Primal Calling by Jillian Burns

of him. “To bring stories to the public that can change the world. Make it better.”
    He’d never met such a naive Pollyanna. “Why?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWhy would you put yourself out there for people you don’t even know?”
    â€œWhat does knowing them have to do with anything?”
    â€œHaven’t you ever heard the expression no good deed goes unpunished? Live and let live.”
    â€œThat’s your philosophy? You leave the world alone and the world leaves you alone, is that it?”
    â€œIt’s worked so far.” He gave her a pointed look. “Until today.”
    â€œImagine if everyone believed as you do. After Katrina hit New Orleans, there were thousands of us volunteers helping with the cleanup effort. All it takes for evil to win is for good men to do nothing.”
    â€œRight. So, you’ve trapped a murderer in the middle of nowhere. The world is safer already.”
    â€œYou’re not a murderer. But you are hiding something.”
    â€œJust because I don’t want to spill my guts to a stranger, I’m hiding something? Maybe there’s a reason you’re only a travel guide.”
    She flinched as if he’d slapped her. Hellfire, his barb had done more than sting. She looked as if he’d crushed her spirit. He started to apologize but her expression hardened and she tipped her chin up. “If there’s no story here, why don’t you simply tell me what happened three years ago?”
    He clenched his fists, his teeth grinding. Anything was better than the expression of defeat returning to her face. He chose his words with care. “The plane crashed. People…died.” He raised the bottle of Jameson to his lips and gulped down the whiskey. Damn. His hand was shaking. “It happens.”
    She was blessedly silent. But of course that didn’t last. “It must have been awful,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”
    The searing pain, his friends’ bloody faces, flashed through his mind, but he shoved the visions away and cleared his throat. “Can you get your job back?”
    It was her turn to shrug. “My contract’s not up until July. But if I don’t show up in Buenos Aires in two weeks, I’ll be in breach.”
    â€œIf all goes well, we’ll be in Nome by lunchtime.”
    â€œI told you, I’m not going back.” She lowered her gaze to the lantern. “Not yet anyway.”
    â€œDo what you want. As long as you’re off my hands.”
    â€œCouldn’t I ride with you to Barrow? I’ll pay you.”
    â€œI don’t carry people. Only cargo.”
    â€œAnymore.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou mean you don’t carry people anymore . But you used to.”
    â€œI’m going to get some sleep. I suggest you do the same.” After taking one more swig of the whiskey, he screwed the lid on, pulled up his hood and dropped his head back, eyes closed.
    As if he was really going to get any sleep with her this close to him. The cargo area was so small, he could reach out his arm and touch her. Every breath brought her sultry scent teasing his senses. He could hear her shivery breathing, imagine her chest rising and falling. Before he knew it, he was picturing her breasts naked and in his hands, imagining himself pulling off her jeans and panties…
    Damn.
    â€œMax?”
    â€œWhat?” He refused to open his eyes. He’d only be tempted by deep blue orbs and sensuous red lips.
    â€œGood night.”
    He grunted, and heard the tarp rustling until she settled down. Between the lantern and the heat from Mickey and the woman, he was warm enough. But a cold chill ran up his spine at the thought of flying with her in his plane to Nome tomorrow.
    He could only hope seeing the snowy owl meant the curse on him had been lifted. Maybe his wandering soul would return now.
    Â 
    S ERENA SNUGGLED closer to the heat. The lantern had