Page 3 of Poison Evidence
She smiled. “Thank you. I’m proud of that project. It was one of the last ones I completed before MacLeod-Hill imploded.” Her research had been funded by a National Institutes of Health grant and yielded solid data on the hazards of climate change. She’d miss being able to work on studies like that.
She glanced toward the nearby mangroves. The hotel developers probably wanted to take out that habitat, but mangrove swamps were vital to the ecosystem, and they were rapidly disappearing, which she’d proven in the multiyear study. That this mangrove remained, partially blocking the ocean view of the new hotel, could be, in part, thanks to her work.
“Is CAM an expansion of the technology you used for the mangrove study?”
She had to be careful how she answered. While it was public knowledge that NHHC had finally gotten the long-awaited funding to map the battlefield, only a select few knew exactly what CAM was capable of. The technology was, in all likelihood, better at gathering intelligence than the CIA and MI6 combined. But that also meant that in the wrong hands, her baby could be dangerous.
“Yes, for the most part. With a few enhancements.”
Mapping the Battle of Peleliu was the perfect test for CAM: terrain known to hide tunnels—on land and underwater—with plenty of historic wreckage to pinpoint, and the ability to ground-truth the data to calibrate accuracy.
He gazed down at her, his eyes lit with interest. On another man—like Frost—the sexy stare would look rehearsed, but on Jack, it came across as natural smolder. “Is this your first visit to Palau?” he asked.
It was crazy how the simple question combined with stare made her flush with excitement.
Hello, libido. I didn’t even know I missed you.
He reminded her of the actor who played Captain Kirk in the new Star Trek movies, with his blue, blue eyes. “Yes,” she managed. “How long have you been here?”
“A few months.”
“What brought you to Palau?”
He turned and faced the sea, his jaw tight, but then a corner of his mouth turned upward. “Do I need a reason to move to paradise?”
She frowned at his evasive answer. Evasion reminded her of Patrick and all the signs she’d missed in their four-year marriage. “Most people do.”
“I suppose that’s true. Either running away from something or running to it.”
“And you?”
“Neither.” His gaze slid to the side, just meeting hers as they faced the water. “My reason is private.”
She had to respect that. The one thing she’d lacked in her life since last August was privacy.
“Are you enjoying paradise?” he asked.
“Very much,” she answered, then paused. “Well, I was, before that article about CAM was published. Now everyone except Ulai looks at me differently, and often they’re outright rude.”
“They think you were complicit in your ex-husband’s treason.”
She tried to read his gaze. Did she see salacious curiosity in his eyes? Was he just like the others, only smoother?
She took a step backward. She was done fielding probing and frequently offensive questions from total strangers. No thickness of biceps or blueness of eyes could make up for the pain of insulting interrogation. “I should get back inside.”
Before she could turn, he caught her arm. “Wait. I didn’t meanIbelieve it—” His gaze caught on something over her shoulder. In a smooth but quick motion, he slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her close against him.
She pushed at his shoulders. Awakened libido or not, this was abrupt and as unwelcome as questions about her ex. “At least buy me a drink first.”
His arm locked, a vise twisting closed, bringing her against the hard plane of his chest. Alarm shot through her, and she braced her hands against his pecs. She took a deep breath to scream.
His mouth covered hers, muffling the sound. She moved to bite him, but he pulled back just enough to say, “There are three men who’ve just jumped the garden wall. They’re armed with adzes and machetes.” He moved his lips to her neck as he continued speaking. “This is the best way to get both of us deeper into the shadows without letting them know I’ve seen them.” He ran his lips over her jaw. “Play along.”
She didn’t know what to think. He’d seemed sane enough just seconds ago. Another thought slammed into her.
What if he works for Patrick’s terrorist buddies?
“Bullshit.” She shoved at his chest again.