His Lost Mate (A Steamy Paranormal Romance Novel) (12 page)

Knowing Sylvia, she wouldn’t be that patient. She’d have been over here by now checking to see why he was keeping her waiting.

Deven faced her and frowned as if he was trying to gather his thoughts. Silence grew between them, making the atmosphere in the room turn stuffy and confining like sleeping in a small attic bedroom on a hot summer night.

“Lauren.” His voice was subdued. “I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds earlier. I don’t want anything to jeopardize our professional relationship. It’s not a good idea for a teacher to get intimately involved with his students.”

I was right. There is something going on between him and Sylvia. Hurt and anger slammed into her. “I’m twenty-nine, Deven, not some silly eighteen-year-old, and I’m quite capable of separating my personal life from my professional life.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she didn’t attempt to hide her annoyance.

He pressed his lips together, apparently trying not to smile. “You certainly don’t kiss like a silly eighteen-year-old.” He quickly held up his hand to stop her from adding a flip comment. “Not that I’ve kissed any eighteen-year-olds lately—at least not since I was eighteen. And although you do kiss very nicely, it would be better if we didn’t pursue this.”

Lauren felt crushed and tried to hide her hurt feelings. She forced a smile. “You don’t kiss so badly yourself. It’s okay, Deven, I understand.”

He changed the subject. “Well, I got some good news earlier. Sylvia heard the local officials are allowing us to move into the field camp and resume excavation.”

“Great. So when do we start moving our stuff to the camp?”

“Tomorrow, after breakfast.” He looked at his watch. “Lord, it’s after two already. We should get some sleep. Are you okay now?”

“Yes,” she lied. Why did she have to fall so fast for a guy?

The casual way in which he picked up his gun was unsettling, but also comforting. Lauren stood up and followed him to the door, half wishing he would stay to keep her mind off her ghostly visitor.

He opened the door then turned to face her. Her heart tripped over itself. Would he try to kiss her again? God, I’m hopeless.

“Try to get some sleep, Lauren. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“I will.” She doubted she was able to hide the disappointment in her voice.

When she closed the door, the room felt full of foreboding as if she was being watched. Nerves, just nerves. How would she sleep between thoughts of Deven and worrying about more visits from the ghost? Maybe it’s the hotel that’s haunted and my strange dreams and ghost will remain here when I move to the camp.

The next morning outside the hotel, Lauren saw Deven and a man in his fifties with a long salt-and-pepper ponytail and wearing a Panama hat throwing boxes, crates and duffle bags into the back of two Jeeps. The man’s athletic build made him look like he was ready to lead an expedition to the top of Mount Everest.

“Glad to have you back, Deven,” the man said. “After the thefts at the museum, folks around here have been a bit edgy.”

“I’ve heard. Despite that I’m ready to get back to work. There was some concern that we’d be shut down indefinitely. Hopefully, things should be back to normal soon,” Deven said.

Deven introduced Lauren, Justin and Kyle. “This is Jim Lucas—trailblazer, cook, supplier and public relations for El Zotz. He’ll be staying with us at the field camp.”

Jim tilted his hat toward the group then threw a couple more backpacks into the Jeep. “Where are the other students?”

“We have a small crew on this trip.” Deven continued loading supplies.

Jim glanced at the three students and frowned. Lauren saw him giving Deven a concerned look.

“Can I help?” Lauren asked.

“Just need to load personal gear, Miss Lauren, and we’ll be ready to go,” Jim said.

Sylvia stepped out of the hotel, walked up to Jim with regal confidence and held out her hand. “Good to see you, Jim.”

“Hello, Miss Sylvia, welcome back. Peabody Museum needing more artifacts?”

“Yes, I’m also here to examine the stolen pieces, possibly procure them for the museum.”

“Good luck getting them back from customs. Things are a little slow down here, ya know, especially when the government is involved.”

Lauren dragged her luggage toward the Jeep.

“I can get that,” Jim said. “It’s a big one.” He reached for her bag and lifted it effortlessly, tossing it on top of the Jeep. Deven and Jim secured the bags and boxes with nylon ropes.

As Margaret came out of the hotel, Jim’s face lit up with a grin. “Margaret.”

Margaret gave Jim a hug. “I told you I’d return.”

Jim nodded and smiled. “I knew you couldn’t stay away long. This place has a way of growing on you.”

“Oh yes. The rainforest and the Mayan ruins have captured my soul.”

“And who has captured your heart?” Jim asked with a wink.

Margaret smiled.

* * *

“Hold on, this is where it gets rough,” Deven gripped the steering wheel and shifted gears, jerking the Jeep from side to side over the narrow muddy road. He maneuvered around ruts and holes and through newly formed streams that crossed the road. Mud splashed on the windshield and the wipers smeared a brownish haze across the window.

“How can it get any worse?” Lauren’s knuckles were white and ached from grasping the handhold over her door for the last hour. “My butt will be black and blue.”

Margaret gave a hardy laugh. “Oh, but this is the fun part.”

“Yeah, but it’s hard to enjoy the scenery,” Lauren giggled. She had given up trying to spot any rainforest animals since they left Tikal over an hour ago.

Sylvia braced her feet on the dashboard and grasped her arm rest with both hands. “How much farther is it?” Her voice sounded stressed.

“Not far, maybe another hour or so,” he said.

“Another hour!” Sylvia burst out.

Deven glanced at Lauren in the rearview mirror. His eyes sparkled with mischief. “Just kidding. We should be there shortly.”

Lauren held back a laugh as Sylvia turned and gave Deven the evil eye.

Lauren ducked her head and blinked in reflex as low-hanging tree branches lashed the side windows like horsewhips. While holding tightly to the handhold, she managed to look over her shoulder at the Jeep following them. “Look at those two—” Another abrupt bounce over a rut in the road knocked the wind out of her lungs. “They’re in their glory.”

In the other Jeep, Kyle was sitting in the front with Jim, the driver, and Justin was leaning over the front seat. All were beaming.

Margaret laughed. “You’d think they were riding a roller coaster. I keep expecting them to raise their arms over their heads like they were plunging down the big dip.”

“Poor Jim, having to ride to El Zotz with those two clowns,” Deven said.

“Oh don’t worry about Jim. He’s having a blast,” Margaret said.

“Has Jim worked with the team before?” Lauren asked.

Margaret nodded. “He’s a godsend. Besides our cook, he’s an excellent guide and he keeps us entertained at night.”

“Entertained? How’s that?” Lauren asked.

“He plays the guitar and tells wonderful stories of his experiences with the jungle tribes.”

“What tribes?”

“A few scattered descendants of the ancient Maya, the Lacandons, still live in the rainforest. Their language is very difficult to understand. Since Jim has lived here for years he knows enough to get by.”

“As long as they don’t mind us digging in their backyard,” Lauren said. “So if Jim is our guide, why isn’t he leading the safari?”

“I know the way,” Deven said. “This is our fifth year on this particular site. I’ve worked on other sites in the area too.”

“Do you give tours of the rainforest?” Lauren asked. She feared her attempt to make casual conversation with Deven sounded clumsy.

“We can do some hiking, as long as we accomplish the work we have scheduled. We’re already behind with this delay,” Deven shouted over the whine of the engine and the thrashing of tree limbs against the Jeep. “Jim is the expert jungle guide. He knows this area better than most of the residents.”

Lauren glanced out the window and tried to peer through the tops of the trees to get a glimpse of sky, without luck. She couldn’t tell if it was cloudy or sunny. Finally, the dense jungle opened up onto a field.

“This is it,” Deven announced. The brakes squealed as the Jeep stopped in front of a large, screened building with a thatched roof. They all climbed out and stretched and moaned.

Across the grassy field, in front of the thatched-roof building, Lauren saw several drab Army green tents set in a semicircle around a campfire pit. She was giving up the quaint luxury of the hotel in Flores for the wild opulence of the jungle. Lauren’s heart skipped a beat, and her nails dug in her palms. Deep breath, she told herself. Once she got to work she’d get used to it.

“Central utility building with mess hall and meeting area. Everyone calls it the CUB.” Deven pointed to the thatched-roof structure. “Latrines and showers to the left. Take your pick of tents.”

With only three students, two professors, a curator and cook, there were plenty of tents available, Lauren thought. The field camp was more primitive than she expected. Lauren was at home in the woods, since she’d camped all her life with her family. Camping in the rainforest of Guatemala was nothing like camping in Maine or upstate New York. For as isolated as she felt, she could be on another planet.

“Justin and I are bunking at the far end,” Kyle said as the two men grabbed their huge backpacks and duffle bags and charged across the field to the opposite side of the fire pit.

“Come back and help unload, gentlemen,” Deven shouted as he dropped his bags in a tent next to the CUB.

Justin and Kyle waved. “We will,” Kyle said as the two ducked into their tents.

Sylvia claimed the tent closest to Deven’s. Lauren noticed Jim tripping over himself to help Margaret with her duffle bags. He stood tall and lanky next to her. Beneath his Panama hat, his long ponytail trailed down between his shoulder blades. Baggy striped pants made from the colorful Guatemalan cloth were quite a contrast to Margaret’s khaki pants and shirt.

After dropping Margaret’s bags in her tent, Jim ran back to the Jeep to help Deven unload. Deven stood on top of the Jeep, handing down backpacks and duffle bags. Jim grabbed a worn duffle bag with a large peace sign patch and a guitar case and set them down on the dried grass.

Lauren ran up and grabbed her suitcase out of Jim’s hands. “I got it, thanks.”

“Are you moving in permanently?” Jim asked with a teasing grin.

“Yes, I know I over-packed.” Lauren tried laughing off her embarrassment.

“Would you like a hand, Lauren?” Deven snickered as he slid off the top of the Jeep.

“No, I’ve got it, thanks.” She used both hands to drag her suitcase off to the side of the parking area.

“Spunky gal, that one,” Jim said to Deven.

Lauren tried not to groan while she lugged her suitcase toward the tents. She chose a tent as far from Deven’s as possible. It would be less distracting, especially if there was something going on between him and Sylvia.

After she dropped her luggage outside her newly claimed tent, Lauren returned to help carry the supply boxes over to the CUB, along with Justin and Kyle.

“What is all this stuff?” she asked.

“Food, kitchen utensils, camping and excavation equipment,” Deven said.

“Supply trucks are scheduled every Thursday and the security guards work in twelve-hour shifts. That’s about all the traffic we get out here,” Jim said. “If you want to mail letters, leave them with me and they’ll go out on the next delivery truck.”

“Guatemalan Pony Express?” Lauren asked.

Jim chuckled. “Yes, something like that.”

“No phone or radio? What if there’s an emergency?” Lauren asked. She hoped Jim or the others didn’t hear the nervousness in her voice.

“Not to worry, Lauren. We’re only an hour and a half drive to Tikal.”

After the last of the supplies were stowed away, Lauren stood outside the central utility building, hands in her pockets, and took in the view. Dense jungle surrounded the camp like a huge circular wall. It smelled of tangy green vegetation, sweet flowers and earthy. She tried to shake off the wave of uneasiness that settled in her gut. They were practically stranded in the middle of nowhere.

She noticed two soldiers with rifles slung over their shoulders on a path to the right of the CUB. They strode into the camp. Lauren slowly stepped backward as Deven walked up behind her.

“All unpacked?” Deven asked. Lauren swung around.

“Are they the guards?” she whispered, nodding in the direction of the two men in camouflage uniforms.

“Yes. We’ll have two guards working at all times.” He raised his hand to them and they waved back.

Lauren let out her breath. Will I ever get used to people walking around with guns? “So where is the excavation site from here?”

Deven pointed to the path where the soldiers emerged. “It’s about a five-minute walk down that trail.” He checked his watch. “It’s getting late. I need to check on the site and see if there’s been any damage or looting.”

The screen door from the CUB slammed as Jim walked out and strolled up to them.

“I’m heading to the dig,” Deven said to Jim. “I won’t be long.”

“Can I join you?” Lauren asked.

“No, I’ll be right back.” He turned and strode toward the path.

Lauren’s shoulders drooped and she released an audible sigh.

Jim crossed his arms over his chest. With a puzzled expression, he watched Deven disappear down the trail. “I should see about digging up something for dinner, eh?”

“Need a hand?” Lauren asked.

“No, Miss Lauren. Why don’t you settle in while I fix dinner? The tents don’t have electricity, so when the sun goes down, it gets awfully dark. Better organize your gear now, set up your lantern and keep a flashlight handy.”

“Not a bad idea. Don’t want to be stumbling around in the dark.”

* * *

Crinkling her nose at the musty, damp smell, she gave her tent a quick inspection. Two cots were placed on opposite walls with a small wooden nightstand between them. And that was all there was to her tiny shelter. She had known there wouldn’t be any electricity and had brought a battery-powered camp light. She dropped her suitcase in the center of the tent and retrieved the light. Once it was set up on her nightstand next to her thesis notes and books, she flipped on the switch. The illumination created strange shadows along the canvas walls. She sighed in relief that the light had survived the bumpy ride.