Chaos Theory (Nerds of Paradise #2)(62)

He didn’t look like he believed her. But he also didn’t look like he wanted to push the issue. Thank heavens for that much.

“Well, if you two are going to keep going, then you should take all of the food supplies we have left,” Sandy said.

“Agreed,” Ben was quick to add. “Plus whatever other supplies you think you might need.”

“Great idea,” Laura said. “I know one thing we have that you could probably use.” Her face pinked as she spoke, leaving Melody in no doubt that she was talking about condoms.

“Oh, we need all the help we can get,” she replied with a wink. She snuck a peek at Will, only to find his color rising fast. “You can never have enough of those fireproof matches,” she rushed to add.

“You can have ours.” Sandy had already started scrounging through her backpack, and judging by her expression, she had no clue what Melody and Laura were joking about. The other two guys seemed pretty clueless too.

As lunch finished cooking, everyone unpacked their supplies and laid them out on the grass. Will left the fish to Jogi’s tender care and came over to squat in front of the piles.

“Did you say something to Laura?” he whispered as he and Melody sorted through everything, picking out what they needed.

“I didn’t try to,” she confessed.

Will blew out a breath and shook his head. “My desk is right next to hers at work.”

“Oops.” Melody could feel the heat rising on her face. “Sorry about that.”

Will just stared at her, then focused on picking out supplies. Melody had a feeling she’d be getting a thorough talking-to later. Although maybe not. There was a certain amount of resignation in the way Will pursed his lips, the way he sent her a sidelong look, lips twitching, then shook his head again. As they went on with their work, Melody couldn’t help but slip into quietly singing the old Bonnie Raitt song, “Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About.”

“Looks like the cheaters hit you pretty hard too,” Will said once he’d taken everything he wanted from the main pile.

“All of our food and water that wasn’t tied down,” Sandy sighed, ladling watery fish and onion soup into a tin bowl from the main pot.

Lunch was officially served. Melody went to join the others, taking a plate of fish with a side of rehydrated mashed potatoes. “Any idea who the cheaters are?” She sat on the grass next to Will.

“I’d be willing to bet a month’s salary Ed was involved,” Jogi said. “Especially after the way he was trash talking everyone at the starting site.”

Melody instantly knew he was right. “I’m sure Katrina would egg that kind of cheating on.”

“Of course, she would,” Sandy agreed. “But there’s no way to know whether they were dropped nearby or three miles away.”

“There’s no way to know they weren’t dropped next door either,” Melody said.

“Has anybody spotted anyone else at any point?” Will asked.

“Yeah, we came across Natalie and that cowboy she was paired with early in the morning of the second day,” Jogi said.

“That’s it, though,” Sandy added.

“They must have spread us out pretty good,” Ben said.

“But if we’re getting at all nearer to the finish line,” Will figured, taking a plate from Jogi, “then chances are, people are more likely to run into each other.”

“Yeah, we all ran into each other,” Laura said.

“But how many people are even left in the competition?” Ben asked. “I lost track of how many times I saw that helicopter pick someone up.”

“Hey, if everyone is dropping out, that means that Will and I have a better chance of beating Katrina and Ed to the finish line.”

“If it even is Katrina and Ed that you’re up against,” Laura said.

“Oh, I’m sure it’s them.” Sandy narrowed her eyes, stirring her soup. “This has Bonneville written all over it.” She glanced to Melody, then Ben, both of whom nodded.

“I’d give my left nut to see you two beat those cheaters,” Ben said.

“Then we’ll do our best to make your dreams come true.” Melody smiled. “Although I’ll be expecting that left nut—bronzed, mind you—once we cross the finish line.”

Laura snorted into laughter. Ben had the grace to laugh as well. Only Will kept a straight face. The rest of them went on, chatting and eating, but Melody could see the gears turning in Will’s mind. It sent an unexpected thrill through her. He sure was sexy when he was plotting. She’d have to wait until they were back out on the move before he revealed whatever he was working on, though. If she knew one thing, she knew he wasn’t the type to divulge any sort of master plan when a ton of people were around. And for Will, four other people were a ton.





Chapter Seventeen





Ed Grayson. Will was just as willing as Ben to bet important body parts that Ed was the cheater, and that he probably had more tricks up his sleeve. He didn’t know enough about Katrina Bonneville to know if she was complicit, but memories of the way the woman had stared at him during training were enough to make him wary of her just the same.

As the others finished up lunch, chatting and laughing, Will sat back and ran through his options. First, they had to find a way to prove that Ed was behind the cheating. Loathsome though the man was, it wouldn’t be right to do or say anything against him without proof. On the other hand, was catching the cheater as important as making it to the finish line first? Or would the best revenge be winning?