He shook his head. “What did you think I was getting out of the store? I didn’t plan that far ahead.”
Of course. It was one of the standard supplies they had in abundance. To prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. She’d been so wrapped up in the polio work she’d forgotten about them.
She reached over and grabbed the strip. “Just how many did you plan on using?”
He grabbed her around the waist and flipped her over so she was lying on the bed beneath him. “It’s the one thing we have plenty of around here.” The strip was still dangling from her hand and he flicked it with his fingers. “These are all for you and me, baby. However long it takes.”
She ran her hands up his chest again. “That sounds good to me. Now, where were we?”
“Right around here.” He slid his hands over her breasts, releasing them from the confines of the satin cups. Her eyes fell on her dark pink nipples just as his head came down and captured one.
His tongue teased her as she writhed beneath him, his hand slid inside her underwear, teasing her some more. All of a sudden her underwear was too much. It was getting in her way.
His way and hers.
“I think we’re a little overdressed,” she whispered in his ear. “It’s time to get back to basics.”
“Your wish is my command.” He smiled as he snapped the clasp at her back and slid her panties down over her thighs. His boxers landed in a heap on the floor.
“Now, what exactly did you have in mind?”
Perfect. Just what she wanted to hear. She pulled his head down next to her mouth and started whispering in his ear again.
He raised his head. There was a wicked glint in his eyes. “Really?”
She nodded. “Really.”
“Then let’s get to work.” His lips covered hers and she closed her eyes and let her previously secret dreams become a reality.
* * *
Evan should have felt on top of the world. The woman who had got under his skin months ago had finally ended up in his arms.
This was the point at which he should be walking around with a smile reaching from ear to ear.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t keep a smile on his face.
Violet was currently his favorite person in the whole wide world. Here, in Africa, it was easy to push aside the issues he’d had with her brother.
It was easy to try and forget the way he’d felt.
But the gnawing ache in his stomach wouldn’t leave him. Every touch of Violet’s fair skin, every little smile from her seemed to send him hurtling into a vortex of guilt.
Violet was slowly but surely beginning to trust him. And that’s what worried him most.
He was trying to forget the fact that he occasionally saw something fleeting in her gaze. Because right now he was praying it wasn’t related to him.
He’d known from the minute he’d kissed her six months ago that he wanted to go further. This should be his perfect scenario. Out in the middle of nowhere, working on a task they both believed in, with no outside influences.
So why couldn’t he sleep at night?
Why was the sight of Violet lying in his arms racking him with guilt?
Because deep down he knew he was going to have that conversation with her at some point.
He couldn’t live with himself otherwise.
He was going to have to tell her his fears about Helen’s death. That if he’d been more in tune with his team, he could have prevented it.
That would shatter anything that was building between them stone cold dead.
And the last thing he wanted to do right now was spoil it.
But it was eating away at him every day. He couldn’t enjoy himself with Violet. He couldn’t embrace the relationship the way he should because of the thought of what he had to do.
How would she feel about him then?
He didn’t even want to think about that. He was acting like a coward. And that was one thing Evan Hunter definitely was not.
Two weeks had passed.
Two weeks of long days and even longer nights. He wasn’t even attempting to hide to anyone that he and Violet were an item. Neither of them was waking up early in the morning to creep back to their own room. Violet sat beside him at most of the briefings, letting their hands brush and giving him little smiles.
She wasn’t outwardly affectionate. That just wasn’t Violet. But she wasn’t employing any of her past avoidance tactics.
And it felt good. Or it would feel good if he could let it.
She was still a little closed off. She’d let him know very little about her past. He naturally didn’t ask her about Sawyer. But she seemed quite private, only mentioning a couple of close friends and nothing about any past relationships.
If he could get his head round his own problems, he might eventually delve a little deeper. He stared down at her face. She was lying tucked under his arm, one hand on his chest. Her naked breasts were rising and falling peacefully as she slept. Her blond hair was fanned over his shoulder. And she looked so peaceful. So calm.
He really didn’t want to do anything to wreck it.
There was gentle knock at the door. “Evan? I need to speak to you a minute, please.”
He was instantly wide awake. No one had ever disturbed him at night before. It must be something serious.
He slid his arm out from under Violet and grabbed the nearest shirt and trousers he could find. He opened the door and took a step outside into the hall.
Ben, one of the Healthy World Federation members of the team, looked worried.
“What’s wrong? Has something happened?”
He nodded. “We’ve had some news. There’s been a report of an attempted kidnapping of a health worker in the next state. All organizations are currently reviewing the safety of their staff. You’re wanted on the phone.”
Evan felt his heart rate quicken. They’d been briefed about the dangers before they’d arrived. But so far nothing untoward had affected them.
He walked into the control room and took the satellite phone.
“It’s Evan Hunter, what can I do for you?”
He listened for a few minutes, making notes and asking questions. “Where, exactly? Do you know who was responsible? Is there any indication that the trouble will spread? What about the safety of my team? No, no. There have been no signs of trouble locally. How often will this be reviewed? And the other team, have they been safely withdrawn? Yes, yes, I understand. Please keep me updated. Thanks.”
He replaced the phone and stared at the wall in front of him. He hated to think that any health staff or community workers were at risk. Even though there was no immediate risk to his staff, the thought of anyone being harmed or in danger made him feel sick to his stomach.
Helen had been a friend—a colleague. And even six years on he hadn’t learned to live with that guilt.
Was that the reason he’d never managed to form a decent relationship? It wasn’t as if he hadn’t tried. But six years was a long time to never manage more than a few dates at a time. To always wonder if he deserved to be living the life that one of his colleagues wasn’t.
But what if something happened to Violet? He couldn’t stand that. It didn’t even bear thinking about.
Ben touched his shoulder. “What did they say?”
Evan shook his head. “I’ll need to give a briefing to the staff later. The other team has been withdrawn. Shots were fired and attempts were made to kidnap one of the doctors. It was in the next state, but they’re not sure if the conflict could spill over. We’ve got to be very cautious in the next few days. We need to make sure we know where everyone is, at all times.”
He pointed to the equipment lying on the table next to them. “Everyone has go
t to wear one of the GPS transmitters. Usually only one of the team members needs one, but we’re going to have to review that situation and make it clear.”
Ben nodded. “Whatever you think is best, Evan.”
Evan walked over the wall and looked at the maps. “We’re going to change our pattern over the next few days. Leave the villages nearest the border. We’ll concentrate on those closest to us, until we’re sure the situation is under control.”
His brain was whirring. It didn’t matter that it was the middle of the night. He was instantly awake and there was no way he could go back to sleep now.