Page 11 of Sweet Surrender
Barra frowned, and for some reason Allie was reminded of Kiara’s wedding and of Barra on the dance floor when the songFix Youby Coldplay blared from the speakers. She’d stood there with her hands on her hips, frowning at the DJ. “Who the hell can dance to that song?” she had said.
But then that memory was cut clean in half when something skittered overhead.
“We should probably get back to camp,” Barra said, looking up at the trees.
Allie, whose heart had leapt into her throat, did the same. But there was nothing there besides branches and more branches of a tree she couldn’t identify even if she had a guidebook in her hand. “I’m going to stay here and find that bracelet,” she said, though she wanted nothing more than to mosey on back to camp. The bracelet was her only chance to feel safe in this game, and she wasn’t going to let anyone else get it. Especially Barra.
“Are you always this stubborn?” Barra asked.
“Me?” Allie spluttered. “You’re the one who hasn’t even apologized. If that isn’t stubborn, I don’t know what is.” Shewasn’t going to say for what exactly; Barra was a smart cookie, she could figure that out on her own.
Barra pressed her lips thin, and Allie’s eyes betrayed her for the quickest second. She glanced down and wondered if she still remembered how they’d felt against her own. Yes, of course she did. She never forgot a woman’s lips, especially when they’d felt like soft pillows. Then suddenly Allie was thinking about closing the gap and kissing Barra.
No. No. No.
Lips that couldn’t manage something as basic as an apology were certainly not lips she was ever going to kiss again.
“Apologize?” Barra asked, gasping. “How are you turning finding the bracelet into—”
A sound exploded through the jungle. It was a howl so loud Allie felt the ground beneath her vibrate. She didn’t think about her actions. She just flung herself forward and happened to land in Barra’s arms.
“That’s just a howler monkey,” Barra said as her arms closed around Allie. Though she didn’t sound at all convinced. In fact, she sounded more like she was trying to convince herself it wasn’t a fricken jaguar. “They’re not dangerous.” The words landed somewhere between Allie’s cheekbones. Her breath was warm against Allie’s skin, her arms strong and tender all at once. “We don’t have to worry.”
Allie nearly believed her. She nearly forgot about the jungle pressing in around them and about the possibility that something vile was watching them right this minute. In fact, she’d nearly forgotten her own name. Barra’s body was warm. Allie’s cheek was half turned into Barra’s shoulder, and she caught the faint scent of lavender.
But then the wail sounded again. It was longer and closer.
And Allie shuddered. “That sounds like a wolf.”
“There are no wolves in Costa Rica,” Barra replied, her tone a touch patronizing.
That was the only catalyst Allie needed to remind her how Barra had spoken to her at the airport, and how she’d overlooked her at the pairing.
“I know that,” she muttered harshly, peeling herself away from Barra. “I have to go.”
And go she did. She didn’t wait for Barra to respond. And she certainly didn’t wait for another howl to split the night open. She just turned on her heel and strode toward camp, hoping she was headed in the right direction. Tomorrow was another day to look for the bracelet.
Chapter Seven
Barra was trying really hard not to think about last night. She was really disappointed that she had not found the protection bracelet. The forest had been dense, and the night sky dark. Finding the bracelet would have been like finding an earring stud in a compost heap.
And then, of course, there had been Allie.
Not only had she not expected to bump into Allie in the jungle, but she’d also been completely unprepared for the moment Allie had flung herself into her arms. Barra barely had time to register the impact before instinct took over and she was holding her. Properly holding her. Like that night in Big Sur. Like that moment in that bathroom stall at Dominique’s wedding.
Every detail of the night had come swooping back in like a champagne buzz hitting hard. The way Dominique had found her through the crowd right after the ceremony. “You’re wearing a dress,” she’d said, gasping.
“I am,” Barra had replied, suddenly aware of every inch of exposed skin. She hadn’t realized until that moment that she’d worn a dress just for Dominique, to surprise her.
“Well, you look beautiful,” Dominique had said, smiling.
“I can’t compete with the bride,” Barra had deflected and then quickly added, “Brides.”
Dominique had laughed. “Good save.” Then she’d given Barra a quick wrist squeeze before Kiara’s voice had cut through the crowd calling her for photos. Dominique had then winked asshe pulled away, and Barra’s stomach had done that swooshing, weightless drop as if she’d just missed a step on a staircase.
Then Barra, who was still holding Allie, had panicked at the memory and nearly done something monumentally stupid to get Dominique’s face out of her mind, like kissing her.
But thankfully Allie had pulled away.
