Jaguar Hunt by Terry Spear Page B

“What did they sign up to do tomorrow?”
    â€œWaterfall rappelling and swimming in the natural pool below it. One-hundred-foot drop to the pool. If you want to stay topside and watch for the teens, you can.”
    After the zip-lining disaster, she seriously thought of agreeing. But she didn’t want to let on to anyone—the boys included—that she couldn’t handle it after what she’d been through.
    â€œAnd miss swimming in the water after trekking through the hot, steamy jungle? Not on your life.”
    He smiled at her comment, his expression one of admiration. She liked that she seemed to have earned his respect.
    â€œI’ve gone rappelling off a one-hundred-foot tower, and as long as we’re not going face-first like in Australian rappelling, I’m good with it,” she said. “Well, unless I was in a firefight. Then I’d need my weapon trained on the ground as I rappelled.”
    â€œYou’d definitely be fearsome. I’d think twice about tackling you,” he said.
    She smiled.
    â€œSo tomorrow, we’ll have to wear long pants, bug spray, and hiking boots, and take a change of clothes or wear a bathing suit underneath.”
    â€œDo you have a bathing suit?”
    â€œYeah, I have one. Just regular old swim trunks, though. Nothing like what you were wearing this morning.” He glanced at her, a hint of a smile curving his mouth. “Speaking of which, have you got something else to wear?”
    â€œWhy?
    â€œThe water might be a little rough. I’d hate to see you lose your suit.”
    â€œI’m surprised you’d say so.”
    He laughed. “Okay, if we’re being honest, I’d hate for anyone else to see you lose your suit.”
    She chuckled. “I like it when you’re being honest.”
    As soon as they reached their cabana, David said, “I’ll run off and get the key to the bungalow. It should be ready by now.”
    â€œOkay. I’ll start packing.”
    She couldn’t wait to move to the bungalow and shower inside, but all those thoughts fled when she entered the cabana and found the teens’ fresh scents in the place, meaning they had been here recently. Her heartbeat ratcheted up a notch. She stormed into the bedroom and found David’s and her bags were missing. She swore under her breath as she checked the drawers. All were empty.
    David walked into the cabana, and before he could say a word, she spoke first. “They’ve taken our luggage and all our clothes. I will kill both of them.”
    â€œI would agree, but I just can’t believe they’d steal our luggage,” David said, looking in the bathroom. “Our stuff in here is also gone.”
    â€œBelieve it! Their scents are fresh in here and our bags have vanished.”
    â€œMaybe the clerk at the lodging desk had them removed and placed in the bungalow because they needed the cabana vacated to ready it for other guests.”
    â€œThat doesn’t explain the teens’ fresh scent in the cabana.” And after the one boy seemed concerned for her welfare and offering them the fruit, she really couldn’t understand their behavior.
    Instead of going to the main lodge, she headed in the direction of the bungalow to see if by some miracle the kids had deposited their stuff there.
    â€œIf I’m right about the teens—that they didn’t steal our stuff…” He trailed off as he closed the door to the cabana and quickly caught up to her.
    â€œIf you’re right, what?”
    â€œMaybe you’ll believe the boys aren’t all that bad.”
    â€œI’ll believe it when I see it. Besides, not only did they take our bags, they packed them.”
    David didn’t appear to think that was such a bad thing. She frowned at him. “I don’t like having every one of the male persuasion handling my personal items .”
    Light dawning, he nodded. “I