The thump-thump-thump of a jungle drum woke Grace. She stirred, her head shifting a fraction to release the taut pull of her hair. Immediately, jagged pain pierced her skull, advising her to exercise caution. She swallowed hard and discovered her mouth was as dry as an Auckland dam during a drought. The room—perhaps a bedroom, since the softness of a pillow cushioned her head—lay in complete darkness. Cold pushed goosebumps across her bare arm and leg while heat seared her back.
thump-thump-thumpCautious about setting off the excruciating spikes in her head again, she used her other senses. The sweet, spicy, and faintly musky aroma scenting her mindful breaths wasn’t familiar. Jeff didn’t—
“Go back to sleep. It’s still early,” a masculine voice whispered in her ear.
Grace shrieked and w
