Wilderness Liaison

by Anne Ashby

  She breathed a sigh of relief as he lifted her and placed her carefully onto her feet beside the tub. That hadn’t been as gruelling as her imagination had suggested it would be.

  “How’s your back? Has the bath helped it feel better?”

  It shouldn’t be hard to focus. His question and accompanying expression, devoid of any intimacy, showed genuine concern. She eased her torso side to side, then twisted slightly. There was still a centre of dull pain but she felt a much wider range of movement. Gingerly she lifted her feet, one at a time. She felt a twinge in the small of her back.

  “Much better, thanks. I knew it wasn’t anything serious.” She smiled confidently. “Just a kink that needed a bit of rest to work itself out.”

  Moving toward the cabin, refusing one of the offered sticks in preference to clutching the towel, lest it unravel, she heard rather than saw Shal relax. Again she was reminded that while he’d completely taken over today, and looked after things brilliantly, he was still out of place in this environment.

  “I’ll still give your back another rub before you turn in.”

  Jodie tried not to feel any embarrassment as he rummaged through her pack to find clean underwear. He then produced a T-shirt he’d obviously found around somewhere because she recognised it as her mother’s.

  “You seem to have run out of clean clothes, too.” His voice was so matter-a-fact she felt little chagrin, although his added comment widened her eyes in amazement. “I’ll see about washing a few things, they should be dry by morning.”

  That left eyebrow quirked again. “Don’t you think I know how?” he demanded.

  “Oh, no,” she returned. “I’m sure you know how to do everything, once you set your mind to.”

  “Except map reading.”

  Jodie relaxed onto the edge of the bed, glad the easy companionship that had been present for a short while, might be returning. “You were just in too big a hurry to show off...to put me in my place.”

  “True,” he conceded with a smile. “Only you turned the tables on me quite nicely. Will these do for tonight?” he dangled a slip of nylon from one finger and waved the T-shirt in his other hand.

  When she nodded her thanks, he slipped Lynette’s too-small T-shirt over her head and held it while she manoeuvred her hands through the armholes. Bending down, he slipped the briefs over her feet and pulled them up to her knees, where the towel stopped him.

  “I’m sure I can manage now, thanks.” She tried to make her voice light and carefree.

  “I’ll get the cream for your back.”

  Jodie used the bedpost to hold herself upright and untucked the towel with suddenly nerveless fingers. She wriggled the shirt down then glanced frantically toward the bathroom. Discarding the towel from around her hips she awkwardly yanked the tangled briefs up over her still damp thighs. She was thankful for the time to cover herself before he returned.

  This massage was as impersonal as earlier, although he spent longer rubbing the spot she indicated, and exerted more pressure. She felt very pampered and slumberous when he finished.

  “You want the light on?”

  “No, thanks,” she murmured, not even moving. She felt the bedding being drawn up and tucked around her shoulders and thought he paused before he said a quiet goodnight, but she couldn’t be sure. She heard him extinguish the gas light and the clicking of the door before sleep claimed her.

  Shal busied himself gathering up his dirty clothes and those he’d unearthed from Jodie’s bag. He threw them into the sink full of hot soapy water. He didn’t know how well dish detergent would clean clothes, but they’d surely be better than before.

  His hands stilled as they encountered Jodie’s little pieces of nylon, forcing himself to concentrate on merely washing them and not fantasising.

  Finding a coil of thin nylon rope in one of the kitchen drawers, he threaded it through the arm and leg holes of the clothing. Taking a torch, he headed outside to string the rope between a couple of trees.

  He peeped through the bedroom door upon returning to the cabin. A wave of tenderness flowed through him as he looked down at Jodie sleeping. He reached out and softly flicked a dark curl from her face, accepting it wasn’t only his libido at stake here, but his heart also.

  Guessing sleep would elude him, Shal sat on the cabin steps and looked out into the darkness. Occasionally the thin moon peeped through the clouds and he could see its reflection on the still waters of the lake.

  What a beautiful spot. An emotion he recognised as envy overtook him as he wished he had such a place to escape to. Startled by this thought Shal frowned. He’d never craved peace and solitude before.

  He thrived on the noise and the never-ending struggle to keep abreast with the business world here and overseas. Intrigued with finance and excited at his knack for lucratively manipulating his company’s investments, the city was his life.

  He sucked in a huge breath, noticing the freshness, the cleanness of the air. Why have I not noticed the absence of the sickly smell in town before now? There are no car exhaust fumes adding to the pollution filling the atmosphere here.

  His head lifted very subtly as he realised some of his attitudes were changing. He’d been unaware of Jodie’s influence on him. While he’d always been aware of the powerful physical attraction between them, he hadn’t expected any of her views to impact upon his. Seeing the bush through her eyes was altering his perceptions. It was a beautiful new world that he’d never cared about before.

  His lips twisted. Last week he would have laughed at the image of himself sitting here alone, listening for scurrying sounds amidst the leaves.

  He leaned back and closed his eyes, allowing his other senses to soak up his surroundings, letting the peacefulness wash over him. He smiled, wishing Jodie were here listening with him. She’d identify that bird calling to its mate. He heard other sounds, sounds he’d never been aware of—always too busy to stop and listen to.

  Much later he climbed into his sleeping bag and threw himself down onto the sofa, knowing its softness should make a wonderful bed after the last few nights, despite his feet hanging across its end. But sleep did not come easy. Hearing her movements, the shuffling whisper of those satin sheets envisaged all sorts of images to his mind.

  Opening his eyes and staring at the ceiling did nothing to dispel those images or help bring sleep to his rampant body. He spent the night wishing he was beside her, wrapped in those black sheets.

  The next morning Shal tried to hide a grumpiness caused by lack of sleep and a discomfort his dawn swim could not relieve. The tightness of Lynette’s tee shirt across Jodie’s breasts did little to help.

  “How’s the back?” He watched as Jodie tentatively twisted this way and that, the movement emphasizing her lack of a bra and sending his blood pressure even higher. He shoved his sweating hands into his pockets, lest they follow his inclination to reach out and touch.

  “A lot better, I think.” Smiling across at him, she had no idea how erotic his thoughts were. “Must have been that ointment, I guess.”

  “I’ll rub some more on after breakfast.” He jerked his hands out of his pockets; his shorts could only stand so much strain on the seams. Does my voice sound normal? It must, she showed no signs of concern or embarrassment.

  She very gingerly walked unaided across to the table and eased down onto the seat. “How did you sleep?” Jodie’s innocent question was greeted with a grunt as he found some tinned fruit and small individual packets of cereal.

  “What would you like?” he waved to the packets.

  “Weetbix, thanks. I should be helping, I’m sorry.”

  “Stay where you are. When you’re back’s better, you can wait on me.” He forced the thoughts of what he’d like that attention to involve out of his mind.

  “In your dreams,” she murmured.

  He glanced at her. Has she read my thoughts?

  As he thumped plates down on the table she added sympathetically, “I guess you didn’
t sleep that well. Tonight you take the bed. I’ll fit on the sofa a little easier than you.” Her wide green eyes looked up at him guilelessly. “You’ll get a better sleep.”

  Something inside Shal snapped. “You’ve got to be crazy if you think that setup”—his head jerked toward the bedroom—“would help me sleep.” He savagely ripped open his cereal packet. “Believe me, the size of the sofa was the least of my worries.”

  He drew a ragged breath. “I lay awake all night imagining your naked body on those sheets.” He stared into her eyes and saw colour flooding her face before he dropped his gaze to her breasts and their clearly visible peaks. “Imagining I was there with you, wrapped in your arms, buried in your body.” The silence lengthened until he tore his eyes from her breasts.

  There he’d said it. Told her in no uncertain terms exactly how much he desired her.

  “I’ve got no intention of sleeping with you.”

  Her breathing had quickened. His heart raced for a second before he identified the gleam in her eyes as annoyance, not desire.

  Although he hadn’t expected anything different, his body still slumped with disappointment. His heart plummeted. But then he stiffened his back and stared straight back into her fiery gaze. He wasn’t giving up. Hell, he hadn’t even thought of a plan yet.

  “Did I ask you?” He shrugged. His declaration hadn’t been voiced with the expectation she’d whisk him off to bed. He realised that wasn’t about to happen.

  He wasn’t going to hide his responses to her any more. If she wanted to pretend to ignore the crackling tension between them, well, there was little he could do about it—he smiled—except make it increasingly hard for her.

  He cupped his chin in his hand and leaning toward her across the table, murmured seductively, “Although if you’re really worried about me getting my beauty sleep...”

  Chapter Ten

  Jodie’s back had been much better before she’d lurched from her seat and stumbled from the cabin. She’d felt Shal’s smarmy eyes following her. The injured muscles tightened, shooting pain along her left side. She swore under her breath.

  The pounding in her ears frightened her as she stumbled toward the trees. It was so intense, for a moment she wondered if she was having a heart attack...or a stroke.

  She sucked huge breaths into her lungs. Don’t be silly, she berated herself, it’s only rage at that pompous self-opinionated oaf inside. Repeated deep breaths slowly lessened the pounding, but not the emotional upheaval his comment had caused.

  Up until now she’d been able to ignore or restrain how her body responded to him. It hadn’t always been easy, but she’d managed it. Even watching his strong, golden body yesterday, she’d managed to exercise control over the lust surging through her.

  What am I going to do now? He’d openly expressed his feelings...no...his desire to partake in some casual sex.

  She wasn’t up to that, was she? She’d steered clear of casual physical relationships for years, having found them so unsatisfying once the lust had abated. There was no reason to change her view now. A tryst with Shal Gregory, no matter how pleasant it might be, could lead to more trouble than she was willing to risk.

  Just because he might jump from bed to bed didn’t mean she wanted to join him. She thumped her fist against the punga fence, regretting it immediately when the fragile root gave way under the force of her punch. She hauled it back into line as she wondered how many women...

  Georgia! Remembering the beautiful Canadian spurred Jodie’s anger. She stalked, albeit awkwardly, back into the cabin, strengthened by the other woman’s relationship with Shal. If he thought he could play fast and loose with her, he had another think coming.

  She’d liked Georgia, who’d been open and friendly—interested in comparing the New Zealand landscape to the one she was used to. Jodie shivered as she imagined hurting the other girl. No, shaking her head, there’s no way I’m having anything to do with her boyfriend’s infidelity.

  When can we get out of here?

  Shal reposed on the sofa, cool and calmly unconcerned, his paperback in his hand. Ignoring him, Jodie grabbed the radio and stormed—much slower than she would have wished—back outside.

  Connecting the aerial Shal had laid out yesterday, Jodie called her parents, praying they would be close by their radio. Hopefully hearing their voices, even the stilted conversation over the VHF radio, would calm her raging spirit.

  Jodie listened with rising dismay. At least two more days, they’d predicted, before one of the local helicopters could be spared.

  Thankful the unnatural radio procedure didn’t allow for conveyance of her mood, Jodie heard her voice reassure Doug they were fine whilst her legs gave way and she sank to the ground.

  Two days of absolute seclusion. That meant two more nights. Here. Alone. With him!

  She moaned as she stared sightlessly across the lake. She forced her fingers to release the death grip she had on the radio. Being alone with Shal has been nerve-racking enough. But now, her eyes glanced apprehensively back toward the cabin, now he’d said those things...

  Placing the aerial nearer the cabin, she positioned the radio on the verandah. She needed to stay calm and in control, she decided. Disguise any other feelings, and keep as far away from him as possible. That way she might just survive these next few days.

  “No chance of us being picked up today.” She glanced across at him, hastily lowering her eyes and pretending to do something with the radio when she caught his little smirky smile. “But Rick and the others are getting picked up at Piriri Point tomorrow afternoon. As far as Dad knows, the rest of their tramp was uneventful.”

  “That’s good. I’m relieved they’re safe.” In her peripheral vision she saw him stretching. She quickly turned her back, least her eyes focus on his body. “Dad’s idea of team building might have been shot to pieces if anything else had gone wrong.” His voice sounded casual and relaxed.

  He looked casual and relaxed, as if nothing untoward had happened. Grinding her teeth Jodie filled her water bottle. She snatched up her book and headed back outside, knowing his eyes were following her every movement.

  Despite her intentions, shaking hands caused her annoyance to resurface. The tightening hold around the innocent book and her water bottle reached murderous proportions, while her brain ordered those tremors to halt.

  I’m not responding to anything he does or says. I can’t. Even if he wasn’t just expecting a quick liaison, he’s the exact opposite to what I’m hoping to find in a mate.

  Stretching out under a pair of kamahi trees, Jodie felt the prickle of hard grasses against the bare skin of her arms and legs as she lay down.

  He can do what he likes for the day. I don’t care as long as he stays away from me.

  Jodie soon gave up trying to read. It was impossible to concentrate with her mind whizzing about. She acknowledged her feelings of confusion. She was totally messed up.

  She stared up through the branches at the proliferation of flowers, already pink in their season’s journey from white to red. Jodie searched for guidance.

  Part of her was surprised, thrilled that a man as handsome and—yeah, she had to admit it—damn sexy, could be attracted to her. Especially the way she looked now. He’d be used to girls like Georgia—girls immaculately dressed, their hair perfectly coiffured, faces and bodies to die for.

  What could he see in me? Ordinary figure, ordinary face—although, she touched her eyelids, men have told me I have nice eyes. The bush didn’t lend to fashion, she argued, knowing she looked awful.

  Holding her arms up she saw the mass of small cuts and scratches and knew her legs showed more of the same. Last night’s bath had washed away the dirt and grime, but without proper shampoo and conditioner her hair still felt dank and dirty. Could he really be attracted to me looking like this?

  She grimaced, her wardrobe held some very chic and fashionable clothes, but, she pulled at her old shorts, her lips twisting, he’d never seen her wea
ring anything attractive.

  While she struggled with a sudden, appalling thought it might just be proximity and lack of choice that had whetted Shal’s appetite, Jodie shook her head in denial. For some reason she doubted he was the type to have a different woman every night.

  Despite her aversion to him, and every man like him, there was still a suggestion of decency and integrity about him. The attitude of his staff toward him showed another facet of his character. They didn’t only respect him, they seemed to like him, too.

  And Georgia... Mindful of her back, Jodie carefully sat up, not wanting to think about the beautiful blonde or the way she’d teased Shal, their occasional touching, the understanding looks.

  ****

  The hours dragged. Jodie stayed outside, even carrying a fork and a tin of bully beef back under the kamahi trees for her lunch. Resting, and some gentle self-massage she’d done on her back during the morning, eased the pain until it virtually disappeared.

  After munching through her lunch she tried a couple of gentle stretches, and finding no evidence of the earlier pain, extended them further. She sighed with relief after a short, careful workout. Thank heavens it had been a kink, rather than any real injury. Perhaps we could even walk out of here.

  Even as the thought surfaced, she dismissed it. The helicopter was already arranged, and tramping out would take longer than the two days they were expecting to wait here. It was a silly idea, not worthy of consideration.

  Late in the humid afternoon, Jodie felt a niggling headache begin. Knowing a couple of painkillers would alleviate it before it had a chance to take hold, she returned to the cabin.

  They’d ignored each other all day. Shal was still sprawled across the sofa, apparently reading when she sidled in and began digging into the first aid box.

  He appeared beside her. “Don’t be so damned stubborn. If you’re back is troubling you, I’ll rub some more stuff on it.”

  Annoyed by the irritated snarl in his voice, she stuck her nose in the air, not letting on her back was fine, nor telling him the pills were for a headache. “I’d rather be in pain than have you touch me.”