No answer and for a moment panic chilled his blood. “Lauren,” he said louder.

The zipper opened with a whoosh. “Deven, what are you doing?”

Fuck, I shouldn’t have come. “I’m sorry if I woke you. I wanted to…”

“Shhhh. Get inside.” She grabbed his arm and dragged him inside. “Did you…find anything? She rubbed her eyes and brushed her tousled hair with her hands. She sat on her cot and crossed her ankles. She was only wearing a long tee–shirt. Underneath, her legs and feet were bare.

Looking away, he said, “I…we didn’t find anyone. Maybe a local, curious about the dig. Probably one of the Lacandon Indians.” He didn’t tell her that their intruder finished digging up her pottery artifact. In the morning, when they went out to the site, he’d show her. Too late to discuss it tonight.

“The guards are patrolling the area, so you don’t need to worry.” Chrissake, how lame did he sound?

“I’m not worried.” Slowly she stood, crossed and uncrossed her arms then dropped them at her sides. “Sorry, I left. I got tired.” Her voice sounded breathy and silky as she moved closer, facing him. Her warm breath scurried across his skin at the base of his throat.

He shivered and heat stirred in his groin. “No problem.” Her sleep-tousled hair hung in her eyes and the desire to run his fingers through the blonde strands was nearly overwhelming. “I should go then.”

“Is that the only reason you came?” She pushed her hair back and narrowed her eyes.

“No.” His fists clenched and he didn’t make a move to leave the tent.

An awkward silence stretched between them. Her gaze held his. The sultry look of desire in the glow of his flashlight made his heart race. Then she reached down to his hand gripping the flashlight and flipped off the switch. They were engulfed in darkness.

“We were casting shadows. Someone could see.” Her hand slowly glided up his arm and around his neck.

“Good thinking,” he whispered against her ear.

She took a deep breath. “You could…”

He knew what she was going to say before she said it.

“You could stay…here.”

Professional coolness be damned. He only hesitated a second, then dropped the flashlight on the side table and grabbed her arms, pulling her against his body.