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Chapter 34
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Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 35
Norris Geyser Basin Museum, Yellowstone National Park"Do you want your own map?" Penelope Vaughn knelt down, smiling at the little girl in front of her. "It'll show you how to get everywhere you're going to visit today. Maybe you can help be the navigator for your dad."The girl nodded shyly, her pigtails bobbing as she reached out. She hadn't said a word since her family approached Penny, but her eyes were sparkling with excitement as her chubby fingers closed around the paper map."There are plenty of signs," Penny assured the girl's parents as she rose to her feet again. "And if you have any questions about anything you see today, just find another ranger. He or she should be able to tell you anything you want to know." Her eyes fell on the little girl again, and her grin widened. "And you'll remember what I told you about the animals, right?"The girl nodded solemnly. Hopefully, she and her parents would listen. Unfortunately, too many tourists treated the park like a petting
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 36
There she is, Xavier thought. All five feet and five inches of her. It was almost shocking how little she'd changed in the years they'd been apart. Apparently she still liked to wear her auburn hair in a long braid. Her eyes still shone like a pair of sapphires over her freckle-dusted cheeks. And she still had a body that could make anything look good, even high-waisted, army green uniform pants.She also, quite obviously, wasn't over the way things had ended between them.The look in her eyes was murderous. More than that - she looked like she wanted to rip his heart right out of his chest, stomp on it, and then toss it into one of those steaming geysers nearby.Honestly, that's kind of what it felt like already, just looking at her."What are you doing here?" she demanded.She still had her temper, too. Fuck, he'd been on the receiving end of that temper a number of times, and he didn't want to relive the experience. The girl was a viper.Of course, that had also made the sex b
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 37
Penny had never been able to resist a good secret.Despite all of her lingering negative feelings about Xavier - and there were many - she wanted to know what was going on. Whether she liked it or not, he was here, and she wouldn't be satisfied until she knew why. And why his business associates thought she could be of any help to them.It's too bad he didn't lose all his teeth in the years we've been apart, she thought woefully. Or go bald. Or grow a bunch of hair on his arms. Anything to make him less like the hotter-than-sin man she'd stupidly fallen for years ago. Not that his appearance changed anything. But it would have been easier to see him again if he'd lost something in the looks department in the past few years.He hasn't changed at all. Not in appearance or in other ways. Xavier had always been good at finding trouble - it was a natural extension of his balls-to-the-wall approach to life. When she'd first met him, he'd said he wasn't afraid of anything. He was always lo
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 38
This was impossibly good luck. And bad luck, considering Xavier had been secretly hoping that Penny would know nothing and he could walk away from her again sooner rather than later. There was only so long he could face down the reminder that he was a complete and total jackass, that he'd ruined the best thing that had ever happened to him."You're lying," came Roth's voice from the front of the car. "If you think you can make wild claims and we'll just - ""I'm not lying," Penny insisted. "I met Vincent when he came to the park last year. He was fascinated by this place. Trapped me in a corner for half an hour asking me questions, then tried to tip me a thousand dollars for my trouble." She shrugged. "He was a character. And he had this leather-bound notebook with him that was full of notes and nature sketches, like he was on the Lewis and Clark expedition or something. He had a lot of fancy equipment with him, too. That and the massive tip he tried to give me tipped me off that he
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 39
"You sure you're okay?" Eric asked Penny again.Penny nodded, smiling even though she knew her fellow ranger could see the unshed tears in her eyes. "I'm fine. Thanks again. And I'll make it up to you, I promise. Seriously, anything you need."Eric gave a dismissive wave. "I know you will. Go take care of yourself."Penny hadn't meant to start tearing up when she approached Eric to ask him to cover for her. She'd managed to hold it together from the moment she left Xavier on the path until the moment she opened her mouth, and then all of the emotions she'd been stifling tried to rush out at once.Maybe the tears helped her case. But she'd have rather been stronger, more composed. She'd formed some great friendships with her fellow rangers here, but she didn't talk about certain things with them. And she didn't plan to. She wanted to keep the past in the past.Why is Xavier here? she asked herself for the umpteenth time. Why now? I have a new life. A different future ahead of me. W
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 40
He couldn't tear his eyes away from Penny.She was pointedly looking away from him, staring out the window at the scenery as they followed the Great Loop Road toward this Prismatic Spring she'd mentioned. But even though Yellowstone was beautiful - he'd always had a soft spot for the country's national parks, ever since his first visit to Yosemite as a kid - it could never compare to the woman next to him.He'd thought her anger, her pain, would be a buffer. That he could use it to maintain the wall he'd spent years building up in his mind. But he should have known better. He'd never been the sort of guy who was easily confined by walls. Or any restrictions, for that matter. Yeah, okay - when he was competing as a motocross racer, or during his brief stints in a couple of other extreme sports, he'd always followed the rules of the game. He didn't want anyone questioning his skills or his victories. But in all other parts of his life, he'd always prided himself on being a rebel. It ha
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 41
Penny's heart was racing. Xavier didn't even have to say anything. She already knew they'd found something important.His eyes were locked on the symbol. "This was Rinaldi. I know it was."There was a sharp determination in his voice, and she wasn't sure whether he was certain or just desperate. She'd seen his face as that wooden elephant had tumbled down into the crater below. And she'd felt the loss deep inside her, in places she hadn't realize could still feel at all.But that feeling was fading again, lost beneath the beating of her heart. She knew that wild look in Xavier's eyes. And she wasn't sure she was ready for what would come next.Xavier's hand skimmed over the plank, his fingers following the same invisible line hers had just drawn."There has to be something here." He looked up and down the rail. "Another clue, or..." He knelt down, looking underneath.Penny dropped down beside him. She wasn't sure what they were looking for. Xavier had said that they were looking
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 42
I have to do something.That was the thought that occupied Xavier's mind most of the way to Artist Point. The problem was, he didn't know what he had to do. He just knew that he was balancing on a fine edge, and that one step in the wrong direction would send him and everything that mattered tumbling down into oblivion.He'd never seen Roth like this. The leader of the Set had always been bullheaded. But this hunt had done crazy things to all of them. There was a hard-edged ruthlessness to Roth now. He never would have referred to an innocent woman as "leverage" before. Or would he?Maybe Tavish was right. During their brief chat back at the Norris Geyser Basin, his former teammate had implied that Xavier didn't know everything about Roth, that the leader of the Set was keeping secrets from him and the rest of the group. But what? And why the hell hadn't Tavish just told him outright?Xavier's fingers gripped his empty pocket. The loss of that little elephant had left a hole in him
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Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 70
Sloane wanted to die of humiliation.She'd been willing to let Donovan tell the Set about them, but this was not the way she'd expected this news to come out.Donovan climbed off the bed, grabbing her bra and bringing it over to her."Thanks," she said, cheeks blazing. At least he looked as embarrassed as she felt. Whatever happened, at least they were in this together - in this and everything.There was something amazingly beautiful about that realization.She released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She still felt shaken, and physically weak, and she knew the gaping, gnawing pit in her stomach - with two holes, one for each of the children she'd never meet - would never truly go away. But there was something else there now, too. Something that made her feel stronger. She was no longer alone.Still trying to make sense of this strange new feeling, she finished dressing. Then Donovan held his hand out to her. "Shall we?"She would have much rather have hidden he
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 69
When they reached the hotel, Donovan took Sloane to her room."I need to check your back," he told her as he laid her gently on her side on the bed.The moment she touched the mattress, a gray-and-white hairball bounced up out of nowhere, and Donovan bit back a curse of surprise. He'd forgotten all about the little furry demon.The cat hardly spared Donovan a glance. Instead, it went straight to Sloane and rubbed itself against her arm, then curled up against her belly, snuggling in as if the only reason she was here at all was to provide the little beast with a warm place to sleep.Donovan shook his head, chasing away the insults he wanted to hurl at the little beast."If the wound isn't deep, we can treat it here," he told her. "Otherwise, I'm taking you to a hospital.""Wouldn't it look suspicious, walking into the hospital with a knife wound?" Sloane asked, gently stroking her cat's fur.He frowned. "You think I care about that when your wellbeing is on the line?"That sile
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 68
It all happened so fast that Sloane didn't have time to think. Just react.She was still reeling from her emotional confession to Donovan when she saw the glint of metal behind him. Her mind had only had a split second to scream, "Blade!" before she saw the knife arcing down toward Donovan's shoulder. She cried out, giving Donovan a hard shove out of the weapon's path.If she'd been a little stronger - or Donovan a little smaller - he might have avoided the knife completely. Instead, it caught the edge of his sleeve, slicing down his arm as he twisted out of the way.But despite the injury, Donovan was fast. His instincts took over quickly, and he sent his fist flying back toward his attacker.It was the tourist Donovan had nearly attacked earlier. But no ordinary tourist would carry a knife like that, let alone swing it at a stranger.But apparently he hadn't expected Donovan to fight back. Or maybe he'd thought that if he'd hit his mark Donovan would not have been able to defend
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 67
"This is it," Toshi said, rubbing his hands together as they stood in front of the Alcazaba. "The final stretch, you guys!"Donovan wished he felt as enthusiastic as his teammate. Instead, he found himself fighting a lump of unease.It's this damn city, he thought. Malaga was a beautiful place, but it twisted his judgment around until he could no longer tell up from down.He hadn't slept at all last night. He'd just kept thinking of Sloane in the next room. Even Toshi's snoring on the other side hadn't been able to drown out the heat of his desire. And it certainly hadn't eased the fire in his loins.But that wasn't the only thing bothering him. He'd been on edge ever since their near-miss with the suspected arms dealer back in Ponta Delgada. They'd escaped, but something about that scenario still niggled at him. Why hadn't Alyssa warned them? For that matter, why would Vincent Rinaldi hide a clue on the property of a man like that? Had he truly been as naive as Alyssa claimed? Or
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 66
Malaga, Spain - The Next DayIs this some sort of punishment? Sloane wondered, stepping out onto the balcony of her hotel room. A reminder of my past sins? Yesterday had shaken her in more ways than one, but returning here, to Malaga, was unsettling in a different way. This couldn't be simply a bad coincidence - the universe had to be testing her. Why else would it bring her back here? Now?She hummed a reassuring song to herself as she stepped out onto the balcony of her room, trying to ease the wild restlessness that had taken up residence in her heart ever since they'd arrived here last night. This balcony was larger than the one where she'd stood the last time she was here. Below her, the mid-morning sun cast the street in bright light, and the buzz of voices floated up as locals and tourists went about their day.She held Valiant in her arms, and the cat purred and snuggled closer to her chest, clearly enjoying the cuddles and the soft singing. He was becoming quite the wandere
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 65
Donovan held Sloane tightly against his chest, trying to keep her from making too much noise as she wriggled and twisted in his arms."Sloane," he rumbled in a low voice, "it's just me."She stopped struggling, and he released her mouth, then her arms. She twisted around, looking up at him in surprise."Way to give a girl a heart attack," she whispered back."I didn't want you to scream and draw attention to us.""Have you ever heard me scream?" she asked. She didn't look angry, though - just concerned. "What's going on? You guys didn't give me very much of a warning.""A man came out of the house," Donovan told her in a low voice. "Carrying a rifle. I think you were spotted." Beneath the surface, he was fuming. He knew they shouldn't have let her take this risk on her own. When that man had come stalking out with that big gun...something inside him had snapped. He still wasn't entirely sure how he'd managed to keep himself from attacking the man on sight.He angled himself to t
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 64
Sloane dropped into a crouch behind one of the large, manicured shrubs. Then she wiped the raindrops off her glasses, taking stock of her surroundings.The coast was clear, and her path was straightforward enough. If she hugged the wall, the shrubs would cover her nearly all the way to the pohutukawa tree. Then she could hide herself among the tree's large, twisted branches until she'd found her prize.She could still feel the imprint of Donovan's fingers on her sides, as if his touch had burned her through her T-shirt. But she couldn't think about that right now, just as she couldn't think about that intense look in his eyes as he'd watched her slip away. Or the fact that, not two hours ago, he'd kissed her. And she'd kissed him back.She had a mission.It should be easy, she told herself, creeping along through the mulch and damp soil along the wall, humming under her breath. She kept one eye on the house, just in case. It still didn't look like this Mr. Beaufort was even home, a
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 63
Donovan watched Sloane flee, rubbing his bottom lip.He'd told himself he'd heed Cruz's advice and control himself around her. This was not the time to indulge his carnal urges, not when the fate of the Set was at stake. Not when it might push Sloane away again. And yet when she'd looked at him, when she'd caressed his cheek with such tenderness, he'd been unable to stop himself from tasting her again.He didn't drink. He'd never been interested in alcohol, not after what had happened to his parents and sister. He'd often bitterly prided himself on his sobriety; how anyone could willingly partake of something that destroyed so many lives was beyond him. But he'd heard people speak of addiction - of that incessant, agonizing yearning, of that craving that was impossible to deny, no matter how much you knew you'd regret it in the end.That's what he felt around Sloane. He'd spent his entire life avoiding addiction, and he'd stumbled into it anyway. Thrown himself into it, consequences
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 62
If Sloane was being honest, she'd always been a little intimidated by women like Alyssa Berry - beautiful women who never seemed to have a hair out of place or a wrinkle in their clothes. Women who knew how to command men with the flash of a smile or a practiced giggle. It was some sort of sorcery that Sloane had never understood, and there was a time in her life she would have given anything to know its secrets. Women like Alyssa felt like an entirely different species.Which is why, when Alyssa declared that she was tired of waiting and marched toward the doors of the hotel - not even wobbling the slightest bit on her tall heels - Sloane had no idea what to do.Toshi had tried to stop her. But Alyssa had simply batted him away. So Sloane had gone after her, catching her right as the woman had managed to hail a taxi."You can't go," Sloane said."I can and I will. I'm a free woman, aren't I?" Alyssa paused with her hand on the taxi door. "I don't wait around for men, love, and nei
