Page 17 of Enticing Her Love

“Could you eat them every day?” Flynn asked from behind the camera.

“If my choices were to eat them or die, I definitely could. Although it would probably taste better with salt and other seasonings.” She smiled. “That said, I don’t think I’ll be seeking them out after we leave the rainforest. Assuming we make it through the night.” She looked around the darkening forest, trying not to flinch as something howled in the distance. “I’m not generally afraid of the dark, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t wishing for a hotel room with a nice hot shower and four protective walls.” She shielded her mouth with her hand and lowered her voice, as if sharing a secret with the viewers. “Stay tuned to see if I roast my boss next.”

Flynn waited a few seconds before turning off the camera. “That was great. What did you really think of the chontacuro worms?”

“I was honest. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.”

“Good. Are you glad you tried it?”

“I want so badly to say no, but yes, I’m proud of myself, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m glad you pushed me to do it.”

“Ha! See? There is a method to my madness.” He offered her more worms.

“No, thanks.”

“Come on, Steele. You know you’re still hungry.” He waved the skewer in front of her.

“I’m stuffed,” she said with a laugh.

He popped a worm into his mouth. “Mm-mm. Tastes like steak.”

He pulled another off the skewer and goaded her until they were both laughing, and she gave in and ate one more. He finished the rest of them and licked his fingers. “Now, that was tasty.”

“You’re such a weirdo. Would it be awful if I used a tiny bit of our water to brush my teeth?”

“Why? You got a date?” he teased.

“Please. The men I know are hardly worth brushing my teeth for. I haven’t even gone on a date in six months.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had sex. But she didn’t miss it. She hadn’t been with that many men, but she’d been with enough to know they always left her unsatisfied and feeling a little empty.

“It’s been three times that for me.”

She couldn’t tell if he was kidding or not, and although she was curious, she didn’t want to get into a dating discussion with Flynn, so she let it go and said, “Probably because you sleep with worm guts in your teeth.”

Chapter Seven

AS DARKNESS CREPT in, Sutton’s senses were on high alert. Not just from the dangers lurking in the forest, but from Flynn’s close proximity beside her on a log by the fire. Without the buffer of animosity, everything felt intimate. Even brushing their teeth had taken on a strange closeness. She tried to focus on the insects fluttering around them and not the quickening of her pulse every time their arms or legs touched.

“Look at us, getting along like old friends,” Flynn said.

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Sutton didn’t want to touch any of her old friends, and it was all she could think about doing with him. “How did you learn so much about survival?”

“It’s in my blood.”

“What does that mean? Were your ancestors tribesmen?”

“No, but that would’ve been cool. My grandfather is an archaeologist and paleontologist, and my parents are wildlife biologists, although my mom has worked as a wildlife photographer since my oldest sister and brother were born. They’ve always stressed the importance of learning from nature and understanding it, so we can nurture it rather than destroy it.”

“Those are great lessons.”

“Yeah, and they gave us every opportunity to learn from them. My parents wanted it all. Their careers, family, travel, and they wanted us to have it all, too, which is why we traveled with my father for his assignments.”

“Wow. How often did you travel?”

“Most of the time. We had our home base in Ridgeport, Mass, but we lived overseas for months at a time until I was eleven, when my older sister and brothers put their feet down about traveling so much. We also visited my grandfather on some of his expeditions, which I loved. I used to think he was a real-life Indiana Jones. He even has a cool name.”

“What is it?”

“He goes by his middle name, Bradshaw Braden. Tell me that’s not every bit as great as Indiana Jones.”