She nodded. “I didn’t think that I’d have to. I know you’re smart and you’d realize it would be easier for you to just take me. I’ll cooperate as long as I believe what you’re doing is safe for us. But yes, I’d do it.” She paused. “Wouldn’t you?”

His face was suddenly wiped clean of expression. “Hell, yes.” Then he reached out and started the car. “But you’re damn right you’ll cooperate. I’m not going to let you blow this deal for me. I’ve waited too long.”

“I know you have.” She leaned back on the seat. “But then so have Maria and I, so I can’t be oversympathetic.” He was actually going to take her, she realized in relief. For a few moments, she’d thought she’d lost him. She still wasn’t sure why she hadn’t. “Where’s Rennell? I thought you said he was going with you?”

“I sent him ahead in his own car. We might need another vehicle, and besides, I’d prefer not to have to act as referee between you for a long drive.”

“I wouldn’t have tried to antagonize him,” she said. “And Maria seemed to get along with him. She said she thought they understood each other before she left his place.”

“I don’t doubt it.” He was going through the gates. “But I’ve noticed you lack a good bit of Maria’s tact and have an overabundance of stubbornness on occasion. I don’t want Rennell to change his mind about working with me, or to use you to strike his own deals.”

“I would have been polite,” she said quietly. “I won’t cause you trouble.”

“You already have.” He glanced sidewise at her as he took the first treacherous turn. “But you might remember your good intentions over the length of the trip.”

“I don’t promise not to talk to Kaskov.”

“I didn’t think you would.”

She had a sudden thought. “After Maria called, you could have just gotten in the car and driven away. Why did you wait for me?”

“Because I knew you’d do something weird like hopping that fence. I might have cut myself to ribbons on those thorns trying to avoid taking you to the nearest hospital.”

“You don’t think I could have made it?”

He didn’t speak for a moment. “I think you could have made it, but I didn’t want you to try.” He smiled crookedly. “I thought, what the hell, if you wanted it that bad why not just let you do it.”

She smiled back at him as she nodded. “Yeah, what the hell?”

“But it doesn’t mean I’m not irritated with you, and I’m holding you to your word.” He leaned forward, his eyes narrowed on the road ahead. “Now be quiet while I negotiate these turns.”

*  *  *