“Water,” Raj said, leaving his post at the oar and handing her ajar.
She glanced at Colin and handed him the vessel.
He blinked, as if confused, as if he’d never seen water before.
Bea pulled the lid and lifted it to his lips. His hands came up, covering hers with their warmth, and he tilted the jar. Water trickled from his lips, trailing down his tanned neck and disappearing under his shirt collar. He pulled back and pushed the jar toward her.
She took a deep drink and, over the rim of the vessel, watched Colin. In the sunlight, he practically glowed, his skin golden, while scruff marked his cheeks and chin. Her fingers curled as she resisted the urge to reach out and touch him. Slowly, she lowered the water jar to the seat.
And his eyes … blimey, she’d never seen eyes so beautiful. He was completely different from the pale, almost sickly-looking men back home. She could admit, if only to herself, that she found she preferred his tanned features.
He took off his hat, setting it on the seat next to him. The wind caught his curls and tossed them about his head, giving him a boyish look. Before she could think better, she reached out and slipped her fingers into his locks. Silky and cool, they begged to be touched. His gaze jerked to her, the surprise evident. Dear Lord! What was she thinking? Heat shot to her cheeks and she pulled her hand back.
“A … a leaf,” she said and prayed he believed her. Without thought to her safety, she jumped to her feet and scurried to the other end of the boat. The vessel tipped precariously to the side.
“No!” Raj called out, waving his arm through the air.
Bea froze. The boat tipped farther, and caught off balance, she slammed against the side. The edge caught her in the gut, pushing the air from her lungs. In the dark, swirling waters below, her reflection shimmered back at her. Her stomach churned, threatening to heave up the bread Raj’s mother had given her that morning.
“Damn it, Bea,” Colin growled right before his fingers bit into her upper arms. He jerked her back. “Don’t you know the dangers of these rivers? One slip and the current could easily pull you under.” He pushed her gently toward the bench.
Without argument, Bea collapsed onto the seat, her cheeks burning with mortification. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”
He raked his hands through his hair, standing before her with his legs braced apart like a Viking warrior at the helm of a ship. An angry Viking. “Damn right you weren’t thinking. I don’t have the time or the energy to fish you out of a river I wouldn’t even bathe in.”
“Sir!” Raj yelled. “Sir! No!”
Bea jerked her gaze toward their guide. The boy waved his hands through the air, attempting to hold on to the oar and latch on to Colin at the same time.
Colin’s brows snapped together as he turned. “What?”
Bea raised her gaze just in time to see the branch coming straight at Colin.
“Colin!” But it was too late.
The tree hit him across the chest with a sickening thud. Colin flew backward, disappearing from sight.
Bea screamed.
“Sir!” Raj called.
Bea leapt across the boat, reaching out. But he was already gone, over the edge. A loud splash rent the air and water sprayed into the sky like sparkling jewels in the morning sun.
“Dear God! Colin!” Bea leaned over the edge and peered into the dingy water. Colin was nowhere to be seen. The boat continued to float, maintaining a steady pace down the river, farther away from where Colin had disappeared.
“Colin!” Bea cried out, tears of panic stinging her eyes. “No! You have to stop!” She spun around to face Raj.
“Cannot stop!” Raj was struggling against the current and losing.
Bea faced the water again. Upriver, Colin burst through the surface, his hair plastered to his head. He gasped for breath, the sound insanely welcome to Bea’s ears. But he was tired, weak; she could see it in the strained lines on his face.
“Colin!”
He didn’t look at her, but started to sink again. Without hesitation, Bea jumped. She hit the surface with barely a splash. She was a good swimmer, but the current was stronger than she’d perceived, tugging at her legs and arms. Darkness surrounded her, making it difficult to know top from bottom. But she’d swum in frigid water with a stronger current, unbeknownst to her grandmother.
Gritting her teeth, she kicked furiously, the gauze material of her sari floating around her like a lost spirit. Just as her lungs began to burn, she burst through the surface, sucking in a gulp of air. “Colin!”
She swiveled her head around, looking for the telltale sign of curly golden locks. “Colin! Oh God, please, please.”
“Bea, what the hell are you doing?”
Bea spun around. Colin was swimming toward her, his face pulled in a wet mask of fury. She didn’t care. Colin was alive!
“I couldn’t let you drown, you daft man!” She tried to meet him halfway, but the water was dragging her downriver farther from him.
“Raj!” Bea cried out, turning for help, but the boat had disappeared around a bend. “Dash it.”
“Grab something, Bea, anything.”
She jerked her head right, then left. Her only salvation lay in a root sticking out from the bank. Pressing her lips together, she kicked her legs with as much strength as she possessed, striving for the bank. With a cry, she reached out. Her fingers wrapped around the rough bark, and she’d never felt anything so heavenly.
“Colin, here!”
He swept by, so close she could see the blue of his eyes.
Focusing on her hand, he swung his arm wide. His strong fingers clasped hers. But his weight and the current pulled until she thought her shoulder would dislocate. Bea bit her lower lip to keep from crying out.
“Hold on, Bea.” Colin pulled himself up her arm until he could reach the root. His hand landed just above hers, their fingers touching around the limb. He wrapped his other arm around her waist, and pulled her close.
He paused like that, his wet, warm body pressed to her. His breathing harsh, he nestled his cheek against her head. Bea sank into his body, closing her eyes for the briefest of moments. She would have floated there for only God knew how long just to feel the comfort of his strong body, the safety she felt in his arms. Never had she been so close to a man.
All too soon, Colin pulled back. “Come on.”
She didn’t have time to read his face; moments later he was dragging her up the bank. Bea’s hands and knees sank into soft dirt. With a cry, she fell back, gasping for air and staring up into the brilliant blue sky.
Suddenly Colin appeared over her. “You’re all right?” Water trailed down his face and dripped from his nose and chin to her neck. His face was as white as the few clouds hovering overhead.
Bea could merely nod.
As soon as she made the comment, the concern in his eyes disappeared and anger flared to life. “Of all the stupid—”
“It wasn’t my fault!”
His eyes narrowed, while a pulse ticked in the side of his neck. “Oh really? You didn’t jump from your seat and nearly overturn the boat merely because you touched me and what … God forbid … felt something?”
“Of course not! You had a leaf in your hair!” She fumed even as heat shot to her face. Only a cad would discuss her obvious unease. “Felt something? The only feeling I have toward you is—”
With a low growl, Colin pressed his mouth to hers. Stunned, Bea merely lay there. Vaguely she was aware that this time he was kissing her because he wanted to, not because he thought she was some loose woman named Delilah who had snuck into his room.
His lips softened and his hard body sank into hers. In the back of her mind she knew she should push him away, yet she couldn’t seem to. Instead, her traitorous arms wrapped around his broad shoulders and her fingers crept into his damp locks.
Colin groaned and slipped his tongue between her lips. Excitement flared through her body. He swallowed her gasp of surprise an
d slid his fingers into her hair, tilting her head to deepen the kiss. Heat shimmered through Bea, an ache settling low in her belly. She wanted more. For some strange reason she wanted more. More of what, she wasn’t sure. He tasted of mint and tea; he tasted wonderfully delicious.
The soft rattle of leaves entered Bea’s muddled mind. She would have kept kissing Colin, exploring his mouth, the texture of his tongue and lips, but he jerked back. The rattle became louder. Colin rolled off Bea, leaving her feeling oddly off balance.
Reality rushed in on a cold wave.
Bea lay there, her heart thundering in her chest. Her fingers curled, digging into the soft dirt. Colin had kissed her.
But why? He didn’t even seem to like her. Was it merely to humiliate her? To shut her up? Dear Lord, how could she let him kiss her? How could she kiss him back? Grandmother would most definitely not approve.
“Damn,” Colin snapped, sounding anything but pleased.
Embarrassment flushed through her body. Had she done it wrong? The kiss hadn’t seemed wrong. Embarrassment gave way to anger. She hadn’t asked to be kissed.
“Don’t … don’t you ever kiss me again!” Bea fumed, pushing up to her elbows.
“Don’t worry, darlin’, I won’t.” Colin’s lips pulled into a sneer, as if just thinking of the act repulsed him.
Had her kissing been that bad?
The vegetation beside them parted. “I found you, thank the gods.” Raj was back, Colin’s hat in his hands. How much had their young guide seen?
Bea’s face heated. She couldn’t look at Colin, couldn’t look at Raj. Perhaps she could just crawl back into the river and let the current take her under.
“Well, then,” Colin mumbled as he stood. “We should …” He glanced at her, then just as quickly looked away. “We should go.”
As if she had the plague, Colin rushed away. Raj took her hand and helped her to her feet. Her mind spun, her knees growing weak. She wasn’t sure if her reaction was because of the kiss, or because of the heat.
“Come,” Raj said. “We go see Anish.”
Confused, Bea jerked her gaze away from Colin’s retreating back and focused on the boy. “Who’s Anish?”
But Raj, too, had started forward and Bea was left to wonder what in the bloody hell she’d gotten into.
Chapter 9
Two hours later Bea’s clothes had dried, but her mind remained muddy. Her head ached something fierce and she knew most of the reason was Colin’s confusing reaction and her own betraying emotions. Unable to resist, she tore her gaze from the dirt path and studied the man.
He’d kissed her. She’d kissed him back. The question was, why?
She pressed her fingertips to her lips where the skin still tingled with the memory. Lord, she was barely aware of her feet hitting the hard dirt, for her mind and body had grown numb with thoughts of the man who walked in front of her.
She was honest enough with herself to admit she liked the touch of his mouth. But his actions didn’t make sense. Colin didn’t like her. It was obvious in the growl of his voice, the way he sarcastically called her “darlin’,” the way he constantly glared at her. So why had he kissed her? And she certainly didn’t like him. She supposed he was all right, considering he was Ella’s cousin and he had saved her after all. But would she actually want to converse with the man in a drawing room in Scotland?
An image flashed to mind, Colin wearing his trousers and white linen shirt, open at the collar, that tanned skin in marked contrast to her pale grandmother. Even now she could imagine the horror on Grandmother’s face.
She laughed at the thought. Raj glanced back at her, a questioning look in his dark eyes. She shook her head and he returned his attention to Colin, following like a pup after its master. And that’s what she was, merely a thing, being led on a rope by the whims of a man who found the need to throw her emotions into constant turmoil.
She pulled a heart-shaped leaf from a bush, studying the way the veins branched through the skin. Then again, having Colin in a drawing room would certainly be entertaining. Yes, she’d give him that much. He was different … and sometimes amusing.
However, not once had he glanced back to make sure if she still followed. The thought of stopping just to see how far he’d get before he realized he’d left her behind crossed her mind. But the idea of being alone in the scrub jungle terrified her.
So instead, she trudged on. With a weary sigh, Bea rubbed the back of her neck, attempting to ease the tension that knotted her muscles. Yes, she couldn’t deny that her mind spun with thoughts of Colin. Or perhaps it was from the heat beating relentlessly through the branches above. Tilting her head back, she glanced into the sun. Blinding rays sliced through the leaves, unperturbed by the scraggly canopy of branches.
“Here,” Raj called out. “Anish.”
“Thank God,” Bea murmured and forced her attention ahead.
The trail widened, and a large cleared circle appeared. It looked like nothing more than a pile of hay or some sort of medieval hut on an ancient fiefdom. She would have probably not associated the pile of sticks with a home if not for the smoking fire pit in the middle of the cleared site. This was the sweet relief she’d been expecting?
“Namaste,” someone croaked.
Bea spun around, the movement sending her vision wavering, which was why, for a mere moment, she thought a mythical gnome had spoken. She pressed her hand to her forehead and forced her vision to focus. No gnome, but an old man half-hidden behind the enormous root of a banyan tree. He shuffled toward them, his long white beard swaying hypnotically back and forth across his green robes. His tanned face lifted into a wide grin, his dark eyes sparkling as if he knew something they didn’t.
This was Anish? The holy man Colin had finally admitted they were going to visit? Shocked and a bit perturbed that she’d been dragged downriver for this, Bea glared at Colin’s back. He was too busy bowing to notice.
“Welcome,” the old man said in English, as if he’d been expecting them all along. “Welcome.”
He moved toward the fire, not a speck of dust rising with the wavering hem of his robes. With an ease that belied his old age, he settled on a straw mat. When they continued to stand in indecision, he sighed and waved them over impatiently.
Colin and Raj didn’t hesitate, but settled on their own straw mats near the man. Bea merely shook her head, completely confused and more than annoyed. She didn’t understand why they were there, or why this man was so important. She was tired, exhausted really, and her stomach wasn’t feeling quite right. But with no other alternative to the situation she found herself in, she settled down on the mat next to Colin.
“Anish,” Colin started.
The old man nodded, still smiling.
“I’m looking …” For the first time since he’d kissed her, Colin glanced at Bea. But the look was guarded, weary, as if judging her reaction. “I’m looking for a statue.”
Bea sucked in a breath, shock warring with annoyance. A statue. The statue they’d been discussing at the antiquities shop? She’d walked for hours through heat, nearly drowned, felt worse than she’d ever felt in her life, and all for a bloody statue? She wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or cry.
Anish nodded merrily.
“A statue, with four men.” Colin picked up a stick and, in the dirt, drew a replica of the statue they’d seen at the shop.
Anish’s smile fell. “No, no statue.”
“But … they said you’d seen it.”
“No. No statue.” The man lifted a stick and stirred the kettle hovering over the flames. Bea merely watched Colin, wondering what he’d do next. Without looking at her, he turned. Before she knew his intentions, he slipped his fingers down the top of her shirt.
Bea gasped, even as shivers of delight raced over her skin.
“This.” Colin pulled the necklace and ring free. “This is why we need the statue.”
Reluctantly, Anish turned his gaze to them. His hazy eyes focuse
d on the ring, then blinked wide. He whispered something in his language, but Bea didn’t need to understand Hindi to know that it was an exclamation of some sort.
Colin let the ring drop against her chest, a smug look upon his face. “Now, where is the statue?”
The old man stared at him with something akin to respect shining in his eyes. “Yes, yes.” He nodded his agreement. “Statue of life.”
Colin leaned closer. “Statue of life.” His gaze was pinned to the man as if his life depended on it. Bea gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes. Why were they here? Why weren’t they on a raft headed to find Ella and Leo?
“Colin,” she ground out.
“Shh.” He dismissed her. “This statue. You’ve seen it?”
She’d never felt more annoyed in her life. Bea’s fingers fisted, gripping the gauzy material of her sari. She’d jumped into a river, for God’s sake, in order to save Colin. How dare he ignore her!
Anish nodded. “Yes. I’ve seen the statue.”
“I don’t understand.” Colin raked his hands through his hair, leaving the curls ruffled.
Instinctively, Bea reached forward to smooth those curls back. A sharp pain sliced through her temple. She cringed, lowering her hand. Around her, the voices became muffled, dulled by the throbbing in her head. She couldn’t seem to make sense of the words being spoken.
“When?” Colin demanded, his voice finally piercing her foggy reality, but it was too loud, too sudden.
“Many years ago.” Anish lifted a clay tea kettle from the iron hook that hung over the fire.
“Where?”
“Temple. Temple of Brahma.”
Colin shook his head. “There’s no such temple.”
The man grinned as he poured water into a clay cup. Steam rose from the surface, in ghostly whispers. “Yes, there is.”
The old man met Bea’s gaze and he handed her the cup.
She didn’t hesitate, but eagerly reached out. The vessel was rough and crude between her fingers. Tea leaves floated in the water, like muddy foliage. She didn’t care. And she didn’t care that the liquid was hot and the day even hotter. Perhaps the tea would give her the strength she needed to tell Colin exactly what she thought of him, the dratted man!