulder.
    "I think you're also the sexiest man I've ever met." She leaned over him, tasting him with her tongue, tangling her legs with his.
    "I don't know about that," Gideon said as he began unfastening her jeans, "but I do know for a fact that you're the most exciting thing that's ever walked into my life." He stopped working on her jeans and framed her face between his big hands. "Sarah?"
    "Yes?"
    "Promise me you won't walk out again for a long time."
    "Never, Gideon. I swear it."
    "Don't make impossible promises," he advised. "Just swear you'll give me a little time."
    "All the time in the world." She brushed his hard mouth with her own.
    He took the silent offer of reassurance, his arms closing fiercely around her and then there was no more talk.
     
    S ARAH WAS MIXING THE BATTER for blue corn griddle-cakes the next morning, listening to the sound of the shower so she could gauge when to start cooking when she heard the roar of the black Jeep in the drive.
    "Damn him, anyway," she said beneath her breath as she went to the window and watched Jake Savage step out of the vehicle. The man looked as rakishly handsome as ever. She wondered if he traveled with a valet. No normal man could keep such a perfect crease in his khakis or such a polish on his boots.
    As he walked to the steps, Sarah saw that Savage had something in his hand. It was a bunch of flowers. She groaned as she went to open the door.
    "Good morning. Ms. Fleetwood." Savage held up the flowers with a flourish. "I thought these might brighten up the place a bit. This cabin Gid rented isn't exactly the Ritz, is it?"
    Automatically Sarah took the flowers. "The cabin suited us perfectly." Behind her the shower was still going strong. She wished Gideon would hurry and get dressed. She did not like being alone with Jake Savage. "What can I do for you, Mr. Savage?"
    "Invite me in for breakfast? I can't remember when I last had a real home-cooked meal. Is that coffee I smell?"
    Sarah wondered if there was any civilized way to refuse him a cup. But it was difficult to think of an excuse while she was holding the flowers he had brought. "I'll get you some. Gideon should be out of the shower in a minute."
    'Thanks." Jake's smile had just the right touch of boyish masculine charm and gratitude as he followed her into the kitchen. "I guess I make you a little nervous, don't I?"
    "Yes, you do."
    "Relax. I'm not after the earrings, if that's what's worrying you," Jake said as he took Gideon's seat at the table. "But I can arrange some great publicity for you as well as myself when you find them. A little PR never hurt a writer, did it?"
    Sarah felt chilled. Very carefully she put the flowers into a pan of water. "How did you find me up here in the mountains?"
    "One of your neighbors told me you'd gone over to the coast to meet the publisher of a magazine called
Cache
. After that, one thing led to another. I talked to a few of Gid's neighbors, including the one who was letting you use this cabin. It finally hit me just who Gideon Trace really was. When I showed an old picture of him to the guy who runs the motel where you stayed, I knew for certain. Hell of a coincidence, huh? Turning up Gid along with you?"
    "Amazing."
    Jake looked briefly contrite. "Hey, I didn't mean to scare you."
    "You didn't scare me." She poured a cup of coffee and put it on the table in front of Jake. "Where have you been living since you got out of that jungle?"
    "Gid told you the story, huh? Did he tell you about me