removing the beads of sweat. 'Now, please step out and keep your head down until you're clear o

er last connection with civilization. 'You're not

s or give up, and there was no way she was giving up. Her only hope was that he might agree to give her more tim

ect you. Take the path to the left and, whatever you do, stay on it. Thi

into the dense forest surrounding them. Some areas were completely shaded, while in others, the sun pierced thro

ean in

nd different species at the last count. An

ward her, Bethany smoothed her skirt over her knees an

, eyeing her choice of shoes, "and then there

the potential dangers. Any moment now, she thought she might beg him to fly he

. He lives here because it's that dangerous, baby doll. He has a lo

people wrong repeatedly. But now, she was in danger of losing everything she had worked so hard for, and she couldn't allow that to happen. This was perhaps the most crucial battle of her life, and

of failure and the livelihoods of those depending on her. If she faltered

call in his loan, it would be th

a damp strand of hair. Her gaze drifted up to the towering trees, rising to such magn

iving out here?" Be

red a wry smile. "Jeffrey? H

of the helicopter, her legs trembling. She couldn't determine whet

lf. He had no need to do so, as others gladly filled the void. The tabloids brimmed with stories of his relen

that and the news o

after less than three mo

h stories that had lasted

mpossible t

eir relations

sted in making mon

en endless but if any

s little more than a m

she had to fight for he

ort of man that brough

, she promised herself.

gue-tied or stammer. Sh

ng room at home, talki

had an important pre

urch again and this time

nothing to do with the

times like this-times

nd her like a giant wav

ltimate test. And she

ldn

h was a

to be afraid of Jeff

hand over her straight,

d onto the wooden walk

he fore

matter how dark, was

k hovered around the man, he was a businessm

iness into profit, he'd

in the loan. She would

e and leave the hyenas

sman to their seclu