adds a whole new context to his life,” she said. “I’ve always wondered what drives a man to risk his life for...thrills.”
“I couldn’t tell you.”
“You don’t feel that thrill?”
He shook his head. “Not the kind of thrill that makes me want to risk my life. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do. I love seeing new and beautiful places, and I love showing those places to other people. But it’s not about me, it’s about the clients. With my father, I think it was about him. Even when he had clients with him.”
They pulled up in front of the restaurant and Mal parked the car and turned off the ignition. He stared out the windshield, a perplexed expression on his face. He laughed softly. “You know, I never really made the connection before, between his childhood and his need to tempt the fates.”
“I can understand his urge,” she said. “Maybe, after all that had happened to him as a kid, he was a little numb. Risking his life made him feel alive.”
He twisted in his seat, facing her. “But why have a family? Why put them at risk, too?”
“That’s easy,” Amy said. “Love. He lost his mother when he was young. I suppose he always wanted a family again, and when he met your mother, that happened. It just didn’t heal all the wounds.” She shook her head. “I’m not a psychologist, so this is all speculative. I guess we’ll never really know.”
“My father kept journals. My mother said she burned them, but I believe she still has them. They might provide more insight.”
“Maybe you should ask her if you can read them,” Amy said. “It might give you the peace you need.”
He considered her suggestion for a long moment. And then, without any warning, he reached out and pulled her toward him. His lips met hers and she realized that he was kissing her.
His tongue gently probed and she eagerly joined in. He was everything she’d imagined he would be—warm and passionate and powerful. He caressed her face with his hands as he deepened his assault and Amy sighed, the sound swallowed by the kiss.
When he finally drew back, she was light-headed and breathless. She wanted to kiss him again and keep kissing him until...until they found something more exciting to do. She leaned into him and he immediately took the cue and captured her mouth in another deep, delicious encounter.
This time, when he drew back, she held fast to the front of his shirt. They couldn’t go on until she understood exactly where she stood with him. “What are the chances you’re going to do this story with me?” she asked. “Just give me the odds.”
“As much as you’ve made an enticing pitch, I just can’t,” Mal said.
“Then I suppose there’s nothing to stop you from kissing me again.”
He grinned. “There was nothing stopping me before,” Mal replied.
“All right, then, carry on,” she said.
With a low growl, he shook his head. “I think maybe we should go inside and have dinner.”
Amy drew a deep breath. “Right. Let’s have dinner.”
A meal would give her an opportunity to regroup and figure out what the hell she was doing. If the story was a no-go, then she was free to pursue other avenues with Mal Quinn. Sexual avenues...and boulevards...and expressways. She’d come to New Zealand to make a major change in her life. Maybe she should start with herself.
* * *
MAL HAD BEGUN the evening searching for a warm body to take to bed. To his surprise, he’d found a funny, smart and sexy woman. Too bad she was a journalist.
He watched in amusement as she tackled the huge hamburger, digging into her dinner with enthusiasm.
“It’s good, right?” he asked.
“Really good,” she said.
“New Zealand beef. It’s the best.”
“I think all the cheese and truffle oil might have something to do with it, too,” she said, closely examining the burger.
They sat on the wide front porch of the restaurant, which overlooked the street. Raglan was a typical surf haven, filled with funky shops and casual restaurants. The laid-back atmosphere was exactly what he needed when he came home from an expedition, these surroundings providing the perfect atmosphere to decompress.
Though he’d been to many breathtaking spots in the world, home was always the most beautiful to him. He’d grown up here, learned to surf here and made plans for his first solo adventure in the cozy bach on the beach.
“I’ve never seen a woman eat like that,” he said.
“Then you haven’t been hanging around real women,” Amy countered. “Not all of us eat like rabbits.”
“I reckon not,” he said. He respected that about Amy. She didn’t try to turn herself into someone she assumed he wanted. She was true and genuine. “So tell me about your travels. I’ve read about your father and your brother. What about you?”
She gazed across the table at him, an odd expression on her face. “I’d much rather hear about your trip to Greenland. That sounds interesting.”
“It was,” he said. “At the rate the glaciers are melting, there will come a day when that trip isn’t possible. I’m glad I’m able to give people the experience before it’s too late.”
“What’s your favorite trip?” she asked.
“Every trip has something special,” he said. “It’s not the scenery, it’s more the feeling. I’ll be standing in some marketplace in Nepal or talking to some Argentinian farmer and I’ll say to myself, what the bloody hell am I doing here? I can’t believe I live this life.”
“Have you ever thought of settling down and staying in one place?”
Mal shook his head. “Never. I make my living as a guide and even though I’m very careful, there are still dangers. I’d never put someone through what my mother went through.”
“Do you think she regrets marrying your father?”
“No. They loved each other. And she understood what she was getting into when they got married. But I do think it might have been easier if they hadn’t had children.”
“How can you say that? You and your siblings are a part of him that lives on.”
It was so odd to talk about these matters, especially with a virtual stranger. And yet discussing his father with Amy had already given him new insights. Until now, he’d been pretty rigid in his opinions, but he was starting to realize that it was not always black-and-white.
The subject turned to his business and Amy was curious about the expeditions his company offered. Though she knew a great deal about the locations, Mal got the impression that she hadn’t done a lot of adventuring herself. Or maybe she was just trying to keep him talking. Either way, he didn’t mind. She had a way of making him feel completely comfortable. There was no question she might ask that he wouldn’t answer.
Which was dangerous. She was a reporter after all. And he couldn’t be completely certain about her motives. Though this flirtation was fun, Mal wasn’t sure he was willing to take it to the next level.
But why not? If she was willing, why not enjoy a night of passion before she went home? Having sex with her certainly wasn’t going to change his mind. And he was positive they’d have a great time indulging in the desire that was growing more intense with every minute that passed.
He reached out and snagged her hand, hooking his little finger around hers. “Why don’t we walk off this meal? We can go get your car and you can follow me back to the house. I’ll show you my beach.”
The waitress brought the bill and though Amy insisted