Running Hot by Helenkay Dimon Page B

muscles still burned. Digging in dirt filled with roots will do that to a guy. Without a shovel he had to use her knife to pound at the ground. When she’d joined in, the task went faster but not by much. They’d removed enough soil, rocks, and fallen leaves to put the bodies at only a slightly higher level than the rest of the forest floor. Moving boulders and branches did the rest to provide cover.
    Now they lay next to each other on their stomachs, flat against the ground and hiding behind low bushes on a small hill a football field’s length away from the SUV, which he could only see with binoculars. Good thing she carried a pair with her.
    More strategy on her part. Like how she’d picked a cleared area to park but that the forest walls covered on three sides. That made spotting the gunmen easy. With their vantage point above, there was nowhere for the men to hide.
    She took the binoculars out of his hands and took a long look, scanning the entire range. Her gaze moved, then stopped and doubled back.
    â€œWell, that’s going to be a problem.” She handed him the binoculars and pointed. “Look about fifty meters to the left.”
    â€œAny chance you could talk in feet?”
    â€œNo.” She dropped her head between her arms. “You’re right. They’re going to tear it apart.”
    He’d just spotted two more guys approaching with the tools. Looked like a sledgehammer and some sort of bolt cutters. Anything could be in the large bag the one guy had slung over his shoulder.
    Yeah, all trouble, but her comment caught his attention. He glanced over at her. “Say that again.”
    She lifted her head. “Can’t you see—”
    â€œThe part where I’m right.” Out of all the mindless talking and all those nights of flirting at the resort, that sentence stood out.
    She ripped the binoculars out of his hands again. “Gloating is unattractive.”
    Tucking the compliment away, he decided to stop while he was ahead . . . sort of. “How hard is it going to be for them to find the weapons?”
    â€œBy my count we have six, and with them taking turns at tearing it apart, not as long as we need it to be.” She picked up her gun then put it down again. “But tracing the vehicle to me will be impossible.”
    â€œThese guys are trained. They’ll have resources.” Ward thought about tiptoeing through this, then abandoned the tactic. Tasha was bold and tough. She could handle being pushed around on this topic a bit because the truth was he didn’t question her abilities at all. She wouldn’t shrink and wouldn’t cry.
    His biggest worry was that she might kick him in the balls. Good thing he was on the ground.
    She snorted. “Rubbish.”
    The way she said some words kicked his body into wanting mode. Apparently “rubbish” was one of them, which made him question his sanity.
    He forced his mind back to the bigger concern. “And then there’s the part where you’re not at work. On an island this size, that will be noticed. I’m betting you didn’t exactly call in sick before heading out here with weapons at the ready.”
    â€œThat’s the real issue. Someone could and will go looking for me.”
    â€œYour place is clean?” Had to be. No way would this woman leave important documents or incriminating evidence lying around, but he had to ask. Good or bad, he needed all of the pieces so he could formulate the right plan.
    She shot him a look that said “please” but she didn’t say it. “Of course.”
    â€œWe still have these guys in the way.” Ward took a long look at the men on the other side of this battle. “Even if I was up for killing them without warning, which I’m not, I’m thinking someone might notice six dead guys around a truck.”
    She snorted. “You think?”
    Time for her to face the harsh reality. “Then