Pearls (16 page)

Manuel shook his head as if he’d known all along that Raúl wouldn’t be able to endure more than a few days of rough living. “What did you expect, Raúl? You knew we wouldn’t be staying at five-star hotels.”

Isabel stifled a giggled, but couldn’t hide her amusement. Raúl had maintained a bad attitude since the moment of their arrival, and Isabel wondered if God had added to his difficulties because of it.

Manuel had the bravery to say what Isabel had thought all along. “Roughing it is part of the job. If it’s too much for you, you could always go back home.”

“I’ve heard enough of your smart remarks!” Raúl ducked into the main tent and came out holding a set of keys and his suitcase. “Come on, Isabel. We’re leaving.”

Surprise rippled through her at the unexpected order. “Me? I’m not going anywhere, Raúl. If you want to leave, that’s fine. I want to stay here and continue working on the project.”

Manuel set his plate aside and stood. “Just let me get a few supplies out of the jeep, and you can be on your way, Raúl.”

Glaring from one to the other, Raúl must have realized he wasn’t going to gain any sympathy. He stomped to one of the jeeps and slung his suitcase in the back. No sooner had Manuel lifted the spare box of food supplies from the vehicle than Raúl gunned the engine, spinning the tires and kicking up a cloud of dirt in his hasty retreat.

Manuel coughed and waved the dust away.

Isabel observed the hasty departure, relief spreading through her at being given a break from his tantrums. She recognized that eventually she would have to confront the issues between her and Raúl, but for now she intended to enjoy the reprieve.

Manuel watched Isabel fight her drooping eyelids and decided it was time to send her to bed. They’d sat by the campfire talking and laughing for hours after Raúl left, relaxed and carefree for the first time since the beginning of the journey. Despite her yawns and heavy eyelids, she seemed reluctant to say good night. He’d been afraid to suggest it, not wanting to end the magical evening. Years had passed since he’d spent hours talking with a woman for the sheer pleasure of it, and even then, he didn’t remember enjoying anyone’s company like he did Isabel’s.

When her eyelids closed and her head started to nod, he knew he couldn’t prolong the evening any further. He knelt beside her chair, laying a hand gently on her arm. “Time for bed, Isabel.”

Her eyelids fluttered, and she fixed sleepy eyes on him.

“You’re not holding up your end of the conversation anymore,” he teased.

Full lips curved into a lazy smile that wrapped around his heart and squeezed it like a vise. He closed his eyes against the onslaught of emotion. “Go to bed, Isabel.”

She nodded and let him pull her to her feet. He felt her hand squeeze his bicep. “Tonight was fun, Manuel. More fun than I’ve had in a long time.”

Summoning all his restraint, he suppressed the desire to hold her in his arms and kiss her soundly. There would be time to show her his feelings later. Turning her toward her tent, he gave her a gentle push. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“Sweet dreams,” she answered, her voice barely above a whisper.

He knelt and tossed dirt over the coals of the campfire, aware of her every movement as she zipped the flap of her tent closed.

Isabel focused the beam of the electric lantern toward the small pool, trying to see into its depths. The light reflected off the surface, decorating the crude cave walls with nebulous, swirling patterns in pale shades of blue.

“Are we really going in there, Manuel?”

“You nervous?”

“A little. I’ve never tried anything like this.”

“I’ll go first and make sure it’s safe.” Manuel dropped to one knee and pulled at the strings of his sturdy hiking boots. “I’m going to tie that rope around my waist. If I’m not back in two minutes, you pull me out. Okay?”

“Um, why don’t you just make sure you come back.”

He laughed. “I almost get the feeling you like having me around. Am I growing on you?”

She knelt down and covered his work-roughened hand with hers. “Please, don’t take any chances.”

The look in his eye caused her breath to quicken. He leaned toward her and brushed a kiss across her cheek. “I promise.”

As he lowered himself into the pool, he sucked a breath sharply through his teeth. “Cold,” he gasped, sinking until only his head and shoulders remained exposed. “I’m touching bottom. Hand me a lamp.”

Their fingertips met when she passed him one of the lights. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Turning, he dunked the lamp under water, and Isabel was glad to see it lived up to its reputation of being waterproof. He walked along the edge of the pool, holding the lamp close to the sides and feeling around the rocks with his free hand. “I found it,” he announced after a few minutes.

He shot a smile her way before ducking under water. Isabel leaned over the edge, trying to monitor his progress. His activity disturbed the water’s surface, distorting her view.

A few moments later he emerged, his hair plastered to his head and water running down his face in rivulets. He ran a hand over his face and smiled. “This is the passageway, all right. I can’t see the other side from here, so I’ll have to swim in and investigate. Feed the rope in a few feet at a time. I’ll give it a tug when I’m through.”

She nodded and took the rope in her hands. A trail of bubbles rose to the surface as he submerged and fit himself into the underwater passage. Eerie silence enveloped her as the seconds ticked past, the rasp of the rope sliding across the rocky ledge the only sound in the isolated cave. Isabel realized she was holding her breath and exhaled with a loud huff. She didn’t know which made her more nervous, waiting on him or thinking about making the trip herself.

The rope jerked and she startled. He was through, safe and sound on the other side. She forced her tense shoulders to relax as she secured the loose end of the rope to the canoe. Knowing he’d soon be back for her, she slipped off her shoes and the cotton shirt she wore over a tank top. She sat on the edge of the pool, and shuddered when her warm feet dipped below the surface.

Bubbles floated up and tickled her legs just before Manuel emerged. He grinned and splashed water her way. “Ready for a swim?”

She moved her lamp to the edge where she could reach it then slid into the pool.

Manuel stepped up to help her, wrapping an arm around her waist and lowering her into the water beside him. “You’re shorter than me. I don’t think you can touch without your face going under.”

Accepting his help, she slid her hands onto his shoulders, allowing him to cradle her against his chest. His body felt warm in the frigid water, and she snuggled a little closer.

“How far is it?” she asked, her voice breathless as she adjusted to the temperature.

“The tunnel is just a few meters long, and it’s plenty wide to allow for maneuvering around. We can’t swim side-by-side, but you can follow close behind me and hold the rope to keep us connected, okay?”

“Okay.” She grasped her lamp tightly in her hands. “I’m ready.”

He moved closer to the opening and released her. She perched one forearm along the edge of the pool to help her stay afloat while he prepared to make the trip a second time.

Manuel fumbled with the rope and handed it to her. “Hold on right here, and you’ll be able to follow about two meters behind me. Just give me a few seconds’ head start. You can do this, Isabel. It’s just a short swim.” He brushed his fingers across her cheek and smiled. “Ready?”

She nodded.

After drawing in a deep breath, he plunged under the water and slid into the opening in the rock. Clutching the rope in one hand and her lantern in the other, Isabel followed his lead, her heart thundering in her ears.

Her lantern seemed to lose some wattage in the pervasive darkness of the watery tunnel, lighting only a foot in any direction. Lack of goggles or a mask further blurred her vision. After only a few feet, the closeness of the rocky walls encroached on her comfort, seeming to narrow in on her with alarming malice. She tamped down panic and flutter-kicked harder, allowing the rush of adrenaline to propel her forward.

Manuel pulled on the rope, aiding her progress, and she glided through the last few feet of the tunnel with a speed that brought relief. She broke the surface of the water on the other side and found herself once again enfolded in Manuel’s embrace.

Resting her forehead against his chest, she drank in deep breaths of damp, stale air. “Thanks for the extra help. I was a little panicked in there.”

His chest rumbled with quiet laughter. “You did fine. Second time is much easier.” His voice echoed off the rock walls with a strange hollow ring, and the water dripping from their wet hair and shoulders plopped into the pool with exaggerated loudness.

Recovered, she moved away from him and found she could touch bottom. “Let’s don’t talk about the second time just yet. I still can’t believe I swam through that hole the first time. How do you suppose Rodrigo did it? He didn’t have underwater lights like we do. He would have been swimming blind.”

“It took some courage, no doubt. But you have to admit, his bravery was worth it. This is the best hiding place I’ve ever seen.” Manuel held the lamp over his head and glanced around the small room, which Isabel guessed to be about eight feet in diameter. The dome-shaped ceiling that arched a few meters overhead seemed to shift and sway with patterns of light dancing over it.

Isabel watched the fascinating display for a few moments before turning her attention to Manuel. He had hoisted himself up onto a small shelf indented in one side of the cavern. She waded through the chest-deep water and allowed him to pull her up beside him, thankful for a moment’s relief from the cool temperature of the pool. Lifting her feet out of the water, she wrapped her arms around her knees to conserve warmth.

“Look at this, Isabel.”

She turned and saw the small rivulet of water seeping from a crack in the wall.

Manuel ran his fingers over the fissure. “I’ll bet this trickle becomes a small waterfall during a hard rain. The running water probably carved this niche we’re sitting on over hundreds of years, maybe even this chamber and the tunnel to the main cavern. It’s a good source of fresh water.”

Isabel shivered and leaned closer to him, seeking his warmth.

His arm wrapped around her back and pulled her closer. “This is kind of nice. Our own private room; dim, romantic lighting; a reason to hold you close; what more could a man want?”

The tone of his voice gave her a new reason to shiver, and she tilted her chin to look up at him. With his free hand he traced the lines of her face—her cheekbones, her brow, her jaw—his fingertips finally coming to rest on her lips. She closed her eyes, every one of her senses going haywire. He explored the curves of her lips with a slow, deliberate touch, awakening needs she didn’t know she had and leaving her dizzy with anticipation by the time he dipped his head to claim his reward.

His skill surprised her. Someone, somewhere had taught Manuel to kiss.

“I’ve been waiting to do that for a long time,” he sighed when he lifted his head. The dim lamplight didn’t hide the fire in his eyes.

“How long?”

“Since you walked into my office that first day and mesmerized me with those beautiful blue eyes.”

Isabel looked away, a blush burning her cheeks.

“Then when I learned you’re as smart as you are attractive, I wanted to kiss you even more.” He ran his hand lightly down her arm, making her skin tingle with electricity. “Is it all right that I kissed you, Isabel?”

She felt the weight of anticipation behind his question. It was a request to take their relationship to the next level. His friendship had become invaluable to her. She looked forward to sharing his company for long hours each day, appreciated his gentle manner toward her, found herself craving the warmth of his touch and the comfort of his smile. He’d come into her life unexpectedly, took his place in a quiet, unassuming manner, became the pillar of strength and stability she needed, offered her comfort and support, and asked nothing in return.

Her heart said to trust him, love him. But her mind cautioned her against a rash decision, taunting her with foolish choices of the past, reminding her of the unanswered questions concerning the break-in and fire at her apartment.

Wiggling away from him, she slid into the water and grabbed her lamp. “Shouldn’t we be looking for the treasure or something?”

His face registered disappointment, and she wasn’t prepared for the pain it caused her knowing she’d put it there.

He followed her lead and slipped into the water. “Yes. It shouldn’t take long to make a sweep of the area. Not many square feet to cover in here, and no place to hide a chest of pearls except under the water.”

“I’ll start at that end and you start here. We’ll meet in the middle.” Isabel turned and waded to the far side of the cave, glad to put distance between herself and the awkward situation she’d created. For now, she would busy herself with work. Later, she would consider whether she was ready for a relationship and if the feelings she was having for Manuel were real or just another way to fill an emotional void.