Midnight Rainbow by Linda Howard Page A

information about himself.
    â€œI’m just interested, that’s all.”
    He paused, suddenly alert. There was something in her voice, a tone that he couldn’t quite place. It was dark, so he couldn’t see her face; he had to go entirely by what his ears told him. If he kept her talking, he might be able to figure it out.
    â€œI’ve got a sister,” he finally said reluctantly.
    â€œI’ll bet she’s younger. You’re so bossy, you must be an older brother.”
    He let the dig pass and said only, “She’s four years younger.”
    â€œI’m an only child,” she volunteered.
    â€œI know.”
    She searched frantically for something else to say, but the darkness was making her panic. She felt herself move to grab for him, then remembered what he’d said about startling him, and about not making offers she didn’t mean. She ground her teeth together and stilled her reaching hands,the effort so intense that tears actually welled in her eyes. She blinked them away. “Grant,” she said in a shaking voice.
    â€œWhat?” he growled.
    â€œI don’t want you to think I’m throwing myself at you again because I’m really not, but would you mind very much if I…just held your hand?” she whispered. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid of the dark, and it helps if I know I’m not alone.”
    He was still for a moment; then she heard his clothing rustle as he rolled onto his side. “You’re really that afraid of the dark?”
    Jane tried for a laugh, but the sound was so shaky that it was close to a sob. “The word ‘terrified’ only begins to describe how afraid I am. I can’t sleep in the dark. All the time I was at that wretched plantation I was awake all night long, never sleeping until dawn. But at least I could use that time to watch the guards and figure out their routine. Besides, it wasn’t as totally dark there as it is here.”
    â€œIf you’re so all-fired scared of the dark, why were you getting ready to hit the jungle on your own?”
    A dark, handsome, incredibly cruel face swam before her mind’s eye. “Because even dying in the jungle would be better than Turego,” she said quietly.
    Grant grunted. He could understand that choice, but the fact that she had so correctly summed up the situation illustrated once again that she was more than what she seemed. Then again, perhaps she already had reason to know just how vile Turego could be. Had Turego raped her, or would it have been rape? With this woman, who knew? “Did you have sex with him?”
    The blunt question made her shudder. “No. I’d been holding him off, but when he left yesterday…it was just yesterday, wasn’t it? It seems like a year ago. Anyway, Iknew that, when he came back, I wouldn’t be able to stop him any longer. My time had run out.”
    â€œWhat makes you so certain of that?”
    Jane paused, wondering just how much to tell him, wondering how much he already knew. If he was involved, he would be familiar with Luis’s name; if he wasn’t, the name would mean nothing to him. She wanted to tell him; she didn’t want to be alone in this nightmare any longer. But she remembered George telling her once that secrecy was synonymous with security, and she quelled the need to turn into Grant’s arms and tell him how afraid and alone she had been. If he wasn’t involved already, he was safer not knowing anything about it. On the other hand, if he was involved, she might be safer if he didn’t realize how deeply she was a part of things. Finally, to answer his question, she said, “I wasn’t certain. I was just afraid to stay, afraid of Turego.”
    He grunted, and that seemed to be the end of the conversation. Jane clenched her jaw against the sudden chattering of her teeth. It was hot and steamy inside the dark tent, but chills were