Perfect Specimen: Brietta by Kate Donovan Page A

it was downright cruel.
    There had never been a gaping wound. And as for the rest, she simply didn’t know what to believe anymore.

Chapter Ten
     
    It didn’t take Taggert long to realize Brietta must have doubled back to the cave, curious and irrepressible. Not that he blamed her. It was an amazing phenomenon. And even though he had done his best to keep it away from all prying eyes, he knew this could be for the best. For one thing, he was dying to talk to someone about it. To brainstorm the possibilities.
    Plus, there were other intriguing non-archaeological possibilities, weren’t there? He had meant what he said—she was perfect for him. Not just physically, although her body did drive him crazy with lust, but in every other way as well.
    And she seemed hot for him too, didn’t she? No matter how many times he pissed her off, she kept coming back, even this last time. Of course, she had just seen a nest of snakes, so maybe part of her reaction had been skewed by that.
    Except there hadn’t really been any vipers. Just her overactive imagination fueled by the mother of all sinus infections.
     
    * * * *
     
    Even though he was sure she was fine, it was a relief when he finally spotted her and Kasha galloping back toward the camp. He watched from his seat under the canopy, but stood and walked out to greet her when she drew near.
    Ignoring him, she rode right up to the hitching post, looped the reins around it, and disappeared into her tent without making eye contact or speaking to anyone.
    She probably knows you know she went back to the cave. And she figures you’re pissed .
    He wanted to put her mind at ease. To tell her he’d decided to make her an official part of the real expedition. More than that, he wanted her to start taking the mega-antibiotic right away, rather than waiting until the amoxicillin was gone.
    She reappeared in minutes and walked over to him, a strained smile on her freshly washed face. “We need to talk. But first, I need to tell Hannan and the others to go to his aunt’s house without me. That’s nonnegotiable,” she added firmly.
    “I totally agree. Want me to get rid of them?”
    “I’ll do it.” Turning away, she walked over to the SUV, where Hannan and the grad students were waiting. Taggert could see they were trying to change her mind, and he was glad when they didn’t succeed. As much as a night away from this desolate spot might have been good for her on some levels, it was no substitute for clearing the air, once and for all, about the project and about their relationship.
    As soon as the SUV had pulled away, she walked back over to him, a wistful smile on her face. “Your tent or mine?”
    “Mine.” He took her by the arm and led her into his spacious quarters. Then he told her, “First things first,” and handed her the bubble pack of five azithromycin tablets.
    She surprised him by popping a tablet free of the wrapping. When he poured her a cup of water, she downed the medicine without hesitation, then heaved a weary sigh, as though just this simple act had exhausted her.
    “Maybe we should sit,” he began, but she backed away, shaking her head.
    “I know you want to talk, Taggert, but I need to go first. Okay?”
    “Sure.”
    “Well, first of all, I went back to the cavern.”
    “Yeah, I figured that. And it’s fine with me.” He reached out to touch her cheek. “I’m sorry I lost my temper again—”
    “It’s fine. That’s not what I want to talk about.” She bit her lip, then explained in a rush, “I don’t think there were any snakes up there today. I think I imagined them.”
    “Yeah.” He grinned in sympathy. “You’re lucky you can see straight at all. That sinus thing is a killer.”
    She winced but moved closer, as though encouraged by his attitude. “It wasn’t just the snakes, Tagg. After you left, I saw this guy up there—”
    “What? Who was he?” Taggert demanded, stunned at the thought of anyone snooping around his