Enemy Mine by Lindsay McKenna Page B

mat.
    Turning, she eyed Frank. He was still flat on his back, and groaning.
    “Enough!” Therese trilled. “You have won this contest, Señorita Lincoln! Congratulations! Come, you must leave for the shooting range.” The woman hovered by the door and waved for Kathy to join her.
    Stepping past the three goons, Kathy felt no exhilaration, only relief that she’d been able to disarm them. Her right hand hurt and she looked down at it. Her knuckles were bruised and turning a bluish-purple color. She was sure she’d broken a vein, but pumped up with adrenaline as she was, she felt little pain. After hurrying by the soldiers, Kathy jogged to Therese’s side. As they walked out the door, the hot, humid air hit her like a hand slap. Kathy brushed back her hair from her face and saw a tough-looking hombre in military fatigues standing near a dark green jeep.
    “You will now go with Capitán Jules Quintana. He will oversee your shooting test, and the knife fight with Renaldo afterward.” Therese clapped Kathy on her shoulder. “I have never seen anyone take down those three soldiers so fast. You are truly a prize, señorita. Good luck on test two. I will be awaiting your triumphant return to my office. Adios. ”
    Kathy nodded and said nothing. She wasn’t feeling as positive as Therese was. Gazing into the captain’s dark eyes, she realized with horror that they were a killer’s eyes. The fact made her blood run cold.
    “Climb in, señorita. ”
    As Kathy slid into the frayed canvas passenger seat of the jeep, she looked over at the helicopter landing pad. At some point, Coulter had lifted off, and she hadn’t even heard the noise. As the captain drove through the main gates of the estate, Kathy gripped her hands together in her lap, feeling terribly alone without Coulter’s protective presence. Could she survive the next test?

CHAPTER EIGHT
    W AS K ATHERINE L INCOLN dead or alive at this point? After landing back at the villa, Mac tried to appear his easygoing, nonchalant self as he disembarked from the Bell helicopter. Garcia had had him run an errand into Cuzco—pick up a passenger who Mac knew was part of the Colombian drug cartel, and bring him here. Mac had been gone two hours and was champing at the bit to return.
    Was it the nanny’s lush curves making him react like this? Mac couldn’t recall a woman ever impacting him like this with her essence, her spirit. Never had one interrupted his mission focus, either. Not until now. Damn, what was he going to do? What was it about Katherine Lincoln that was dismantling him minute by minute? Making him feel like a teenager driven by hormones and not by his head? Mac didn’t fool himself: he harbored a hot, sexual need for her—and that was dangerous ground to be on. One look from those stunning blue eyes and all he could think about was slowly undressing her, mapping her body with his tongue, hands and lips. What kind of power did she hold over him? Mac shook his head, frustrated with his unexpected reaction to Katherine Lincoln. No matter what he did, he couldn’t stop caring about her, or being worried for her.
    Mac looked around, but didn’t see Therese, who always shepherded unsuspecting applicants through this disgusting series of tests. The driveway was filled with expensive cars—Mercedes, BMWs and Jaguars. Garcia was having another cartel meeting, no doubt. Standing near the concrete landing pad while the ground crew took care of the Bell, Mac placed his hands on his hips.
    Had Katherine survived the first test? How badly he’d wanted to stay and find out. Inwardly, Mac pictured her tall, proud body and the way her full breasts filled out that blazer she wore. The curviness of her hips were just right for a man to grip, bring her under him and—He had to stop thinking like this! Was he going loco? Too long without a woman, and now he was paying the price for it? Mac wasn’t sure, and he couldn’t stop feeling edgy.
    Where was Therese? He craned