“What?” My eyes stared into his. “You think he has a gun?”

“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “But I think we need to figure out how he ended up on the island with us. And he’s been on his walk for an awfully long time. It makes me wonder where he’s gone. Why would a man with a limp be venturing on a long walk in the evening by himself on an island with two strangers?” His eyes pierced into mine. “It doesn’t make sense. We need to figure out why he’s on the island.”

“But we don’t even know why we’re on the island.” I stared at him and then at the darkened figure of Steve farther down the beach as he walked back toward us. “He’s on the way back.”

“Let’s change the subject now.” He looked toward Steve and then leaned toward me. “I trust you.” His voice was soft. “Though you could be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” He paused. “Anyway, tomorrow we should go explore in the jungle. I also think that’s going to be our best bet for finding fresh water.”

“Okay.”

I lay back on the sand and stared at the sky. Our shoulders rubbed together, and I closed my eyes, wondering if he was going to suggest that we snuggle up. He didn’t say anything, but I felt him reach out for me and pull me toward him. I lay there on my side with my back to his chest, and I closed my eyes as my body started trembling slightly at being so close to him.

“You’re too close.” I shifted slightly away from him. I was uncomfortable being so close together—or rather, I was uncomfortable feeling his practically naked body pushed up against mine. And when I say uncomfortable, I mean I loved it. I was most uncomfortable because I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to prevent myself from turning over and running my fingers across his chest.

“That’s the point, isn’t it?” he whispered against the back of my head. “That’s how we’ll stay warm.”

“I’m plenty warm already, thanks.” I turned around abruptly as I felt his manhood push up against my ass. “I think it’s better if we face each other,” I continued weakly, not wanting him to see how he was affecting me.

“I don’t mind that at all.” He grinned and pulled me toward him. “Not at all.”

I groaned inwardly when I felt his hardness press against my stomach and my breasts press against his chest. This position was even worse, even more intimate, and I shifted again. Only this time, my legs grazed his and we both froze for a moment as a small spark of electricity passed through us.

“So tell me more about you.” He spoke softly as his finger idly trailed down my arm. “The you that’s not connected to getting the money you think you’re owed.”

“There’s not much to tell,” I mumbled, and then paused. What the hell did his comment about money mean? I was about to ask him, but I knew Steve was getting closer. I couldn’t risk getting into an argument with Jakob with Steve so close.

I was also finding it hard to think straight. My body felt like it was starting to catch fire, and all I could think about was how raw and masculine he smelled. I so badly wanted to run my fingertips down his chest and then across the stubble on his face, but I managed to stop myself.

“The more we know about each other, the easier it will be for us to figure out why we’re here.”

“I guess.” I sighed and looked into his eyes. “Though, I can’t see why anyone would kidnap the two of us. I’m really a nobody, asides from the investigation. I can’t think of a reason why anyone else would want to kidnap me.”

“Nobody’s a nobody,” he said, and then we both laughed.

“Well, I don’t have any money. My father was pretty lower-middle class. He was an inventor like I said, though he didn’t get credit for any of his inventions that became a big hit. My mother died when I was just a kid. My dad never remarried. I went to college, studied history, got a job working as a researcher for a well-known historian, he helped get me into the master’s program at Columbia. I was going to go on for my PhD, but my father died, and things changed.” I was silent for a few seconds. “I found his letter and decided to focus my energies on finding out the truth, and so I took a leave of absence from the program and my job. Now I’m self-employed.” I smiled then. “And I make less than forty grand a year, so if anyone is trying to make money off me, they’re in for a surprise.”

“Your dad didn’t leave you any money?” He frowned.

“Did you not just hear me when I said he didn’t make much money?” I laughed.

“I suppose that’s why you like dating rich men, then, huh?”

“Excuse me?” I pulled away from him then and jumped up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m just saying most women in your position would be happy to date and marry a rich guy, right? And it’s obvious you’ve got an eye for the finer things in life.”

“What are you talking about?” I glared at him as he jumped up and stood next to me.

“Isn’t that ultimately what this is all about? You trying to get access to the money that a large corporation made off your father’s inventions?”

“No,” I hissed at him angrily. Did he really have that little respect for me? I knew that he didn’t know me well, but I was still hurt by his assumptions, even if that was what I’d led him to believe.