The Marine & the Debutante. Maureen Child

is lost,” he said, figuring this could go on awhile.

      “He who eats snake will get sick,” she told him.

      “That’s not an old saying.”

      “It’s one of my favorites,” she said. “As of right now.”

      Travis laughed shortly and set his pack down, then laid the snake alongside it. Jamming the end of the light into the sand at his feet, he said, “Have a seat. I’m going out to gather some brush. We can make a small fire.”

      “You’re leaving me here?” she asked, lifting one hand to point at the snake. “With that?”

      “Trust me,” he said tightly, “you’re more dangerous than he is.”

      She swung her hair back from her eyes, and in the green glow those blue eyes gleamed like sapphires. Her face pale, her features drawn with fatigue and fear, she was still pretty enough to take a man’s breath away.

      And he realized he’d been right.

      She was dangerous.