Page 19 of Reset

He snorted. “Bet they don’t take the time to see past the buttoned-up clothes to the devil lurking beneath.”

And wasn’t it interesting that he could?

“If you aren’t going to sing, how about whistling?”

“How about we leave the talent hunt until we’re out of here?”

“Fine, but only if we get out quickly. If we’re in here more than one night, all deals are off. Because by then I’d do anything to distract myself from being stuck underground.”

“Anything?” His tone was speculative, and a little hopeful.

“Your mind has wandered into the gutter again, hasn’t it?”

“Now, what would make you think that?”

“Experience,” she said drolly as the candlelight illuminated dark openings into rooms up ahead. There was one on each side of the tunnel, not exactly facing each other but close.

“There are more rooms.” Dread tightened her stomach at the thought of what might be hiding inside of them.

“Could be a dormitory corridor. They used to build them into old mines for workers to live in during the duration of their shift—back when shifts lasted weeks, not hours. The room we were in was probably made for the same purpose. There might even have been more rooms off that tunnel, but the cave-in hid them.”

“You seem to know a lot about old mines.” Sarah inched closer to Ryan as they neared the gaping maws that passed for doorways. The inky-black openings looked like they could suck you inside if you got too close.

Ryan must have noticed her discomfort because he moved closer to her, the heat of his body offering comfort. “Not the first time I’ve been in one. Took part in some missions, and rescues, in underground complexes in several countries. After you’ve been through a few, you start to notice what they have in common, especially older places like this. There’s a lot of similarity in how they were built and laid out.”

“If they’re so alike, is there any chance one of those maps in your head has the exit marked?” It was a poor attempt at a joke.

“Sorry, doesn’t work like that. Be great if it did though.”

Wouldn’t it just? The sooner she put some distance between her and Ryan, the better. Being around him was confusing. Her brain remembered the pain of losing him, but her body only remembered how he’d felt when she was with him. She’d already made one rash decision with Ryan by climbing into bed with him on their first real date. Her heart couldn’t cope with two.

“We have to check out the rooms, don’t we?” For some reason, staying in the tunnel seemed safer to her. Even though she couldn’t see where that led either.

“Afraid so. Don’t want to take the chance we miss an exit. How about I go in alone and you stand guard out here?”

“And do what if danger comes? Wave my candle at it?”

His eyes sparkled. “Try spearing it with a witty barb.”

“You’re not funny.”

“I’m adorable. Now, wait here and don’t wander off.” With a smile he entered the black room, his flashlight app on low to save the battery.

Sarah watched the fluid movement of his muscular frame as he prowled into the room. Every gesture he made betrayed a confidence in his abilities that few people would ever have. He’d been joking when he’d told her his body was a weapon. But watching him now, alert and controlled, she thought it was closer to the truth than he’d meant it to be.

As the glow from Ryan’s flashlight moved further away, she shivered. The distance between them made her jittery. Which meant she started calculating odds in her head all over again. What were the chances of the room caving in on him? And what were the odds of her digging him out?

Forcing herself to breathe steadily, she glanced up and down the tunnel. Nothing moved. The only sounds that could be heard were Ryan’s soft footfalls. Even then, she suspected he was deliberately making noise to reassure her. She was pretty sure Ryan could be as silent as a ghost if the need arose.

“Anything?” Sarah had to force herself to speak loudly. For some reason, survival instinct made her want to whisper.

“Nothing yet.” Irrational relief slammed into her when he answered. “Gimme a sec. There’s a spot in the corner that looks interesting. Might be a passage.”

“Okay.” Sarah warily glanced at the end of the tunnel, where everything disappeared into darkness. Was there movement? Or was her imagination working overtime?

Something brushed against her ankle.

Her foot shot out.