Tempestuous Eden by Heather Graham Page A

anything that came. Maybe Kate had been right—perhaps she did underestimate her powers and Craig could possibly be the type to settle down in one place with one woman.
    But if he wasn’t, it didn’t matter. For the time that they had, she intended to selfishly take whatever she could. She would never regret what she was able to have, even if she might never have such an experience again. She was gambling dangerously, having found a man such as Craig. She might never seek out another, knowing she wouldn’t find such a perfect chemistry again. She was willing to gamble—she would never, never look back with regret.
    She was anxious to see him, anxious for a few minutes to talk alone, just to share a secret smile, just to tell him with a look how wonderful she was feeling. But circumstances were against her. The compound was a bevy of confusion and activity even as she lifted her tent flap. A cacophony of excited Spanish rose to her ears; her first sight was that of dozens of native strangers milling around in confusion. Catching sight of the harried Dr. Hardy, Blair bolted after him.
    “What’s going on?
    He stopped his headlong flight and blinked at her. “Oh, Blair—thank God you’re up. These people have come from the north. The tremor wiped out their little village. We’ve got to get oriented here quickly with this many refugees. Get some food going with Dolly, will you? I’ve got to get Taylor. I need the man. We’re going to need some quick makeshift housing.”
    Tom kept on talking, but he was already on his way again. With a sigh Blair made her way through the confusion, a practiced, soothing smile on her face while she inwardly groaned. They were in for another set of incredibly rough days. She would be lucky just to catch sight of Craig.
    Berating herself for a fool even as she set to work with Dolly, Blair wondered why she had deemed it important to leave Craig last night. She had wanted to hug the experience to herself, she knew, to cherish it and ingrain it deeply in her mind. To decide how to handle her needs and desires and emotions and the real world that existed outside of his arms.
    But now that all seemed so silly. She had cost them precious moments that could never be recaptured; the joy of holding tight with tender comfort, of waking together in the light of dawn.
    She could only hope that he understood, and pray that things would be well between them.
    It was long past nightfall when the activity in the compound died down. The victim now of high anxiety, Blair sought out Craig with her eyes. Just moments ago she had seen him bundling a young matron and child into a blanket so that they might bed down for the night, but now, suddenly, she couldn’t see him.
    He couldn’t be far, she told herself …
    Fighting an absurd urge to cry, Blair poured herself a cup of coffee and moved to the cooking fire, where the tired crew was gathering. She stood staring into the fire, mesmerized by the flame, thinking how like fire Craig’s eyes could be and wondering desperately if she hadn’t already ruined things with her reticence and fear.
    And then she felt him behind her long before his hands actually came to rest upon her shoulders. “Craig …” She turned, and her eyes, wide and unguarded, told him everything that could be said. He kissed her, oblivious to the others, and his smile carried all the warmth and caring she could have desired. “Bad day,” he said ruefully, “and I’m afraid we’re in for some others. Tired?”
    Blair nodded, not caring that she was tired.
    “I’ll walk you to your tent,” he murmured, his eyes dazzling and his voice husky as he lowered his head to her ear and added, “We’re being doubled up, you know. Kate’s in with you, Juan’s in with me.”
    Blair chuckled at his mournful tone. “Are you advising me against any nocturnal excursions?”
    “I certainly am,” he said sternly. “I’m fond of old Juan, but if he caught a glimpse of that delightful