by Lucy Clark
Same planet, different worlds.
The next morning, he was woken by the sounds of tinkling laughter and as he pulled on some clothes, stepping over Rick and Gloria who were still sleeping, Dart headed outside to greet the new day.
Thoughts of a blue eyed beauty with long flowing auburn hair had flooded his dreams, causing him to wake frequently, thoughts of what it might be like to press his lips to hers, wondering if she’d taste as good as she looked. He wasn’t usually a man who was attracted to the outside package but he had to admit that Emerson-Rose was easily one of the most stunningly beautiful women he’d ever seen. Therefore, he’d rationalised, it was only natural that he might be attracted to such a woman—as was every other man.
Somewhere around two o’clock, he’d given up on sleeping and insisted on relieving Tarvon for a few hours. Monitoring a patient was far better than tossing and turning and being unable to control his thoughts. By the time Tarvon returned, just before six o’clock, Weyakku was stable and improving nicely. Dart had returned to the hut, intending to rest his eyes for half an hour, but had obviously fallen asleep as the time was now just after eight.
The sound of the laughter came again and he knew instinctively that it was hers—Emerson’s. He headed to the food hut and found her seated next to Belhara, smiling brightly, her eyes sparkling with laughter and delight at whatever it was the anaesthetist had just said.
Jalak, Hunklu and Sue were also in the food hut, everyone wearing smiles. Emerson’s TV crew was sitting and eating and where Dart was usually up before the sun, he found that he felt a little odd and a bit left out, walking into the hut so late.
‘Hello sleepyhead,’ Sue said in the form of a greeting. ‘I hear Weyakuu is improving?’
‘Have you checked with Tarvon this morning?’ he asked Sue.
Sue stood from her seat, next to Emerson-Rose, and carried her plate to the wash basin. ‘I looked in earlier. I’m just on my way to relieve him. Take a seat.’ Sue indicated the spot she’d just vacated. ‘Eat.’
Dart smiled politely and realised there were no other vacant seats in the hut except for the one next to Emerson. It would be churlish to refuse to sit so close to the woman who had filled his night with such vivid thoughts.
Careful to avoid unnecessary contact, Dart manoeuvred himself onto the long bench seat between Emerson and Mike. Belhara offered him a plate of fruit, which he gratefully accepted. Dart ignored the way her sweet scent wound around him and he most definitely ignored the way the brief touch of her smooth legs against his hairy ones ignited the dying embers of the dreams he was trying to forget.
He just needed to act as if this was any other day, focus his thoughts on eating and at the first opportunity excuse himself. Thankfully, though, the conversation resumed and as he ate, Dart learned the reason why he’d woken to Emerson’s laughter. Belhara had been regaling her with stories from his boyhood when he’d often swing on vines into the waterhole that wasn’t too far from here.
‘I’d love to see it. We should definitely get some footage of such a place,’ Emmy said, desperately trying not to notice the warmth radiating from Dart as he sat close beside her. She could have cheerfully kicked Sue when the woman had offered Dart her seat. Emmy hadn’t slept very well last night yet it had had nothing to do with being in a different country, or the fact that this was her first overseas piece for the network.
Her lack of sleep could be put down to one particular person—Dartagnan Freeman.
Obviously her subconscious had been listening to her body, the two of them in cahoots regarding the attraction she felt for the tall, brooding surgeon. Her body had responded instantly to his closeness. His thigh almost pressing against hers and the fact that they both wore shorts, due to the early morning heat, meant that if she shifted even marginally, her naked leg would brush against his again, causing complete havoc within her body.
‘The waterhole, it is not far.’ Jalak was informing her, yet Emmy was having difficulty concentrating on his words, her mind electrified with the mild spicy scent she equated with Dart. ‘A journey there would be of great benefit on such an early morning of sunshine.’
‘Where are we journeying to now?’ Tarvon said as he came into the hut.
‘Waterhole,’ Belhara said.
‘Excellent. Let me eat then we’ll definitely head there.’ He put a hand on Dart’s shoulder and squeezed himself in between Dart and Mike, all but squashing Dart into Emerson.
‘Sorry,’ Dart muttered close to her ear, his tone deep and husky as his arm brushed accidentally across her breast. The touch burned into his skin, her breathing hot on his cheek as she tried not to look too embarrassed by the nearness they’d been forced into. Dart braced his arm on the table, holding himself as upright as he could, the muscles flexing as he closed his eyes and waited for Tarvon to stop moving. Good heavens she smelled good. Good enough to eat.
‘Pardon?’ Emmy breathed, her mouth now close to his ear.
Dart eased back, Tarvon now settled. ‘Nothing.’ Had he thought out loud? Mortification ripped through him and he made sure he didn’t meet her gaze, focusing on eating so he could get away from her close proximity.
When Mike and Neal stood, making more room on the bench, Dart thought he heard Emerson breathe a sigh of relief and within a split second of there being more room, he’d all but shoved Tarvon down to the other end of the bench, thankful for some much-needed space.
‘I’d better go and change,’ he heard her mumble, and a moment later she’d scrambled to her feet and had disappeared from the food hut. He closed his eyes and concentrated on returning his breathing, his thoughts and his over-sensitised body to normal.
‘You all right, Dart?’ Tarvon asked.
Dart opened his eyes and looked at his friend, shrugging slightly. ‘Your guess is as good as mine.’
Chapter Five
WITHIN half an hour, a group of them were all ready to traipse to the waterhole, Dart making sure he kept quite a bit of distance between himself and Emerson-Rose.
Tarvon and Belhara, who both seemed to be besotted by the socialite, led the way, a tired Rick and Gloria talked to the TV crew, pointing out different sights that they felt should be included in the Tarparnii footage.
‘This country is so incredibly beautiful,’ he could hear Gloria saying, and Emerson turned around to agree. ‘I mean, just look at this.’ Gloria stopped walking and pointed out a tree that had three trunks. ‘It was split open by lightning, and look here.’ The nurse all but dragged Emerson over. ‘New life grew right out of the middle of the old tree that was split in half. Three trunks.’
Dart walked past the little group, continuing on his way.
‘Don’t you want to stop and look at the tree?’ Emerson asked, and he looked over his shoulder, not realising she’d caught up with him.
‘I’ve seen it plenty of times. Quite remarkable.’ Polite and distant. That was his plan and he would succeed just so long as he ignored her intoxicating scent, her gorgeous body—now clad in a one-piece swimsuit with a sarong tied around her waist—and her efforts at small talk.
‘Yes, it is.’ They trudged on for another minute or two, swatting away insects that were also enjoying the heat. Emmy racked her mind for something to talk about and knew that the weather was always the safest topic given that it affected everyone in one way or another.
‘Do you think it will rain today?’
‘Yes.’
Emmy tried not to huff, keeping her impatience with him in check. ‘I understand that Weyakuu is progressing nicely.’
‘Correct.’
She paused. ‘When do you think Hunklu will be well enough to return home?’
‘Soon.’
Emmy threw her arms out wide. ‘What is it with you?’ she demanded, frustration getting the better of her.
‘Sorry?’ He raised a quizzical eyebrow but kept walking. They were almost there. Almost at the waterhole.
‘I’m trying to make conversation, tryi
ng to engage in a bit of a discussion as we walk along, and yet I’m left with the distinct impression that you don’t like me.’
‘Really?’
‘There you go again. Mr one-word-answer man. First you’re distant, then you’re polite, then, when you do talk to me, you usually insult me, then you apologise and walk away.’ She frowned, wondering if she shouldn’t just shut up and ignore him as much as he was her, but she also knew it simply wasn’t in her nature. She was a people person and yet the one person she was really interested in talking to, not only because, as Meeree had pointed out last night, there seemed to be some strange sort of connection between herself and Dart but also because she’d caught glimpses of the man beneath the surface he presented to her. It was that man she wanted to get to know.
‘You are baffling, Dartagnan Freeman.’
‘Baffling?’ The more she talked, the more he was finding it difficult not to engage with her. They were almost there. Tarvon and Belhara had already disappeared in front of them, meaning they’d turned the final corner. Emerson’s nearness, her obvious frustration and confusion were highly enticing as her brow puckered into a small frown, her blue eyes registering her emotions, her plump pink lips parted as she sighed again with frustration.
He wasn’t used to people simply speaking their minds, especially when it had to do with emotions, and for a second he wasn’t sure whether to drop an arm about her shoulders and pull her close in order to reassure her that he did indeed want to talk to her or whether to increase his stride and walk off, leaving her to draw from his actions what she would.
‘Yes, baffling. You keep your distance from me wherever possible but on another level I sense that all you really want to do is sit quietly somewhere and talk to me.’
‘Hmm.’ Dart was surprised at her astuteness. It seemed to be that the attraction he felt for her wasn’t one-sided and that should be enough of a reason for him to keep his distance. They rounded the corner and all they needed to do was to climb over the rocks that surrounded the waterhole and they’d be there.
‘After you.’ He held out his hand to indicate she should go first.
‘Ha. You do realise that was two words,’ Emmy teased as she started to scramble over the rocks. The stones were smooth in places where people often walked and it wasn’t at all difficult to traverse. She was wearing flip-flops on her feet and carrying a rolled-up towel beneath her arm. ‘I mean, I wouldn’t want you to knock yourself out by actually having a conversation with me,’ she continued, still in a bit of a mood. ‘After all, I’m part of the annoying television crew here to disrupt the last week of your rotation.’
She continued talking as they clambered over the rocks, Dart going behind her, trying not to notice the flash of her gorgeous legs peeking out between the folds of the colourful sarong as she moved.
‘And then,’ she said, ‘just when I think I have you all figured out, you hold a baby in your arms or make incredible shadow pup—Arrgh.’ Emmy’s foot slipped on one of the rocks and she overbalanced, falling backwards into Dart’s firm chest, his arms coming securely around her body.
Both of them stilled and time froze around them as they seemed to lean more heavily against each other. The sweet softness of her supple body was so close to his, her enticing scent filling his senses, making him exhale slowly and deeply as he tried desperately to ignore the way her silky hair brushed against his T-shirt-covered chest. Good heavens, the woman felt exquisite so close to him.
His breath rushed past her ear, causing goose-bumps to spread down her bare arms, coolness combining with the warmth flooding through her at his firm touch. Emmy knew she had to shift, knew she had to right herself, but couldn’t help savouring the way it felt to have Dart’s arms about her, the warmth of his chest pressing into her neck and shoulders.
Carefully, and without a word, his hands slipped to her waist as he shifted her to stand upright. ‘Are you OK?’ His rich, deep tone washed over her and Emmy parted her lips, desperate to get her erratic breathing under control before this man could see just how much his touch was affecting her. ‘Emerson?’
‘Fine.’
‘Are you sure? You didn’t twist your ankle?’ Medical. If he focused on the medical side, ensuring she was indeed all right, perhaps he’d be able to push aside just how incredible it had felt to have her in his arms. His hands were still at her waist, waiting for her to put full weight onto her left foot. ‘Emerson?’
Clearing her throat and forcing herself to pay attention to the signals her brain was busy sending out, Emmy pushed aside the fog that had clouded her brain at his touch. ‘Good.’ She shifted completely out of his arms and turned to glance up at him. ‘See? Fine.’
He raised a teasing eyebrow. ‘Now who’s monosyllabic?’
Emmy gave him a tight smile but returned her full attention to getting over the rest of the rocks, and within a moment she could see Belhara and Tarvon about ready to dive into the water, their towels left higher up on one of the rocks. Trees accompanied the rocks around a natural spring-fed body of water, spread out for them to enjoy.
‘What took you so long?’ Tarvon asked as Belhara dived in.
‘Sorry,’ Emmy responded, and shifted further away from Dart. She needed distance from him because at the moment she was still coming to terms with how incredible it had felt to be held so close, so near to the man who had plagued her dreams all night long. There was a definite attraction between the two of them and with the way he’d breathed her scent in, his hands having caressed her waist before he’d eventually let her go, Emmy knew distance was a good idea.
‘Come on in. The water is great,’ Belhara called.
‘OK.’ Emmy ditched her towel, took off her flip-flops and the sarong and pulled her hair free of the band, the soft, silky tresses finally let loose.
Dart sucked in a breath as he watched her graceful movements and moments later as she dived beneath the cool, refreshing water, surfacing near Tarvon and Belhara, the three of them laughing, he experienced the strangest sensation of anger. He clenched his jaw and curled his hands into fists as he watched her enjoying herself with his friends. He hadn’t felt this way in an incredibly long time and it took him a while to realise that perhaps it wasn’t anger he was experiencing but rather something much, much worse.
Jealousy.
Unfortunately for Dart’s peace of mind, there was no clinic that morning. He was in the mood to lose himself in medicine, to concentrate on procedure, to do what needed to be done. However, all that needed to be done at the moment was to have some downtime after the last few hectic days.
He should relax and read a book but every time he tried to turn his mind to the story before him he would hear Emerson laugh, or she’d make a comment, or he’d hear her giving directions to her crew. Hadn’t they shot enough footage by now? Surely they didn’t need to stay until the end of the week and could leave sooner.
He spent time monitoring Weyakuu, giving the others the opportunity to pander to their inner peacock and spend time in front of the camera or being interviewed by Emerson. When a call came through on the UHF radio requesting medical assistance be sent to the village where Hunklu lived, Dart was thankful to be doing something at last. He’d already checked Hunklu’s sutures and rebandaged the man’s hand so he was cleared to head back to his village.
Dart was in the process of gathering supplies together when Tarvon and Emerson came into the storage hut. ‘Call come in?’ Tarvon asked.
‘Yes. Nothing urgent. Medical assistance is required at Hunklu’s village. It’s not too far away so I thought I’d take Rick and Gloria and head off. Might be an overnighter but I’ll be back tomorrow morning, ready to transfer J’tagnan and his mother.’ He tried not to look at Tarvon and Emerson, keeping his focus on his work, getting supplies packed. He had no idea why he should feel animosity towards Tarvon simply because he was standing beside Emerson, had been talking to Emerson, had been making Emerson laugh. She meant nothing to him.
; ‘You can’t go, Dart.’
‘What?’ Dart straightened and looked at his friend.
‘This is my testing week,’ Tarvon interjected. ‘I’m supposed to be point man on any emergencies, organising the teams and supplies.’ He grinned and shook his head. ‘You’re just so used to being in charge.’ He turned to look at Emmy. ‘Our Dart is a natural-born leader.’
‘So I’ve been told.’ Emmy was carefully watching the interchange between the two men. They were almost like two brothers, the younger begging for the chance to prove himself.
‘Of course you’re right, Tarvon.’ Dart straightened, shoved his hands into the pockets of his shorts and stepped back from the equipment. ‘The call is that two pregnant women are experiencing strong contractions.’
‘Double birth.’ Tarvon nodded and Emmy could see the young doctor’s mind whirring quickly into action. ‘I’ll take Belhara and Bel with me. Rick and Gloria have been angling for some “quality” time together so chances are they’ll kick you out of the hut tonight.’ Tarvon grinned at his friend.
Emmy looked quickly at Dart. ‘Does that mean you’ll need to stay in the hut I was in last night?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh.’ She bit her lip and a slight tinge coloured her cheeks, Dart wasn’t sure why. ‘Can I go with you, Tarvon? Bring my crew to film the—’
‘Sorry, no can do,’ Tarvon interjected. ‘The Tarparniians are very private with their birthing practices. Family only. They won’t be appreciative of outsiders.’
She turned to face Dart. ‘Well…looks as though you are going to be stuck with me.’
Dart forced a smile, being polite. It seemed to be the name of the game between the two of them, especially since the waterhole incident where her body had been pressed firmly against his. ‘Great.’ The word was said between clenched teeth, his lips pulled tight. For the first time he was grateful for the presence of her crew. At least they would be in the same hut all night long.