“Just as long as I’m not one of them?”

Alec narrowed his eyes. Those women were different. They had built their whole lives around discovery—and it hadn’t come without a personal price. “I certainly hope you aren’t intending to travel farther east. It’s dangerous.”

Lottie pointedly ignored his gaze as she moved to the bed. “Whatever I do after this is not any of your concern.”

Alec opened his mouth and then quickly shut it. He longed to challenge her, but with what? She was absolutely right. He pulled a hand through his hair, strode over to his own battered bag, and spent the next several minutes taking his frustrations out on his toiletries. After a few satisfying bangs, he cut a sidelong glance at Lottie. She had removed her wrapper and was tucked under the covers reading by the light of the little bedside oil lamp.

He imagined her cuddled up on a narrow camp bed in a canvas tent while a sandstorm raged outside, perfectly content. Was that really the kind of life she wanted?

“You aren’t going to sleep on the floor again, are you?” Lottie didn’t bother looking up as she flicked a page.

“What?” He was distracted by a trail of freckles that ran down the side of her neck before disappearing beneath the nightgown’s neckline, like the world’s most erotic treasure map.

She met his eyes and shrugged as if she had suggested something utterly harmless, like opening a window. “The bed is massive, and you do look tired.”

Alec shook his head slowly. “I don’t think so.”

Lottie gave him a pitying smile. “You’re being rather silly about this. We won’t be anywhere near each other.”

Alec cleared his throat by way of answer. It was a fair point. The bed could easily sleep four, but it wasn’t the size that worried him.

“Besides,” she added slyly, “it’s not as if we’ve never slept next to each other before.”

Of all the times to call upon their shared past…

“That was different!” he sputtered.

Lottie canted her head and studied him, as if he was a coded message to crack. “How so?”

Alec gritted his teeth so the words wouldn’t slip out: You didn’t have breasts yet.