Two Dauntless Hearts

by Elle James

PITBULL REMAINED IN the garden for a short time after Marly left. He’d been tempted to rush after her and beg her not to go to her room, but to come with him to his bungalow, where they could spend the night making passionate, meaningless love into the wee hours of the morning.

  He had no doubt that despite her claim to be inexperienced, she’d be an ardent lover, eager to learn and try new things. Pitbull knew making love to Marly would only make him fall in love with the woman and possibly make her fall for him. And what would that get either of them? Heartache, loneliness and depression.

  He had a job to do with the US Navy. He never knew where he’d be deployed next or when. Not only that, he was based out of Virginia, across a wide ocean from Africa. He couldn’t ask Marly to give up her life on a different continent to be a navy wife, waiting in Virginia for her man to return. She wasn’t the type of person who could sit around a house or apartment waiting. It would drive her crazy in the first week, much less the months he could be gone.

  Add to the absences the likelihood of returning home in a body bag. A navy SEAL’s job was all about danger. They went into enemy-infested places on some of the most dangerous missions. Coming back alive was never a guarantee.

  And, hell, the woman was a pilot. She could die just as easily in a plane crash.

  An image of his father placing flowers on his mother’s grave passed through Pitbull’s memories. No, he couldn’t put himself through that kind of heartache, either.

  He tipped his head toward the moon shining down on him. Why was he even thinking long-term about Marly? He’d known her two weeks, tops, and only on the few flights she’d taken him on. Today, he’d gotten to know her on a more personal basis, and he liked her even more afterward. Especially the way her body fit against his. She wasn’t short like most of the women he’d dated. She was tall and slender and kissed like nobody’s business. If her reaction to his kiss was an example of her inexperience, he’d take an inexperienced woman any day! His lips still burned with the need to kiss her again.

  What he wanted was more time with Marly. But that would be foolish. After this week, they’d go their separate ways. She’d fly her plane in the African bush, and he’d return to Djibouti or some other mission the navy saw fit to assign him to.

  Thank goodness he and his team were going on safari tomorrow. He’d have all day with the heat and dust to drive Marly out of his mind. By the time they returned, he’d have his head on straight again. And then, with the distance, he’d get over her soon enough.

  With that plan in mind, he returned to the house, stepping through the back door. He could hear his teammates laughing and talking loudly in the game room. He thought about joining them, but changed his mind and headed for the front entrance. He’d gone only three steps when Buck emerged from the game room, smiling and throwing a comment over his shoulder. “Told you we were unstoppable.” He caught sight of Pitbull and hurried over to sling an arm over his shoulder. Buck’s breath smelled of liquor.

  “Booze good?” Pitbull asked.

  “Had to drink to give the other team a handicap.” Buck chuckled. “We still won.”

  “Headed to your bungalow?” Pitbull asked.

  “That I am, buddy. That I am.” He walked toward the front entrance, leaning heavily on Pitbull. “Marly came in from the garden by herself. You two break it off?”

  Pitbull stiffened as he reached for the knob and pulled the heavy wooden door open. “Who said we had anything to break off?”

  Buck stepped through the door and slammed a hand to Pitbull’s chest. “Seriously, man. The game room windows overlook the garden. You two were sucking face like a couple of teenagers. Kinda hard to miss.”

  Great. Pitbull helped Buck keep his balance as they descended the steps to the ground. He’d be the target of every joke the next day. Forcing a nonchalance he didn’t feel, he shrugged. “So?”

  “When Marly came in by herself, we figured you blew it.”

  His lips twisting, Pitbull fought the urge to hit something. Namely his friend. “Thanks for your vote of confidence.”

  “No worries, buddy. I tried to give you a second chance to fix whatever you broke with her.”

  “How’s that?”

  “I invited her to join us on the safari tomorrow.” Buck grinned as they came to a stop in front of his bungalow. “This is my stop. Thanks for walking me home. Do you want a kiss good-night for your trouble?” Buck winked.

  “Hell, no.” Pitbull shoved the man toward his door. “Go to bed and sleep the booze off. We have a long day ahead of us.”

  And an even longer night. Not only was he assured of dreaming about the woman, he’d have her with him and his team throughout the next day. There would be no escape or distance to allow him to get over Marly.

  Thanks, Buck. Remind me to return the favor someday.

  “About Marly.” Buck hesitated at his door.

  Pitbull tensed. “What about Marly?”

  Buck’s brows knitted. “She turned us down. It seems Ms. Marly would prefer to tinker with her plane than vacation with a bunch of mangy SEALs. Night, dude.”

  With a mixture of relief and disappointment, Pitbull entered his cabin, stripped and climbed into the comfortable bed. He lay for a long time with his arms crossed behind his head, staring up at the ceiling.

  Thankful he wouldn’t have to be with Marly the next day, he couldn’t understand why he suddenly had the urge to cancel his spot on the safari. Staying back at the resort would defeat the purpose of getting Marly out of his head. He rolled over and punched the pillow. He could have had Marly in his bed. Instead, he was sleeping alone tonight. That is, if he actually got any sleep.

  The warmth of her body lingered in every place it had touched his. And the more he thought about her, the harder he got.

  Well, hell. So much for sleep.

  Chapter Six

  Marly originally hadn’t planned to go on the safari with the SEAL team. She wanted to check on her plane and make sure the local poachers hadn’t discovered it and looted everything they could pull, yank or drag from the wings, engine and interior. When she’d gone to Talia before heading to bed, she’d asked if she could borrow a vehicle.

  The resort owner shook her head. “I just sent one of my guys into the nearest town for supplies. He took a truck. I have the one we’ll be using tomorrow for the safari, and our other truck isn’t working right now. It’s with a mechanic. So that leaves us with one truck until the other one gets back late this afternoon.”

  Marly tried not to show her disappointment. “I see.”

  Talia’s face brightened. “On the safari, we’ll be going through the area where you hid your plane. You can ride along with us, and we’ll make sure we stop to check on it.”

  Marly didn’t want to intrude on the SEALs’ safari, but she was worried about her plane. If joining their safari was the only way to get to her plane, she’d have to go.

  She’d planned on spending her day away from Pitbull, hoping having him out of sight would get him out of her mind. Apparently, that wasn’t to be an option. She resigned herself to being in Pitbull’s company all day, and headed for bed.

  Though the air-conditioner kept the house cool, Marly tossed and turned, throwing off the covers and then freezing. Hot, sultry dreams plagued her throughout the night, reminding her of what she’d brazenly offered the man—and what he’d so callously declined.

  Marly hoped Pitbull was as sleepless as she was. It would serve him right for rejecting her offer.

  Before dawn, she gave up on any pretense of sleep, crawled out of the comfort of the bed and dressed in her favorite pink bra, flight suit and boots. Thankfully, someone had laundered her only outfit, then returned it by before she’d gone to bed the previous evening. After performing her morning ablutions, she went in search of coffee.

  Marly followed the scent of fresh bread and bac
on to the kitchen on the first floor. She smiled as she passed Mr. Wiggins lounging like a regular house cat on the cool tile of the front foyer.

  The kitchen was huge and equipped with everything a chef would want to add to a wish list. A man with a white chef’s hat stood in the center manning two skillets, deftly scrambling eggs and frying bacon at the same time.

  “Looking for coffee?” Talia entered the kitchen behind Marly. She wore her uniform-like khaki slacks tucked into leather riding boots and a khaki shirt with All Things Wild embroidered above the right breast pocket. She appeared well rested, her hair combed and her makeup minimal but evident.

  Did she ever show up disheveled?

  Marly swallowed her catty thoughts about the woman who’d welcomed her without question and offered to lend her clothing and toiletries for her stay. What little Marly owned was stashed in her one-bedroom apartment in Nairobi, Kenya. “I’d give my right arm for a cup.”

  Talia led her to the coffeemakers, poured a cup and handed it over. “I have some clothes you could borrow for the safari, if you like.”

  With her hands wrapped around the warm mug, Marly inhaled the fragrant brew and smiled. “Thanks, but I like my flight suit.”

  “Could get hot out there.” Talia poured another cup and set the pot back on the burner.

  “I’ll manage. Thanks to one of your staff, the suit is clean.”

  Talia nodded. “It was the least I could do. The fact you landed that plane where you did was amazing.”

  Marly shrugged. “I’ve landed in worse spots. There’s not always a landing strip where I go.”

  The other woman shook her head. “I don’t know how you do it. I’m a nervous wreck when I fly.”

  “It’s second nature to me. My father started me flying when I was barely tall enough to see out the windshield of his old plane. He flew people all over Africa when there weren’t that many planes flying. I rode in the copilot’s seat for many of his flights.”

  “Got more coffee where that came from?” Big Jake entered the kitchen, filling the space with his broad shoulders.

  Soon the rest of the SEAL team were standing in the kitchen, waiting for Talia to pour enough coffee to give each one a mug.

  Marly stood back, observing all of the men, but one in particular.

  Pitbull. He had yet to make eye contact with her. But that was okay. She wasn’t sure how she’d react when he did. She could quite possibly melt into the tile of the kitchen floor. Or she could keep herself together and pretend he meant nothing to her.

  Talia waved her arm toward the door. “My chef has prepared a hearty breakfast for you. I’m sure he’d like to have his kitchen to himself to complete preparations. If you’d care to adjourn to the dining room, we can get this day underway.”

  The men shuffled into the dining room, joking and jostling as they went.

  Marly was mildly disappointed and a little angry when it was Big Jake, not Pitbull, who held her chair for her. Pitbull had chosen a seat at the end of the table, opposite from her.

  If that was the way he wanted it, so be it. Marly could easily have handled her own chair, but she smiled up at Big Jake and thanked him for helping her. He settled in the seat beside her and talked to her throughout the meal.

  After the fluffy scrambled eggs and bacon were consumed, along with a hefty number of Danishes, Talia pushed back her chair and stood.

  The men followed her lead and stood as one, coming to attention.

  “The truck leaves in fifteen minutes,” Talia said. “The earlier we get out there, the more we’ll see.”

  “We’ll be ready,” Big Jake assured her.

  She sent an inclusive smile toward Marly. “Oh, and Ms. Simpson will be joining us.”

  At Talia’s announcement, Pitbull’s gaze shot toward Marly. He didn’t appear to be too pleased. Marly couldn’t agree more. She really needed the distance from the man who turned her insides to mush. Still, his apparent shock disturbed her. She raised her brows and met his stare head-on. If he didn’t want her to go, he could speak up.

  After a long moment, he turned and walked away.

  Marly considered that a win on her part. Not that she felt like she’d won anything of value, but she refused to back down from any challenge, real or perceived.

  So he wasn’t happy she was coming on the safari. Tough!

  * * *

  PITBULL HAD SPENT a rough night tossing and turning, his libido so jacked up he couldn’t find relief from his urges or the heat of the savanna night. He’d finally fallen asleep in the wee hours of the morning, only for his alarm to go off a couple hours later. He’d looked forward to riding around, looking at the amazing animals Africa had to offer, free of the one person who had his insides knotted since that kiss the night before.

  But no.

  Marly was going with them.

  Part of him was happy. The other part tightened like a rope in a tug-of-war contest between bulldozers. He’d be sure to ride in the back of the truck, away from Marly and temptation.

  He’d hurried back to his bungalow for a hat and his weapon. When he returned, a guard had taken the driver’s seat inside the crew cab of the two-ton truck and Talia sat in the passenger seat, holding a microphone in her hand. A canvas awning had been stretched over the wooden ribs, giving the people in the rear much-needed shade for when the sun beat relentlessly down on them later in the day.

  Two guards, packing submachine guns, were seated in the back, near the tailgate. Marly sat forward near the cab.

  “Wouldn’t you be better off riding in the cab?” he asked her as he climbed up the tailgate, into the rear of the truck.

  “I’m fine here,” she responded.

  T-Mac, Buck, Big Jake, Diesel and Harm climbed up behind Pitbull, forcing him closer, until his only choices were to sit across from Marly or beside her. Rather than touch her, he sat across, careful not to let their knees bump. As soon as the truck lumbered into gear, he knew he’d be fighting a losing battle.

  Every pothole sent him sliding in his seat, his knees knocking into Marly’s, sending all kinds of electrical currents racing across Pitbull’s nerves. Good Lord, how was he going to survive the day without going stark-raving mad?

  The first few times they connected, Marly’s gaze shot up to his. Then just as quickly, she dropped her eyelids and hid her expression.

  But he’d seen it. The recognition and response to their connection. Though she’d given him the cold shoulder this morning at breakfast, she couldn’t hide the flare of fire in her eyes when they’d bumped knees. And based on her desire to further their relationship the night before, she had to be feeling something.

  Talia’s voice came over the intercom. “If you look to our left, you’ll see a pride of lions lounging in the shade of that tree. We’ll slow down to give you time to view.”

  The truck lumbered to a near standstill. Everyone in the back pivoted to stare at the trees. Pitbull’s knees bumped Marly’s once more, but she didn’t seem to notice. Her attention remained focused on the shadows where a pride of tawny lions lay.

  His teammates had their cell phones out and were snapping pictures. T-Mac had a high-resolution digital camera with a zoom lens, taking close-ups. Pitbull had decided, even before they left Djibouti, that he’d get copies of T-Mac’s pictures. He’d take better quality images than anything Pitbull could. Since he wasn’t trying to capture images of the lions, he was able to really see them and enjoy studying the antics of a couple of small cubs.

  “You must be used to these glimpses of nature,” Buck said to Marly.

  “I’m familiar with them.” She smiled. “I never get tired of seeing the variety of animals, and I never lose sight of the fact that they are wild.”

  “Oh, look ahead of us. There’s a small herd of elephants,” Talia said. The truck lurched forward and the people in the back he
ld on to their seats.

  Pitbull couldn’t see what lay in front of the cab.

  The truck rumbled across the terrain, hurrying to catch up with the pachyderms.

  All of a sudden, the truck skidded to a stop.

  “Everyone, please stay in the truck,” Talia said, her voice tense over the speaker.

  The two guards in the rear of the vehicle jumped down and ran to either side of the cab doors. Once they leaped up on the running boards, holding on with one hand and gripping their weapon in the other, the truck edged forward and stopped again. The engine grumbled and shut off.

  For a moment, the silence was deafening after the loud rumble of the truck’s diesel engine. But the silence didn’t last long. The crack of gunfire sounded, followed by the desperate trumpeting of elephants.

  All six of the SEALs leaned out of the sides of the truck, craning their necks to locate the source of the gunfire.

  “We have poachers in the area,” Talia said over the speaker. “Please remain seated. We’ll get you back to the resort immediately.”

  “Wait!” T-Mac yelled. “We can’t let them kill the elephants.”

  “Right. We have to do something,” Big Jake agreed.

  “I can’t afford to have my guests die on my watch,” Talia said, then directed the driver to turn the truck around.

  As the vehicle slowed in the turn, the SEALs jumped out, two at a time.

  The truck stopped and Talia dropped to the ground. “What are you doing? Get back in the truck.”

  “We can’t let them kill those animals,” Diesel said.

  “You’ll get yourselves killed trying to stop them.” Talia shook her head. “Not only would that be bad for my business, but I kind of like you guys in one piece.”

  Big Jake pulled his handgun from beneath his loose shirt and checked the magazine. “We know how to take care of ourselves.”

  Talia stared from one man to the next. “Poachers play for keeps. If they get a chance, they’ll kill you. And if they don’t kill you, the elephants are stirred up. They might decide you’re as much a threat as the poachers, and stampede. Please. Get back in the truck.”