Magenta Mine: An Invertary Novella (4 page)

6

Magenta knelt on the floor beside Harry. Making sure they didn’t touch. His words had felt like a knife slicing into her. The cut cold and clean. The pain precise.

“I was thirteen,” she said. “Nobody means what they say when they’re thirteen.”

“I did. I meant everything I said to you when we were kids.”

She almost reached for him then. “You’re special, Harry. You’ve always been special. The rest of us will never meet your standards.” She took a deep breath and, without thinking, put a hand on his knee. He stilled at her touch, as though the complete focus of his super brain was suddenly on her. She snatched her hand away. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

“I can’t. It doesn’t make any sense to move from this spot. The tonnage of rock and dirt increases as you go deeper into the mine. Abandoned mines are notoriously dangerous. Without regular maintenance they’re prone to collapse, or flooding, or a build-up in dangerous gasses. The people who made this mine didn’t have equipment to survey the hill to make structurally sound decisions. The reinforcements here alone are enough to give an engineer nightmares. I can’t go further without a proper assessment. And I can’t do that without the correct equipment. I’ve made a visual survey of this area. I don’t like some of the things I see. But I figure my best chance of surviving a cave-in is here, near the entrance, so people can get to me fast to dig me out. Unless, of course, there is a massive sudden collapse, in which case I estimate I’ll be pancaked before I can worry about rescue.”

Magenta felt her heart sink. “You researched this before you came in here, didn’t you?”

“What else was I supposed to do?”

“Please tell me you didn’t read Wikipedia and believe everything in it.”

“Do I look like an idiot? I checked the NSS website.”

“The American caving group.” She hung her head. “You prepared for this, didn’t you? Where’s your backpack?”

He pointed to the corner. She didn’t even have to look in it to know that the contents would be the recommended list he’d found on the website.

“You do know we’re not actually caving, right? We’re in a mine. The entrance of a mine.”

He folded his arms over his broad chest, making his shoulders bulge. For a second she had an urge to bite them. Hard. She shook it off.

“Mines are worse than caves. Solution caves are the safest caves by far. The water cuts through the limestone so slowly that they are really stable. Old and stable. They hardly ever collapse. Do you have any idea how often old mines collapse?”

She didn’t, but she was pretty sure Harry did. “Get a grip, Harry. You’re being irrational. This mine is safe. I’ve been coming here for years. I wouldn’t lead you into danger. Stop being a wimp and get your backside in gear. I’ve got better things to do than coax you into leaving.”

He folded his arms and gave her that same stubborn look he’d given her when they were kids. “You go. I’ll stay.” He gestured to the basket. “I have food. Water. More than enough for two days.”

Magenta dug her fingers into her hair and tugged it. “I can’t leave you here. I’m the rescue. I came in here to get you.”

“Thanks. I mean it. I appreciate the effort. But I’m staying right here.”

Magenta shot to her feet. The urge to kick him was strong. “You have got to be the most infuriating man on the planet. You’ve been harassing me to talk to you for weeks, and here I am. All you have to do is walk out with me and we can talk all the way back through the mine.” She snatched her bag up from the ground. “This is your last chance. You need to get up and follow me or I’m leaving without you. And you can kiss goodbye to any chat we might have.”

He rested his head on the wall behind him and closed his eyes. Resignation came off him in waves.

“I’m going.” She put her hat back on and flicked the light on. “Last chance.”

He didn’t say anything. Magenta suspected he was doing calculus in his head. “Fine. Stay here. Enjoy your two days alone.”

With that, she stormed back into the tunnel she’d come out of. Her anger and frustration made her want to hit out at the walls of her sanctuary. Then she heard it. A whisper on the air. Harry.

“I wish you’d stay with me, Magenta.”

Instinct told her that she wasn’t supposed to hear him. The acoustics of the mine had carried the words to her. It was his tone that melted her anger. She couldn’t remember ever hearing such need.

Mentally kicking herself, she turned around. Back to the one man she’d fought to keep away from.

Harry wasn’t drunk. He wasn’t even buzzed. At six foot two and two hundred pounds, he knew exactly how much alcohol he needed to drink to get an effect. He was nowhere near it. Sure, he was a little more relaxed than usual. But considering how close he’d been to clawing his way out with his nails, being relaxed was a good thing. One thing he knew for sure: it would take at least another bottle of wine before he got over the ache of Magenta walking away from him. Even though all the official guidelines for being in a situation like this said that alcohol made things worse, he reached for the half-empty bottle of white wine.

“Don’t even think about it.”

His heart stilled at the voice as a wave of hope almost knocked him over. His eyes shot to the direction Magenta had disappeared. He could make out her black silhouette against the wall. She threw her pack to the floor beside him.

“I’m not hanging out in here with a drunk guy.”

He had to swallow twice before he could talk. “So you’re staying?” He was glad he didn’t sound pathetically grateful.

She let out an exasperated sigh. “You might be a genius out there, but in here you’re a bloody idiot. It’d be like leaving a baby to play with a box of matches.”

“You’re forgetting. It’s been eight years since we hung out together. I’m not the kid you knew.” Harry grinned at her. “I’m not completely helpless. I have skills.”

“Name one that doesn’t involve a computer.”

“I fight. Mixed martial arts.”

“That will be handy when the shadows attack. Try again.”

“I can make a fire.”

He could almost hear her roll her eyes. “Where would the smoke go, boy genius?”

He hadn’t said he
would
make a fire, only that he could.

“See.” Magenta plopped down beside him. “You’re useless without me.”

Harry couldn’t have agreed more. He’d known when he was seventeen that he would always be less without Magenta. The years hadn’t changed that belief, and spending time around the adult version of his childhood friend had only reinforced it. She’d grown up into his idea of perfect. From her soft, lean figure, with enough curves to make his mouth water, to that prickly attitude and cutting wit, everything about her delighted the man he’d become.

Magenta eyed the basket beside him. “You got anything in there apart from wine?”

“Hungry?”

“Well, I missed dinner to come rescue an idiot who let an old woman trick him into getting trapped in a mine.”

Harry ignored that comment. He was beginning to think that Betty’s reputation as an evil genius was well deserved. The woman had promised him time alone with Magenta, and that’s what he’d gotten. Seemed to him that being trapped in the dark, under a hill, was a small price to pay.

He watched as Magenta strode to a spot near the door. She wasn’t wearing her usual uniform of black mini-dress and black platform boots—although she still had on about a tonne of eyeliner. Instead she was dressed for the mine in a black T-shirt and black jeans. Harry vaguely wondered if she owned anything that wasn’t black. With her sleek Cleopatra-style hair and her golden eyes, she’d look mouth-watering in pale blue silk. He made a mental note to buy her a sleek silk dress. Then, of course, he’d have to figure out a way to get her into it. He grinned. He was more than up to the challenge. He’d taken on the UK government. Magenta would be a breeze.

“Matt,” Magenta shouted.

“I’m here.”

“There’s been a change of plans. Harry won’t leave, so I’m staying until you get the door open. I can’t leave him in here alone. It isn’t safe.”

It was clear from her tone that she wasn’t pleased about this news.

“If you knock him out, can you drag his stupid backside out of there?”

Harry frowned at his cousin’s words. Magenta looked over at him.

“No can do. He’s a big guy for a nerd.”

“I work out,” Harry said helpfully. “I rock climb. I like hills. But I prefer to be on the outside of them.” He could just make out Magenta’s frown.

“What if he drinks a lot more wine?” Matt sounded hopeful.

Magenta sighed. “You and I both know that there isn’t enough alcohol in the world to stop Harry’s brain.” Harry liked that comment a lot. It meant she felt like she still knew him. Her belief they had a connection was exactly right, and something he could use to his advantage. Harry grinned at the thought. With the puzzle of Magenta to deal with, he didn’t have time to worry about the mine. His brain was full of gorgeous Scottish woman instead.

“You don’t need to stay with him,” Matt said.

Harry’s shoulders tensed. If Matt talked her out of spending two whole days alone with him, he’d string his cousin from a tree.

Magenta sighed and rubbed her temples. “I can’t leave an amateur alone in the mine. Plus, you and I both know how much trouble he can cause when he’s left unsupervised.”

“Hey, I’m not a kid anymore,” Harry complained. He didn’t like that Magenta saw him as one. He was all man. Her man. He frowned as he planned a way to make her see that.

“Fine.” Matt sounded annoyed. “What do you need? I’ll have the twins fetch it.”

“I’ve got everything. I leave supplies in here in case I want to spend the night.” She looked at Harry. “Or in case I have to spend time down here with someone who’s injured or stuck. We’re fine for a couple of days. If you can’t get the door open by then, we’ll have to go to plan B.”

Harry couldn’t resist. He had to ask. “What’s plan B?”

Magenta folded her arms. “A tranquiliser shot. Enough to make you comply, but not enough to knock you out.”

Harry burst out laughing. “Yeah, good luck getting near me with a needle.”

He could have sworn he heard her growl.

“There will be someone out here around the clock in case you need anything. Shout if you do,” Matt said.

“I need my head examined, that’s what I need,” Magenta muttered.

She walked back over to Harry and plopped to the ground beside him. “Feed me,” she ordered.

Harry couldn’t contain his grin as he pulled the picnic basket towards them.

As Harry started emptying the basket, Magenta reached into her pack and retrieved the low-energy lantern. It had the same sort of output as a couple of candles, which was more than enough light to see what they were doing. Unfortunately, it also meant she could see Harry clearly.

His broad shoulders flexed as he unpacked the picnic. His face held pure delight. The same look she’d seen as a kid every time he’d told her about something else he’d discovered. It sent a pang of longing through her that was so intense it was painful.

“Sandwiches, salads, meats, fruit, cake, cookies, crackers, cheese…” He grew more excited with each item he unpacked.

“What are you doing in here with a picnic basket? And how many people were you planning to feed?” Magenta nabbed a chocolate chip cookie.

“Only us.”

His big eyes caught hers and her breath stuttered. “The picnic was for me?”

He nodded without breaking eye contact. “I didn’t plan to eat in here. I thought we’d sit outside under a tree. Betty said you were taking photos and suggested I surprise you with food.”

The cookie was dry in her mouth. She swallowed hard. She wasn’t sure what surprised her more: the fact he’d brought her food or the fact he’d taken advice from Betty. “Consider me shocked as hell.”

He gave her that sexy smile that made her mouth water, and Magenta had a hard time returning her attention to the food.

“You didn’t plan on being in the mine, but you packed an emergency bag?”

He shrugged. “Always be prepared. Boy Scout motto.”

“You were kicked out of the Boy Scouts after you blew up their hut.”

“Yeah, they weren’t prepared for that.” His delighted grin almost made her laugh.

Magenta chewed the cookie thoughtfully. “Want to tell me why you were bringing me food when I told you clearly that I have no intention of restarting a friendship with you?”

There was a moment of silence as she became the focus of Harry’s full attention. Part of her wanted to jump up and run. She fought to stay still. To listen to what he had to say to her.

Slowly, those silver eyes of his turned black. “I totally agree. I don’t think we can be friends.”

Magenta felt disappointment overwhelm her, even though this was what she wanted.

“I don’t want to be friends.” Harry’s deep voice rumbled over her. “I want to be more than that. I brought the food in the hope it would appease you. You see”—he leaned towards her—“I needed you in a good mood, because I planned to seduce you.”