Fever by V. K. Powell Read Free Book Online Page B

minutes. She blushed and stepped aside. “Of course, I’m sorry. I say that to you a lot, don’t I?”
    “The gorgeous part or the sorry part?”
    “Now you’re teasing me.” Sara liked the easy banter and Zak’s broad smile. It transformed her face from a mask of worry to a relaxed visage of glowing skin and dancing eyes. “The sorry part. I spend a lot of time asking people for their money, so apologizing comes naturally.” She waved Zak in and watched her strut toward the lanai. “Dinner should be here shortly.” As if on cue, another knock sounded at the door, and within minutes dinner was set up on the balcony overlooking the ocean.
    When Zak pulled out her chair and waited for her to be seated, Sara found her action gallant and romantic. Such a simple gesture, but it seemed intimate in a way she’d never felt with Rikki. Maybe because she hadn’t considered Zak Chambers in any context other than a hired, unsociable nuisance. She had a gentleness, another layer beneath the deliberately fashioned façade. A pang of guilt reminded her of Rikki as Zak filled their glasses with wine.
    “Thank you for doing this,” Zak said, as she dug into her salad with gusto.
    “My pleasure,” Sara replied, noting that it felt exactly like that. She wanted to ask why Zak had suddenly invited her for dinner but decided it was enough that she had. Besides, she was certain she wouldn’t answer the question anyway. As the meal progressed Zak seemed content to let the entire evening pass in silence. But Sara wanted to know many things, and she didn’t waste opportunities.
    “Is everything ready for the trip inland?”
    “Yes.”
    “Did you find all the supplies?”
    “Yes.”
    This wasn’t working the way she’d hoped. “Is there anything I need to know?”
    “No.”
    These monosyllabic responses were starting to annoy Sara. Perhaps a change in strategy. “Can I ask a question? I know, that’s what I’ve been doing.”
    “Sure.”
    “What was so upsetting in the newspaper today?”
    Bingo. The lines along Zak’s jaw tightened as she slowly rested her fork on the side of her plate. “There might be a slight problem at the site. Nothing for you to worry about. I’ll brief the new guide when he arrives.”
    Sara’s temper rose at the dismissive remark. “Ms. Chambers, I’m not some uneducated debutante who needs to be protected from the truth. This is my project, my work, we’re talking about and I expect to be fully informed of any possible complications. And furthermore, I’m really tired of these unilateral decisions you’ve been making on my behalf. It’s bad enough that you’ve decided to leave without any real justification—unless you consider accidental touching a terminal offense. If it affects me or this project, I expect to be consulted. Can you understand and accept that?”
    “Yes.” The gentleness Sara had seen earlier vanished, replaced by a piercing, unemotional stare.
    “So? What’s the potential problem?”
    “A government official could cause trouble.”
    “Titus Wachira?”
    “What do you know of Wachira?”
    “You’re not the only one who can read.”
    The expression on Zak’s face became more earnest as her brow furrowed and the crow’s-feet around her eyes deepened. “You have to promise that you won’t engage Wachira for any reason.”
    “What’s so terrible about him? He’s just a cop.”
    “At best Wachira is a corrupt, self-serving bureaucrat. At worst he has deadly potential. He’s without morals, dangerous. Take your pick, just promise me, please.”
    The urgent tone of Zak’s request touched Sara. There was obviously history between the two, and it felt more personal than professional. “I promise to try . Guess I’ll have to find a way around him if he tries to disrupt plans for the school.”
    “Has anyone ever accused you of being stubborn?”
    “I prefer to call it resilient. It’s another family curse, sort of like blurting whatever comes to