in. Just what kind of trouble was she in?
“No?” Kirra asked with a hint of relief.
He rolled his eyes. “Well, maybe some of them are decent cops. But they’re overworked and underpaid. We’d have no way of knowing if the people we dealt with were honest, or were being paid by one of the various rebel factions.” He knew a few of the corrupt cops in this region, and he could probably pay them to keep Kirra safe. But that protection would only last until someone else came along with more money.
Or the rebels started shooting.
“That’s not all,” Seth said. “You can bet your…ah…hat…that the rebels will have teams watching the nearest towns. They’ll try to capture you as soon as you’re spotted.”
She flinched.
“Plus, the nearest police station is more than two hours away by vehicle. We could be three-quarters of the way to your destination by then.”
Her chest rose on a deep inhale and Seth tried not to notice how the movement pushed her generous breasts against the fabric of her tunic. But what could he say? She was a very well-proportioned woman for her size and he was a red-blooded man.
Kirra let out her breath in a long sigh. “All right. Thank you. I don’t have much money on me now, but once we reach the concert I’ll see that you’re paid.”
“I don’t need payment,” he snapped. “Christ. I’m not some cold-hearted bastard who’s doing this for gain.”
“You need to make a living.”
“Trust me, I can damn well afford to run you up to your concert.” It had taken a year to recover after unexpected repairs for his plane had landed him in financial hot water, but he’d been turning a slight profit for the past twelve months. “I don’t have any flights scheduled tomorrow and there’s no way in hell I’m going to let you find your own way up north, not with the rebels gunning for you.”
Her face softened a moment, then her wariness returned and her shoulders went back. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ll only accept your help if I can pay you.”
“Kirra—”
“Fair payment or I’ll take my chances on my own.”
They locked stares. The stubborn set to her jaw indicated she’d argue with him the rest of the night. He had to give her credit. Not a lot of guys would stand up to him like this. Proving once again that under that soft exterior, she hid a spine of steel.
Finally, he shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“Okay, then. Good.”
An awkward silence fell on the room.
“Um.” She glanced around the kitchen. “Where do I go to wash my dishes?”
He took the empty bowl and plate from her and walked them over to a small counter. “Forget it. You’re a guest.”
Kirra opened her mouth to protest, but wisely shut it.
“All right,” she conceded. “I suppose I’ll head to bed, then. What time should I set my watch alarm for?”
Seth raised his brows and glanced pointedly at her damaged wrists.
“I don’t wear my watch. I keep it in my bag.”
Interesting. “Sleep as long as you like. As I said, I don’t have anything else scheduled.” He still had a few days until he was supposed to report to Bureh. It might not be the smartest move, but he didn’t have the heart to tell Kirra to wake up early just because he was in a hurry to die. A few extra hours weren’t going to harm anyone.
“Unless you’re due to report in at a specific time?” he added.
“No. They’re not expecting me until Thursday. I was actually heading in early but hadn’t notified them of my change of plans.”
“So no one will be looking for you?”
The fraction of a pause before she answered set his alarm bells jangling. “Right. No one knew I was on that bus, and I doubt the news of the attack will have made it all the way up north and over the border.” She drummed out a rhythm on the table top. “You wanted the name of the town. It’s Leodougou.”
“I know it. The nearest airport is about a hundred kilometers away. It should take less than two
“No?” Kirra asked with a hint of relief.
He rolled his eyes. “Well, maybe some of them are decent cops. But they’re overworked and underpaid. We’d have no way of knowing if the people we dealt with were honest, or were being paid by one of the various rebel factions.” He knew a few of the corrupt cops in this region, and he could probably pay them to keep Kirra safe. But that protection would only last until someone else came along with more money.
Or the rebels started shooting.
“That’s not all,” Seth said. “You can bet your…ah…hat…that the rebels will have teams watching the nearest towns. They’ll try to capture you as soon as you’re spotted.”
She flinched.
“Plus, the nearest police station is more than two hours away by vehicle. We could be three-quarters of the way to your destination by then.”
Her chest rose on a deep inhale and Seth tried not to notice how the movement pushed her generous breasts against the fabric of her tunic. But what could he say? She was a very well-proportioned woman for her size and he was a red-blooded man.
Kirra let out her breath in a long sigh. “All right. Thank you. I don’t have much money on me now, but once we reach the concert I’ll see that you’re paid.”
“I don’t need payment,” he snapped. “Christ. I’m not some cold-hearted bastard who’s doing this for gain.”
“You need to make a living.”
“Trust me, I can damn well afford to run you up to your concert.” It had taken a year to recover after unexpected repairs for his plane had landed him in financial hot water, but he’d been turning a slight profit for the past twelve months. “I don’t have any flights scheduled tomorrow and there’s no way in hell I’m going to let you find your own way up north, not with the rebels gunning for you.”
Her face softened a moment, then her wariness returned and her shoulders went back. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ll only accept your help if I can pay you.”
“Kirra—”
“Fair payment or I’ll take my chances on my own.”
They locked stares. The stubborn set to her jaw indicated she’d argue with him the rest of the night. He had to give her credit. Not a lot of guys would stand up to him like this. Proving once again that under that soft exterior, she hid a spine of steel.
Finally, he shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“Okay, then. Good.”
An awkward silence fell on the room.
“Um.” She glanced around the kitchen. “Where do I go to wash my dishes?”
He took the empty bowl and plate from her and walked them over to a small counter. “Forget it. You’re a guest.”
Kirra opened her mouth to protest, but wisely shut it.
“All right,” she conceded. “I suppose I’ll head to bed, then. What time should I set my watch alarm for?”
Seth raised his brows and glanced pointedly at her damaged wrists.
“I don’t wear my watch. I keep it in my bag.”
Interesting. “Sleep as long as you like. As I said, I don’t have anything else scheduled.” He still had a few days until he was supposed to report to Bureh. It might not be the smartest move, but he didn’t have the heart to tell Kirra to wake up early just because he was in a hurry to die. A few extra hours weren’t going to harm anyone.
“Unless you’re due to report in at a specific time?” he added.
“No. They’re not expecting me until Thursday. I was actually heading in early but hadn’t notified them of my change of plans.”
“So no one will be looking for you?”
The fraction of a pause before she answered set his alarm bells jangling. “Right. No one knew I was on that bus, and I doubt the news of the attack will have made it all the way up north and over the border.” She drummed out a rhythm on the table top. “You wanted the name of the town. It’s Leodougou.”
“I know it. The nearest airport is about a hundred kilometers away. It should take less than two
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