Dani blew out a frustrated breath that lifted her bangs off her forehead. "Come on, Puchie, it's not like I'm heading into the wilderness for forty years."
"I think you're underestimating the challenge you'll be facing. No hot showers. Mosquitoes. Bad weather."
"I'll survive."
"Really?" Janna said, her disbelief evident. "What about spiders?"
Dani's smile faltered at the mention of her irrational fear. "Stop trying to freak me out! I'm doing this. This grant is a huge deal, so why don't you just support me like a good friend and---" Her words were cut off by the gruff laugh of the ranger.
"What the hell did you bring this thing for?" he asked, holding up a camouflaged flashlight, one of five that she'd packed for her excursion. "Don't you use a flashlight in the dark? What good is camouflage in the dark?"
Dani sighed, rolling her eyes. Her friend, however, was instantly on alert.
"Who's that?"
"The park ranger," Dani answered, walking a few steps farther away and speaking softly.
"He sounds hot. Is he?"
Dani laughed.
"That's not an answer. He's hot, isn't he?" Janna never gave up. Dani wasn't sure if that tenacity was a blessing or a curse.
"Yeah, he is," she replied. "But he's also an asshole."
"Hmm, a few months in the woods with a hunky asshole. Things could be worse."
"Yeah, I could run into one of those bears you keep mentioning."
Chapter 2
Dani hung up the phone and took a few steps toward her car as she considered the man currently wreaking havoc on her organizational system. He was over six feet of all-male, from his well-formed legs to his shapely biceps, visible due to the half-sleeve cut of his work shirt. His wide shoulders led to a broad chest bearing an embroidered patch labeling him, "Caleb Hunt, Forest Ranger."
Shit. Why are the hot ones always assholes?
She couldn't take her eyes off him. His face was beyond handsome, with a strong jaw, a straight nose, and the softest lips she'd ever seen. His head was covered in thick hair cropped short, the color a light brown kissed with golden highlights.
Danielle was confused by the alternating hot and cold emotions that flooded her system. Ranger Caleb was definitely attractive, a fact her body couldn't ignore. But he was also rude and seemed less than happy to see her.
Still, there was no reason to get off on the wrong foot. Sure, the ranger seemed to have a Sequoia-sized stick up his albeit-handsome ass, but he was experienced and she wasn't. It would be better to let him condescend to help her, even if his attitude stunk worse than a biological sample left out overnight in the lab.
Her mind made up, Dani got busy gathering her cameras and research equipment. She placed it all into a large backpack, including her notebooks, laptop, and tablets. Meanwhile, Caleb stacked her things into various piles which he was quickly sorting through, removing unnecessary packaging and pursing his lips at some of the items she's brought along.
"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 avoiding 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’m 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 lo
st 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."
Worth the Risk: (A Contemporary Bad Boy Romance) Page 2