Christmas Kisses Collection. Louise Allen

hour later they had reached the airfield. Marco and a couple of the others were helping set out lanterns along a dirt runway.

      “This looks a little illegal to me,” Ellen said as they waited on the plane circling the field.

      “It would be by American standards but by Honduran ones it’s the only way to get the drugs safely into our hands.” Chance pointed toward a car sitting near the tree line. “That’s one of the officials. We’ll give him the papers, a little cash and he’ll sign off on them.”

      “So it is illegal?”

      “No, we just have to get our shipments in a less orthodox method so that we don’t draw the drug traffickers’ attention. This way we’re not robbed on the road. Marco, Ricardo and Perez will ride as an armed escort back to the resort just to be sure.”

      “Is this how it’s handled every time?” Ellen sounded excited by the whole idea.

      “Pretty much, but we change up meeting points and times. Nothing’s the same twice.”

      “Interesting. I kind of like this cloak-and-dagger stuff.”

      Chance grinned. He could see her as a femme fatale. “Rest assured, it’s necessary and not something to take lightly.”

      The plane’s wheels touched the runway, throwing up dust.

      “Do you ever see the humor in something or do you always take everything seriously?”

      “When it comes to my work it’s serious.”

      And unfortunately where you are concerned it is serious as well.

      Chance stepped on the gas and raced after the plane. They needed to have it unload and gone before anyone took notice. He pulled to a stop beside the plane. Thrusting some papers into Ellen’s hand, he said, “As I call out the meds, you mark them off the list.”

      “Got it.”

      By the time he had the first box in his hands and was placing it in the trunk, Ellen was standing at the hood with a penlight in her mouth and the papers spread across it.

      “Do you have a pen?”

      “No.”

      She dug through her bag a second. “Never mind. I’ve got something.”

      “Amoxicillin.”

      “Okay,” she called.

      “Penicillin.”

      There was a pause. “Got it.”

      The government representative stood beside her as Chance named the medicine labeled on each of the boxes. The man didn’t ask to see inside any of them. When it came time for him to sign the government form, Chance slipped him some bills and he went away smiling. The price of doing business. The process went on for another fifteen minutes.

      Chance looked at Marco and his crew. “Okay, guys, are you ready to go?”

      “Sí. We behind you.”

      Chance climbed into the Jeep. Ellen was already there, holding a paper by the corner as she flapped it. “What’re you doing?”

      “Making sure it’s dry.”

      The paper must have sucked up moisture from the night air. Chance breathed a sigh of relief that they were loaded and headed back to the resort. He was always on edge when waiting in the open. Drug traffickers were everywhere and as far as he and they were concerned his cargo was gold. The antibiotics were not the most valuable of drugs for resale but they certainly were important to the work of the clinic.

      He glanced at Ellen. She’d gathered the forms firmly in her hands. He started the Jeep and they were soon turning into the resort entrance and driving round to the staff parking lot. Chance pulled into a slot next to the van. He waved at Marco as he turned in behind them then back out again on his way home.

      “Marco isn’t staying?”

      “No, we’re safe here. Now we need to get these counted and stored.” Chance opened the back end of the van.

      “How can I help?”

      How like Ellen not to complain and join in. “As I bring you the boxes, open them, count the contents and store them in the lockbox.”

      “Will do.”

      Over the next half hour they worked together, getting the medicine into place. Ellen did everything he asked. With all the boxes in the van, he joined her inside it as well. Being in the tight area with her made him even more aware of his desire. Working shoulder to shoulder, with hands brushing on occasion, he questioned his judgment at having Ellen help him over asking Karen.

      He’d chosen Ellen because she had offered and seemed good at this type of work. The other part of his reasoning had been to see how she reacted to the clandestine operation that was sometimes necessary. He was pleased, she’d come through like a champ.

      With the medicine stored, Chance climbed out of the van and offered his hand to Ellen. She hesitated a second before she placed hers in his then jumped the short distance to the ground.

      To his disappointment she let go of his hand. “Bedtime.”

      She yawned. “Past it.”

      “Tomorrow’s clinic is in a village not far away. You and I will sleep in. The others will go ahead and we’ll catch up with them before midmorning.”

      She pulled her bag out of the Jeep. “I can go earlier if I’m needed.”

      “No, you need your rest.”

      “But—”

      What was the problem? The idea that she’d have to ride out with him? Or she wanted to spend time with Michael? “No buts. Be here at nine ready to go.”

      “Okay, but before I go I need to ask you a question.” It had been worrying her all night. Ellen had to get some kind of answer for his behavior in front of her hut.

      He stopped and turned. She moved toward him. Looking him straight in the eyes, she asked, “Why did you kiss me?”

      A stillness came over Chance then he wiped his hand over his face. “Let’s not get into it again. I’ve already apologized. It won’t happen again.”

      “You didn’t answer my question.” Ellen refused to back down until he gave a reason. She said softly, “Why?”

      “What do you want me to say? Because I wanted to more than anything in the world.”

      Did he mean that? Joy swelled in her chest. She stepped closer. “If that’s the truth, why not?”

      “Come on, Ellen, this isn’t a good idea.”

      “Probably not. But I still want to know.” She continued to study his face in the dim light.

      “Look, you deserve more than I can or am willing to give.”

      “I don’t remember asking for anything. And if I was, you don’t get to decide that for me. My father has done that all my life and I don’t need you taking his place. I choose what I want.” Since when did he think she wasn’t capable of making her own decisions?

      “The most that can be between us is an affair. You don’t want that. Go to bed, Ellen. Forget about what happened.”

      “Just for the record, I asked about a kiss, you are the one that brought up an affair. Good night, Chance.”

      That would give him something to think about. She took the path leading to their huts.

      After a few hours of sleep, which were not refreshing by any