Into the Wild by Beth Ciotta Page B

called when he turned to leave. “Do you know what maldición means?”
    He angled his head, processed. “I think so, sí. Cursed.”
    River’s stomach twisted. “As in a bad word?”
    â€œAs in evil.”
    Â 
    S PENSER’S TEMPLES throbbed. He’d been blocking memories and emotions ever since he’d pulled into Baños. He’d joked with Gordo about facing his demons, but that would require wrestling with a shitload of suppressed guilt. He wasn’t sure if he could do that without getting drunk and staying drunk for a good week. Right now he needed to be sober and focused. He’d be damned if he’d lose another person to the curse and, the way things were going, River Kane was a prime candidate.
    With the exception of the half hour he’d spent with Cyrus Lassiter, a crusty treasure hunter with a tarnished reputation, Spenser had been watching over the blond waif all day, albeit from a distance. He’d lost count of the times she’d washed her hands with sanitizer, doused herself with bug spray and slathered on sunscreen. Instead of being tuned in to the people—and danger—around her, she was obsessed with her skin and location. She’d constantly referred to a street map and her GPS unit, even though she’d only navigated the core of town. From what he could tell she was a mass of phobias, but that didn’t stop her from trying to locate her dad.
    Much to Spenser’s disappointment.
    Cyrus had confirmed his suspicions regarding the eccentric professor. He’d also supplied another troubling bit of information, one that had prodded Spenser into risking River’s wrath by revealing his presence.
    He waited until she finished her meal—God knew the woman needed fortifying—then joined her as she left the café. She was so immersed in the map, shedidn’t even sense his approach. Christ. “We need to talk, angel.”
    She jumped at the sound of his voice, then froze in her tracks. A dozen emotions flitted across that pale face. Surprise, relief, anger, worry and was that…?
    Hell, yeah.
    Desire.
    He pondered that last one while she zoned in on anger.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” she snapped.
    â€œWhy did you lie to me?”
    â€œWhat?”
    He hadn’t intended to provoke her, but damn he was pissed. Pissed he was attracted to her. Pissed she was flirting with danger. Pissed she’d put him in a shit position. Royally, irrationally pissed. “You said you were taking the bus to Lima.”
    â€œNo, I didn’t. I only said I was taking the bus. I didn’t specify where.”
    He let that one slide. “You told Kylie and your assistant that your reason for flying to South America was to reunite with your ex.”
    â€œIt’s on my agenda.”
    Damn. “David’s in Peru.”
    â€œI know where he is, relatively, and I know where I am.”
    â€œYou damn well should,” Spenser said, frowning at the map in her hand. “You’ve consulted that map or your GPS every ten feet.”
    â€œI can’t believe you’ve been spying on me!”
    â€œWatching over you.”
    â€œYou said you’d go back to Peru.”
    â€œI said I wouldn’t force my company on you.”
    â€œWhat do you call this?”
    â€œAn intervention.”
    She narrowed those mesmerizing green eyes and looked at him like he was crazy. “Listen, you—”
    â€œSave it.” The longer he stood here, soaking in her fragile beauty, breathing in goddamned Skin So Soft Bug Guard (he’d know that laundry-fresh scent any where) and coconut sunscreen, the more his temper spiked. Along with his libido. “You’re in over your head, angel.”
    Her milky skin flushed red. “Officer!”
    Spenser looked over his shoulder, spotted the uniformed policía standing on the corner. “Don’t do it, River.”
    She arched a stubborn