"Are you kidding me?" he asked upon the discovery of her camp shower, the look of pure exasperation causing Dani to let out a laugh before she could restrain herself.
"What can I say? A lady needs some creature comforts."
He looked unimpressed at her response, pointing to her two-room tent, portable bathroom, and camp shower. "Looks like the lady wants to build a mansion out of canvas and tent poles."
"Hardy-har, very funny."
She grimaced at the effort it took to keep her emotions under control. You're just tired, she told herself, tired and anxious at your schedule changes and the less-than-stellar greeting you've received.
Despite her inner voice's rationalization, she couldn't hide the irritation in her tone. "So I'm a camping greenhorn, so what? I'm a fast learner, and I believe in being prepared for all contingencies. If I over-packed, at least I erred on the side of caution."
Unable to halt a burst of laughter at her description, the ranger was momentarily distracted from his task. He stood and stretched his lean muscles, then slid his hands onto his hips. Dani followed the line of his hips around to his front and thought she could make out the shadow of what could be a prodigious bulge. She whipped her eyes away and prayed that her blush wouldn't show.
Why did he have to be so damn attractive? It made it hard to remember how annoying he was.
"You can get rid of this stuff right now." He pointed to a large pile of discarded packaging and odds and ends.
"Wait!" Dani cried, digging around in the pile and pulling out what she considered to be essential equipment. "You can't expect me to leave all this stuff. I just bought some of it!"
"You don't need it." His voice was uncompromising. "What do you need that for, anyway?"
"That's my back-and-belly contoured body pillow!" she shouted, pulling the plastic-wrapped cushion to her chest and hugging it as if it were her most prized possession.
His voice was flat. "Your what?"
Dani narrowed her eyes and confronted his chilly stare. "I need this to sleep at night. No negotiation."
"Fine." He sighed as she dug back into the discard pile and pulled out several more items. "Look, Professor Greenhorn, we need to hurry this up if you're going to get your campsite set up before sunset. We've been losing the light up here earlier each evening."
It took multiple trips with the ATV to move all of her gear, but after an hour everything was piled up in her campsite. She took a moment to breathe and acquaint herself with her surroundings. Dani marveled at the serenity of the area. All around her trees towered, their branches swaying in the breeze. Down a short slope was the beginning of a wetlands area, comprised of a chain of small ponds created from runoff from the nearby Alsea river. It was the perfect place to find the amphibian species she was researching.
Caleb didn't seem to share her optimism. He was currently engaged in unpacking her tent and rolling it out. "I'm glad you thought to bring a tarp for under your tent, and since you're on a bit of a rise here, the rainwater should run off away from you. Still, once the real rains start, you'll never keep everything dry in a tent."
Dani refused to let the ranger's pessimism affect her mood. "I'm sure I'll survive. It's not like I'll melt in the rain."
Caleb stood. His voice was husky as he replied, staring down into her face with his paralyzing gaze. "No, of course, you won't. Only girls made of sugar and spice and everything nice melt. You look like you'd go down in flames."
Dani's breath caught in her throat as she looked up at him. She thought she saw hunger ignite those blue eyes, and it created an answering craving inside her. She was amazed at how her body reacted to his tone. The muscles of her core contracted, creating an uncomfortable tension.
"Let's get this tent up," he said, his voice tight. "And once the rains start, if you need to store any sensitive equipment, I can always make room in my cabin."
"Thanks for the offer."
They fell into a companionable silence while concentrating on getting the tent and her portable shower and bathroom erected. By the time they'd finished the sky was filling with pinks and oranges as the sun began to sink behind the treetops. Carefully arranging her equipment and supplies inside her tent took another several minutes. Finally, the camp was completed, and the pair stood looking at each other in the fading light.
"Thank you for all your help today, Ranger Hunt." Dani shoved out her hand in a gesture of goodwill.
Caleb took her hand and shook it, and she felt a surge of heat shoot through her again when she touched him. She looked into his eyes and thought she saw that heat mirrored in their depths.
"Call me Caleb." His voice was rough.
"Okay, Caleb." Her response was almost a whisper. She thought she saw him shudder, and suddenly she was possessed by the image of him pulling her against him and putting those sexy lips all over her body.
She gasped, and he dropped her hand and stepped back, his smile so seductive that she almost wanted to take him up on the offer to store something at his cabin. Herself.
"Well, goodnight then, Professor Greenhorn," he said with a small wave, then he slid back in his ATV and drove off into the shadows. Dani stood, watching him depart and wondering at the sudden sense of loneliness that swept over her. It was followed quickly by exhaustion, and she decided then to skip building a fire.
She made her way into her tent instead, lighting a lantern and digging through her pack until she found a granola bar and a baggie full of mixed nuts. "Good enough," she mumbled, then brought her small stash along with a water bottle into her "bedroom."
A queen-sized elevated air mattress covered in a thick sleeping bag dominated the other room of her two-room tent. She plopped onto it, popping a few nuts into her mouth. When she'd filled her belly, she reclined against the cushion of air, letting her eyes close and trying to quiet her mind. It wasn't easy. Memories of the handsome ranger sprang up without prompting, and Dani wasn't comfortable with the electric pulse they sent through her body.
He was confusing, to say the least. He'd been helpful, informative, and at times his good mood had shone through the clouds of his otherwise disdainful demeanor. But mostly he'd seemed condescending.
Without warning memories of another egotistical male sprang up, and Dani groaned, scrubbing her face with her hands, wishing it was as easy to scrub away her thoughts. Damn you, Dean Fischer, she thought to herself, replaying their awkward afternoon meeting.
Fischer had taken Janna's departure as his cue to assume the seat in front of Dani's desk. He'd settled in, crossing one slender leg over the other and picking an imaginary piece of lint off of his slacks. His gaze then scanned her office, taking in the piles of books and papers haphazardly stacked around the room and interspersed with jars and cases displaying her specimens. "I somehow expected your office to be more organized. Aren't women supposed to be better nesters than men?"
A good old-fashioned chauvinistic comment was a sure-fire way to start an argument in Danielle's book, but in the interest of career advancement, she decided to ignore it. "Dean Fischer, how can I help you?"
His customary smirk reappeared on his face. "Please, call me Jeffrey, as I've said before. No need for excessive formality between colleagues."
Dani didn't like the predatory element in his gaze. She swallowed nervously and continued. "Dean--er--Jeffrey, what can I do for you?"
"I was hoping we could discuss your fieldwork, but in a more casual atmosphere. How about dinner tonight?"
Dani's eyes widened. She'd often get a strange vibe from Dean Fischer--er--Jeffrey, but he'd never asked her to meet him "in a more casual atmosphere" before. Her brain had searched frantically for an excuse to avoid the situation.
"Thank you for the invitation," she'd said, unable to meet his self-assured gaze. "Unfortunately, I have to finish packing and gathering equipment for my trip. I leave tomorrow, so I don't have any time to spare." And that had been when her trouble began. She'd recklessly revised her schedule in the hopes of avo
iding a dinner date with the dean.
However, he wasn't one to take no for an answer. "I understand that you're busy. Nevertheless, it's for your benefit. After all, your tenure review is coming up, and as Dean of Sciences, my opinions can be valuable. Perhaps you could make some time?"
Dani wanted to howl in frustration, but she didn't have the luxury. And it was evident now that she couldn't afford to get on his bad side either, not after his not-so-subtle hint. She had glanced at her watch, then held in a sigh.
"Well, I've got about 45 minutes before a meeting, if you have time right now. Maybe we could grab a coffee at the Union?"
His smile resembled a shark's. "Very good. Let's go."
The Union had been crowded, which suited Dani fine. Although it might be irrational, she had no desire to find herself alone with Dean Fischer.
"Danielle," he'd said, his voice attempting suave sophistication, but his vowels taking on a distinct nasal quality that Dani associated with imitated intellectualism, "I'm glad we have a moment alone to talk."
Dani had almost snorted at his definition of 'alone,' as crowds of undergrads milled around, looking for their caffeine fixes and loaded burritos. She reined in her negativity and plowed ahead, wanting to finish up this meeting before things could get intimate.
"Dean Fischer, you mentioned wanting to discuss my fieldwork. As you know, I've been awarded a grant to study the Pacific Treefrog, or Pseudacris regilla, in the wild. In my dissertation, I proposed that what we currently believe is one species of the Northwestern Pacific Treefrog is actually two distinct species that are able to cohabitate peacefully. Now, the idea of peaceful cohabitation between species is not new, but for frogs, it is highly unlikely for two species to work together as one usually tries to eat the other. However--"
"Dani," he had interrupted, raising one hand, palm outward, while his other hand brought his coffee cup to his lips for a drink. "I've very familiar with the research. I'm here to talk logistics. Your proposal states that you'll be living in the forest for the next few months. I wondered what your specific arrangements will be."
"Of course," she'd said, tamping down her anger at his interruption, and his interest in what she considered the basics of fieldwork. "I'll be camping in a tent within a developing state park. There is a ranger onsite who will assist me with any questions or issues I might have while I'm there. I've done extensive reading on biological field work and believe I have all the supplies I need."
"Excellent," he'd said, setting his cup down and reaching across the table to touch the back of Dani's hand. "You seem quite prepared. However, I am aware that this is your first time in the field. It can be a frightening experience, all alone in the woods. I want you to know that I'm here for you if you need me. Don't hesitate to call."
Dani fought to control the heat rising to her cheeks. She'd pulled her hand back and slid it under the table to join the other on her lap. Keeping her eyes on her coffee cup so that he wouldn't see the anger rising in them, she'd thanked him. "I'm sure I'll be fine."
Now here she was, alone in a tent in the middle of the Oregon wilderness, wondering if she really would be as fine as she hoped. Anything could happen out here in the woods, and she hadn't been lying when she'd called herself a camping greenhorn. She remembered the ranger's laugh when she'd said those words. His blue eyes had lightened then, and his patronizing demeanor had disappeared for a moment.
You're not alone, she reminded herself. You've got a sexy ranger nearby, in case you need help. Or at least something virile to look at. The thought of Caleb being out here in the woods with her finally calmed her riotous thoughts enough for her to slip into sleep.
Chapter 3
Sunlight burst through the cabin window onto an empty bed. Caleb had been up for hours after a night chasing sleep. Chasing but not catching. His coffee sat untouched before him as he stared into space, his thoughts consumed by his guest.
She was hotter than any professor had a right to be. Like a scientist in a cheesy spy flick whose white lab coat and clipboard disguised a dangerous body and willing sexuality.
Such thoughts had plagued him for hours. Even now he wanted to take his ATV down to her campsite and check on her. She would be snuggled in tight, her limbs wrapped around her body pillow. Caleb had never wanted to be an inanimate object so badly. To feel those smooth legs wrapped around him...
The ringing of his cell snapped him out of the fantasy. He grabbed the phone and glanced at the number. Brice Masterson. Fantastic. "I thought you trust fund babies didn't get out of bed before noon."
"That's usually true," Brice answered with a chuckle, "but I couldn't sleep amid the tangle of supermodel limbs, so I decided to give you a call."
"And I'm so glad you did. I wanted a chance to thank you for the little gift you sent."
"Gift? I don't know what you mean."
Caleb smiled. "You sure? She couldn't be more perfect if you wrapped her."
Brice's voice lost its playfulness. "You met Dr. French. She's not a gift; she's a biologist, one we've given a hefty grant for research in my park."
"Your park?" Caleb didn't hide the smile in his voice. Brice Masterson was the closest thing to a friend he had. While working together on plans for the park, they had developed a relationship of sorts, based on mutual teasing and a shared interest in kayaking.
And women.
"Yes, the Masterson Memorial Parklands Project, the one intended to honor my dear departed parents' memories, and the one I'm currently allowing you to develop because we both share a passion for the outdoors, among other things."
"I can tell you one thing I've got a passion for right now. And that makes me wonder, is it one you share?" His tone was good-natured, but the question was significant.
Brice sighed, his voice taking on a serious tone. "Cut the shit, Caleb. She's not like the women we usually bag. She's an academic--"
"And a damn sexy one," Caleb interrupted.
"That may be true, but she's not there for you. She's there for frogs. So leave her alone and let her work."
Caleb felt a twinge of jealousy. Was Brice into her, was that why his friend was warning him off? Even if he was, Caleb wasn't sure he could resist the temptation. "What do you want, Masterson?" he said, hoping the man hadn't called to lay claim to his professor.
"Just a question for you. Have you noticed anything unusual around the park? Any strangers? Loud noises?"
Brice wasn't fucking around. His tone put Caleb on alert. "No. What's the situation?"
His pal sighed before answering. "My family was less than pleased with my donation of the land for the park. Fortunately, my parents' will was iron-clad. All family and corporation assets went to me in the event of their deaths, and the courts have upheld the will despite several challenges."
Brice continued, his voice taking on an edge as he laid out his suspicions for possible retaliation by displeased family members. A frown spread across Caleb's features as he listened. The millionaire wrapped up his debriefing with a final warning. "Keep your eyes peeled for any unusual activities, and I'll do the same on my end." Brice's voice became stern. "And that means you'll be too busy to bother our dear Dr. French."
"Don't count on it." Caleb ended the call and tossed his phone onto his table. How had things gotten so complicated so quickly? He'd hoped for a quiet place in this world, one where he could live his life in privacy, in solitude. But it seemed the world, and Brice's overly-entitled family weren't ready to grant him peace. His thoughts turned to his own family before he could stop them.
His childhood was nothing like the fantasyland that he assumed his friend's to be. His parents' marriage had been a nightmare, one that he couldn't escape, asleep or awake. They had tortured each other emotionally for years until the venom they'd built up inside had leaked outward and destroyed them both. He could remember his mother's screams on that night, his father's furious face but strangely sad eyes...
No, he wouldn't go there, wouldn't remember. H
e'd moved to the park to escape a similar fate, and he wouldn't allow such negative thoughts to infect his new life here. He stood up swiftly, nearly banging his head into the lantern that hung above him. He turned it off and headed for the shower, forcing his mind away from his family, away from the threat to his park and his dream. That left only one available avenue for his thoughts, one that led straight to the desirable little professor a few miles away.
His cock woke up as he thought about her in her own shower. The air would be crisp, the water cold. Her nipples would bead under the chilly spray, her skin breaking out in goose bumps as the water flowed over her breasts and smooth belly, lower down to her most intimate part. Would she be covered in dark hair, or would she keep herself smooth?
Caleb groaned and took himself in his hand. Thoughts of her rubbing soapy water over her flawless skin made him ache. He imagined her hands making tiny circles, down her neck, over her shoulders, across her breasts, sliding down her stomach, then lower...
A few moments and an unsatisfying orgasm later, Caleb was out of the shower, dried, and fully dressed. His mind wouldn't leave the professor alone, however, and he began to worry. He'd been attracted to women before, and most had been attracted right back. This mutual attraction usually led to a night of steamy sex, followed by a quick departure in the morning. No follow up phone calls, no texts, no reconnection.
He didn't do relationships, that was something he and Brice also had in common, another reason they'd become pals. They were good for one night of pleasure, and no woman had ever held his interest beyond that. None had ever once tempted him to break his own rule, perhaps because he'd never allowed them to. It was safer that way, easier.
Maybe that was the problem with the professor. He just needed one night to get her out of his system. Then he could ignore her, and she could do her research in peace, then get the hell out of his park.
Decision made, he moved towards the door to try to get some work done on his trails. It would give him time to plan the best way to get her beneath him, and quickly. Grinning wryly as his dick began to swell again at the thought, he pulled on a jacket and headed out of the house, hoping that hard work would give his body the release it needed.
Doctor Feelgood: (A Bad Boy Doctor Novel) Page 29
