Page 27 of Secret Mission

Oh lord.

I hope this works.

There’s a muttered exchange from the other boat, but I can’t make out the words.

Peeking up at Truck, I look on in dismay.

He’s so freaking unaffected—a day of boating. Nothing more. He’s right at home. Sarong around his waist, barefoot. His hair a little disheveled. That feral five o’clock shadow along his jaw.

And then there’s the loose cannon vibe he puts off. I bet they do think he’s dangerously unhinged.

“Nice that the rain stopped,” he says with a lazy grin. “I was hoping my whole vacation wouldn’t be soaked.”

Sweat gathers around my hairline. Not from the heat. One more minute of this charade, and I’m going to have a nervous breakdown.

Fainting would be very bad right now.

The vision of me face planting into Truck’s crotch has my eyes going wide, my pulse zooming.

Our cover would be blown. Then there’d be more shooting or stabbing. God only knows what Truck would do.

No fainting!

Breathe.

One of the men says, “It’s the rainy season, Amigo. Don’t count on that.”

Truck laughs it off, again edging toward unhinged as he laughs too long. “No matter. Sure beats work. Speaking of, I’m gonna get back to my book now, if you guys don’t mind. It’s getting to the good part. It’s one of those romance stories, and the enemies are about to rip each other’s clothes off.”

Wait,what?

Is he talking about us?

There’s a snort of laughter from one of the other men. “My woman is always telling me about her books. She said she’s gonna make me read.”

Another man on the other boat is laughing hard. “You? Reading romance books? That’s funny as hell.”

The first man is quick to reply, “Happy wife, happy life. You’ll understand one day, Amigo.”

As amused as they are, I need for them to go the hell away. I’m on borrowed time under here.

Pain makes me cringe. My legs are at an awkward angle. My foot is asleep. I can’t hold the pose any longer.

Trying to move my deadened foot without making a sound takes all my concentration. Then I mess up big time. The knife slips from my clammy hand.

Thud.

Oh. No. Eyes wide, I freeze.

Don’t breathe. Don’t move.

I can feel Truck’s shocked anger, and I’m not even looking at him.

The conversation dies instantly.

“Goddamned boat.” Truck drops to a knee and glares at me with his nostrils flared and a threat in his snarled lip.

“Sorry,” I mouth silently.