She reached up and cupped his cheek. “I want you with me when we find it. I want to share that moment with you. Would I have gone with Kyle? The truth is I don’t know.” Abby went up on her toes and softly kissed him. “I’m just grateful you’re here.”

A little of his anger faded. Not enough.

Abby kissed him again, just a sweet brush of her mouth over his, but the gentle press of her lips turned his thoughts from anger to lust. He was already hard, the zipper at the front of his cargo pants stretched taut. He had wanted this woman since the first time he’d seen her.

His arm went around her waist, and he pulled her close, his arousal like steel where it pressed against her.

“If we were somewhere else, I’d have you. I’d make you want me as much as I want you.”

“I already want you, Gage. I think I’ve wanted you since that first day in your office.”

Heat roared through him. Desire wrapped around him like a fist. His hands slid beneath her T-shirt. He unsnapped her bra and filled his palms with her breasts. The tips were pebbled rock hard. He wanted to lower his head and taste them, nip the tight little berries with his teeth, suck the fullness into his mouth.

He wanted to strip her naked, drag her down on the soft earth, and take her until neither of them could move, then start all over again. Gage kissed her long and deep, wrapped her thick braid around his hand and tilted her head back, kissed her until she was clinging to his shoulders and making little sounds in her throat.

Abby was a fire in his blood. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could withstand the flames.

It took every ounce of his will to pull away. “Tomorrow we’ll find your treasure,” he said gruffly. “Then we’ll finish this.”

Abby trembled. “What about your precious rules?”

Gage made no reply, just took her hand and led her back toward camp. Abby didn’t protest, not with Kyle and Mateo out of sight only a few yards away.

Her fingers felt small and warm nestled in his big hand. Just the touch of her skin made his heart beat faster.

Gage clenched his jaw. Abby was a dangerous distraction. One man was already dead. He didn’t want anyone else falling victim to the Devil’s Gold.

* * *

The final leg of their journey was a grueling trek beneath a hot desert sun. Abby was determined to reach their destination. Gage was pressing hard to make it happen. Mateo disappeared off and on, scouting ahead and checking their back trail, while Kyle plodded along with Mort at a steady, unwavering pace that ensured they would reach their goal.