Jace stood and walked to the balcony door and sank into deep thought. All she had to do was break one rule to lose, and that was inevitable. No matter her wits and skills, in the jungle this Texas girl was a tenderfoot. He turned to face Leigh. Her expression was inquisitive and tense. Yep, he decided, she couldn’t win, but money wasn’t what he wanted from her, nor would his pride allow him to lose on purpose. Even if she didn’t know it, he had integrity! “This sport will be fun for both of us, Leigh. We’ll put our deal in writing: my plantation against one night with you.”
“That isn’t what I said.”
“But this seems more like an equal bargain to me. I can earn another one if you should happen to win mine, or I could stay on as your loyal manager. Then, if you wanted to play predator, you’d always know where to find me. You could visit your new home and business anytime you pleased. As your employee, I’d be at your beck and call day and night. Forget the money, Leigh, because I can earn all I need with coffee and safaris. I don’t crave one-third, one-half, or all of the Webster empire. Money comes and goes all the time, but not a woman like you. With that wager, I’d be too tempted to lose. It isn’t fair to entice me to cheat, Miss Webster.”
Leigh knew she would never accept his home as payment so she didn’t mind his wager. But by accident or intention, if she lost …
“Well? Do you agree? Green Hills Plantation against the intoxicating seduction of Laura Leigh.”
“How will the winner be chosen?”
“First, for each terrified scream or time you complain or lag behind, you owe me a kiss. Rule two: each time you get into trouble or danger, you owe me an extra night. Rule three: if you cancel the safari or prove unable to complete it, you owe me any prize I choose to select, which will be your presence in my home for one full year. Rule four: when you lose, you pay your debt immediately and in full.”
She was astounded by how easily and swiftly he listed those “rules,” as if by rote, especially number three. Of course, she had nothing to worry about concerning that particular one. She would never call off the safari even if he harassed or provoked her at every bend, and she would complete it even if she had to drag herself through the jungle on her belly. But she would tell him to leave it out because she could not live with him for a year, not as his mistress. To taunt him, she murmured, “Aren’t you afraid you’re tempting me to lose, Mr. Elliott? At least to get into mischief.”
“If you’re honest with yourself, you know you want me as much as I want you, woman, but you wouldn’t intentionally lose. You’re too proud and honest.”
“Are you certain?” she teased. “Besides, all those rules apply to me. What about you? And how is the winner chosen?”
“Fair enough. If I prove too weak or tired to make a full day, you get a kiss. If I get into trouble or endanger your life, you get five kisses. If I quit the safari for any reason, you get an extra prize.”
“Awfully vain, aren’t we?”
“Nope, just trying to simplify things for you. If I lose, you win my plantation. If I don’t hold up, take your choice of an extra prize.”
Leigh wondered if his adding “an extra prize” was his way of offering himself if he lost. “Suppose I don’t want to trade kisses with a smug rogue like you. Why not let rules and points select the winner? The one with the largest number wins. I should get ten in advance. After all, I’m a delicate woman in strange surroundings, so I should be allowed some tiny advantage over a big, strong man in his element.”
He chuckled at the heavy southern drawl she affected during her last sentence. “Points are boring, Miss Webster, unless one gets extra prizes. The winner is the one who breaks the fewest rules. One other stipulation …” he added, his tone and gaze serious. “You have to promise not to endanger your health and safety by trying too hard to win. No pushing yourself beyond your endurance or taking risks. In exchange, I won’t make this trip harder than normal. Agreed?”
“That’s only fair. I know my limits and I promise not to recklessly exceed them, even to beat you. If neither of us earns points or we tie, it’s a draw and the bet is nullified. On rule one, a terrified scream does not include a shriek of surprise.”
“Be assured I know the difference. You can also rest assured I won’t do anything intentional to lose my home or to let Chad appear a better man in the jungle, even to win a valuable prize like you, woman. Let’s get our deal into writing. If there’s one thing a man or woman should honor, it’s his or her word. I can be awfully dangerous if crossed, Miss Webster, so think this over before you agree and sign a contract. I wouldn’t want to force you to live up to your bargain, but I will. You’d better get some rest. It’s going to be a long and demanding year.”
“The safari is for two months, Jace, then you get one night with meifI lose,” Leigh stressed. “I won’t cancel the safari or be unable to complete it, so forget the year part. And I won’t get into trouble or danger, so don’t count on earning extra rendezvous, either.”
“We’ll see.” His green eyes were alive with intrigue.
“Yes, Sir Lancelot, we certainly will.”
Chapter Nine
At dinner, Jace Elliott went over the hunting and gun control laws mandated by the Colonial Office for this English protectorate. He related the regulations issued by the Imperial British East Africa Company under the title of “Sporting Licenses” for a fee of twenty-five pounds and valid for twelve months. He related the 1886 “Schedule of Duties” for controlled items and he stressed the use of quinine to prevent malaria and the danger of drinking unboiled water.
Jace told them his head man—Wanjohi, called “Johi”—was gathering supplies and hiring bearers. After questions were answered, Jace excused himself, saying he needed a good night’s sleep because he had plenty of tasks to complete before they left Mombasa on the twentieth. Today was April seventeenth.
“That wasn’t a strain at all. It looks as if Jace and I will get along fine. Anyone dissatisfied with him?”
All four shook their heads.
“I told him about the supplies we brought along. He’s to check them out tomorrow. You women decide on what you need in the jungle, then have the rest stored in our supply room. We’ll pick them up as we’re leaving town. I hope you’re all ready and eager to have fun, because I am. I can’t wait to get into that jungle.”
“Me, too, Chad,” Louisa concurred.
Cynthia looked as if she was having anything but fun. Reid acted as if the safari didn’t matter one way or the other to him. The blonde rose from her chair and said, “If you don’t mind, I’ll read a while and turn in. It’s late and I’m tired.”
In her suite, Leigh sat on the sofa in deep thought. She tossed her tawny locks over its back and leaned her head against the soft surface. Her dark-blue eyes stared into space. Jace and Chad’s behavior had her confused. She wanted to know what had started the vengeful war between old friends. She knew that Jace had to be wrong about her grandfather and Chad. During the safari, Jace would grasp his error. Afterward, surely he would focus on unmasking the real culprit, and she would help him. If he could get his dark past behind him, perhaps he would seek a bright future with her. He had admitted he was drawn to her, so she had to increase that pull.
Yet all evening Jace had treated her as a client, nothing more. He had hardly glanced at or spoken to her. But, she decided, that could have been a pretense for the others. Their bet hadn’t been mentioned, and Leigh wondered if the other women and Reid knew about the so-called thousand pound one.