Page 28 of Dancing With Temptation

“Of course, just let me get the bags.” Roxie started to agree but they waved her off.

“One of the children will bring those, don’t worry. Come with us please.”

“It’s nice to meet you both, I’m Roxie.” She introduced herself, liking them both instantly. There was a family resemblance and Roxie wondered if they were mother and daughter.

“I’m Chantou and this is my daughter, Chantavy.” The older woman explained. “It’s very nice to meet you too.”

“Thanks,” Roxie answered and followed along to what looked like military tents. She’d only ever seen them on television or in movies, but the boxy forest green tents were large enough to move around in and store things if need be. Not the hotel she’d hoped for, but she wouldn’t complain. “This looks great.”

“It’s not a hotel, but all the people from Lincoln’s program use these. Is it okay?” Chantou asked, her much shyer daughter happy to dissolve into the background.

“It’s fine, really.” Roxie sat down on the single bed arranged in the corner of the tent and wondered how she’d fit into the bed with Lincoln in it. “Is there somewhere we can get something to drink?”

“Oh, my son is bringing some juice and water. It will be here soon. After Lincoln is finished, we’ll meet in the town hall and have lunch together.” Chantou informed her and Roxie nodded her head.

“Great. Want to show me around?” Roxie couldn’t think of anything better to do than to get stuck right into life here. It was helpful that both women spoke English and seemed nice. For now, getting her brain around time zones, schedules, and everything else would have to wait. She had to find her footing, then she could deal with that.

14

Roxie

Roxie hadn’t seen Lincoln since they shared a dinner with the villagers. She was exhausted from the long trip across the globe and had excused herself once she’d finished her meal. The people that surrounded her were all nice and friendly, from the villagers to the team that stayed there full-time to work. They’d accepted her excuse with knowing but understanding smiles.

She was so tired that she felt out of place, and even though everyone spoke to her in English, she felt rude for not knowing a single word of the language. Typical American tourist kept running through her brain when she could function enough to form a thought. Going to bed would sort that out.

The tent was still warm inside, despite the fact that darkness had fallen. A white slip of a nightgown was all she could bother to put on, anything else would be far too hot for her. Roxie hated to sleep when it was as hot as this, but she was in desperate need of some downtime. She’d picked up her phone to see if she could read herself to sleep on her book app but heard a noise outside.

“Hello?” She called out, tense in the confines of a tent that had no solid door or walls to keep intruders out. But there was no electricity, only battery-powered lanterns that had small solar panels on them, and that was a good thing as far as she was concerned. Even if she couldn’t charge her phone.

“It’s just me. I came to check on you and bring you some mosquito spray. You might want to spray yourself and the netting over your bed.” Lincoln said once he’d opened the flap to come inside.

“Oh, good. Sorry, I’m so tired that I couldn’t stay at the dinner any longer.” She sat down on the small bed and suddenly felt very…lonely. “Did they give us separate tents for a reason, Lincoln? Like, is it taboo for us to sleep together here?”

“It is frowned upon for unmarried couples to live together, yes.” Lincoln looked around sheepishly, his cheeks a little pink. “But, uh, I could stay with you for a while. We’re foreigners so they probably wouldn’t say anything, but I don’t want to cause problems if I can avoid it.”

That made her smile. He was so cute when he was being shy like that while also being so respectful of the people here. “I understand. I’d like you to stay with me for a while if you can. I’ve gotten used to sleeping beside you over the last few days and I think I’d miss you being with me.”

“Oh. Are you sure?” His smile was like a reward that soothed her even more.

“I’d love it if you would.” She looked down at her small bed and then back at Lincoln, wondering if they’d both fit. “I’m sorry if I’ve complained too much. I’ve just not traveled like this in a long time.”

“No, don’t apologize, Roxie.” Lincoln rushed over to her and took her hands in his. “You haven’t complained at all, really. You’ve been a trooper and you have nothing to apologize for. But give me ten minutes and I’ll come right over, okay?”

“That sounds good.” Roxie leaned over to peck a kiss on his cheek then went back to her bags to pull out a thin white cotton robe. It was enough to make her decent, but not too heavy.

“I’ll be right back.” Lincoln almost did a jig before he left the tent.

A few minutes later Lincoln came back with a pair of shorts and his tablet that he’d put on a solar charger earlier. “I have some movies downloaded on this thing, we can watch one if you want.”

Once Lincoln had brought over a table to put his tablet on and changed into the much softer shorts he slept in, he sprayed their netting down with the bug repellent before he climbed into bed with her. “Want to cuddle or are you too hot?”

“I could use a cuddle I think.” She replied with a pleased smile that she’d have hated two weeks ago. “I know it’s silly, but I need to be near you.”

“That’s fine, Roxie. I don’t mind at all.” He pulled her into his arms, his skin as damp as hers from sweat but she didn’t mind.

“I’ll be okay tomorrow.” She promised, her right cheek against his chest. “At least, I think I will.”

Lincoln chuckled, making his chest rumble and even that was soothing, she was surprised to find. She never wanted to be vulnerable or needy, but at the moment, she was both. It was a good thing Lincoln was so kind and accepting.