Unexpected Hero (Skyline Trilogy Book 1)

by Willow Summers

  “We also don’t carry out any natural items.” Karen sounded like she was talking to children. “I know it might be tempting to take a pretty stone back home, but if everyone did that, we’d only have the plain ones left, and that wouldn’t be any fun.”

  Another spatter of laughter accentuated Karen’s pause.

  “Ridiculous,” Lewis said, shifting.

  Jenna inhaled deeply. The sweet smell of trees and crisp, fresh air acted as a relaxant, washing through her. In addition to the annoying drone of Karen’s voice, small insects buzzed or chirped within the trees. Leaves rustled in the breeze as boots crunched the dirt. It was strange not to hear the honking cars or constant hum of the city, but there was something—

  “Ma’am.”

  Like a sweater unraveling, the threads of her thoughts frayed in the wake of that patient, gravelly tone.

  She huffed in irritation. Couldn’t the man just let her mind wander for a moment? The rules were printed on the back of the map. As she could read, she was all set.

  “Sorry, she’s not really into this,” Erika said, throwing Jenna one of her elbows.

  Irritated, Jenna looked up to meet that gaze again. Those big black lashes did a poor job of hiding the crazy; she saw that now. Rage bubbled and brewed, kept on a tight leash. He was wild, Jenna could feel it.

  “Ma’am—”

  “Please, I prefer miss,” Jenna said mockingly, wanting to derail him but not knowing why. Or how. Or what would happen if she did.

  Those lashes didn’t so much as flutter at her flippant tone. “Miss, while these woods aren’t wild by any stretch, they do present dangers. I will need you to give it your attention and respect. There are snakes, bears, big cats, spiders, and other creatures that might do you harm. I need to know that you will listen to instructions.”

  Jenna cocked her head to the side. Was he mocking them?

  She felt a scowl creep onto her face. “I can handle it.”

  He nodded, his face still completely devoid of emotion. “Okay, let’s get our gear and move out.”

  “Yay!” Erika clapped and grabbed her giant pack. “These things are monstrous.”

  “Because they’re carrying a week’s worth of provisions,” Mike said in his customary dry tone.

  “I was just commenting on the size, not asking for an explanation. Jesus. Drink some coffee.” Erika struggled to get the pack onto her shoulders.

  “I need to.” Mike moved toward his own pack.

  Erika’s chest heaved with the effort as she clipped the strap around her middle. “Got it!” She looked up with a smile. The movement of her head must’ve upset the delicate balance of her weight, because her mouth and eyes rounded and her arms flew out to the sides, windmilling. She staggered backward.

  Laughter bubbled up through Jenna’s middle. “Sure you got it?”

  “Oh crap!” Erika veered to the side, trying to regain balance. Her pack smacked into Mike, who was struggling with his own weight issues.

  “No, no, no!” Mike staggered, grabbing on to Erika’s pack to steady himself.

  “You—ha ha ha—guys!” Jenna rushed forward to grab them, her laughter sounding manic in the quiet forest.

  “I got it, I got it.” Struggling for breath, Erika let Jenna push her straight, her hands still out to the sides. “Nothing to it.”

  “Yeah, right.” Jenna wiped the tears from her eyes. “A real explorer.”

  Once those two were under control, Jenna wrapped her fingers around the top strap of her pack. Her muscles flexed…but nothing happened. “Wow. These are heavy.”

  “You’re just figuring that out?” Erika took a tentative step.

  “They aren’t that heavy,” Lewis said with his pack in place.

  “It’s half my size, and I don’t lift weights. It’s that heavy.” Erika gave him an annoyed look. “Hurry up,” she said to Jenna. “I want to see you fall over.”

  “Nice.” Jenna swung the pack around her and shoved her hand through the straps. The weight fell heavily across her back, pulling at her. She staggered but fought against it, refusing to let it take her to the ground. Gripping the shoulder straps, she yanked it up, settling it on her back, and flexing from head to toe. The weight pulled her right, making her take a step to keep balance. Then left. Any little movement sent the thing askew.

  Legs stabilized, she finally straightened up and blew out a breath. “Got it.”

  “Well, fine. But that’s only because you live up a beanstalk.” Erika crossed her arms.

  Jenna laughed as she noticed the guide staring at her. His face was still impassive, but his eyes glimmered, mocking them again.

  She squared her shoulders and frosted her look, feeling any trace of humor drain away. She would not accept someone poking fun at her crew. That was not why they were there, and he needed to realize it.

  Instead of showing embarrassment for his stare, he held her gaze for a solid beat. Power and fire raged through his golden-hazel eyes, then merged with his size and strength, sending tingles down her spine.

  A sly grin curled her lips. Underestimating her and her team would be a big mistake. One she’d shove in his face when she proved how wrong he was.

  He finally glanced away at Erika, who was slowly walking in circles, and then at Lewis, who was staring back with tight lips and slightly hunched shoulders. His stare lingered on Lewis a little longer, until he unexpectedly moved toward Erika. “Let’s get you fixed up.”

  “Looks like he’s not one to get stared into submission by a pretty girl.” Mike said, standing much too close. “Hell, he doesn’t seem intimidated by much, pretty or ugly.”

  “Challenge accepted.” Mike’s shoulder was lightly touching hers with nothing but space in every other direction. “Why are you standing so close?”

  “Because if I move, I might stagger. If I stagger, I’ll probably fall over. Falling over in front of that guy would be embarrassing. So I’ll just wait here, if you don’t mind.”

  “You need to work out, bro.” Lewis clapped his hand on Mike’s shoulder. Mike staggered a few steps away. “Old women can shoulder these packs.”

  “The old women know where they’re going and probably didn’t pack enough clothes for a month in Europe through all seasons.” Mike took a few tentative steps on his own, got his balance, and sighed.

  “I told you to leave the dress shoes behind,” Erika said as Chuck lifted her pack, his biceps bulging, before settling it on her shoulders. “Oh, that’s better.”

  “Those are Italian leather. From Italy!” Mike shook his head dramatically. “There was no way I was leaving those behind. And what about you? You didn’t leave your heels…”

  “Those are Burberry.” Erika gave him a flat stare, that argument sufficient.

  “See?” Mike crossed his arms and looked away. “And I might use the jacket. Who knows.”

  “We have definitely over-packed,” Jenna mumbled.

  Chuck surveyed the group. “We all ready?”

  There was a collective nod. Chuck matched it, and he started to lead the way. The other groups, apart from Orange, which had a problem with a woman that could not get her pack under control, were heading out too.

  “Jenna, I didn’t tell you—” Erika stubbed her toe and grunted loudly. She slammed into Dale, who then fell forward into the guide.

  The guide bumped forward and then stopped, the domino effect having no real affect on his movement. He turned calmly and braced Dale with one large, calloused hand.

  Erika slid off Dale’s pack and then reached out to keep herself from falling. Her front plastered Dale’s side, making him close his eyes in bliss. An erection rose within his loose trousers.

  “Erika, no!” Jenna yelled, reaching.

  Chuck’s eyes flashed in his otherwise blank face. Jenna’s stomach fluttered in apprehension. She wasn’t sure who Erika was more in danger from: Dale or the guide.

  Chuck’s hand came away, letting Dale pitch forward. Hands lank at his side, al
l his focus on Erika’s body, Dale didn’t even flinch as his face sped toward the ground. His head bumped off hard dirt and blood spouted from his nose.

  “Erika!” Jenna screeched again, clawing at her friend’s pack.

  Chapter Five

  Chuck grabbed Erika by the shoulders easily, and then changed his hold to both her and her pack, hefting the dead weight with little effort. Strong bastard.

  His eyes lost their edge. “Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

  “Gross.” Erika planted her feet firmly before dusting off her front. “Of all the people I had to fall into.” She gave a pronounced shiver, and then looked up at Chuck with a relieved smile. “Thanks.”

  The guide bent and unceremoniously hoisted Dale to his feet. “Sorry about that, partner. Had to look after the lady.” Chuck brushed the other man off in heavy pats.

  “Did you have to drop me?” Dale sputtered.

  “You aren’t a lady.” Chuck stepped back and resumed his flat stare.

  “Look what you did to my nose!” Dale gingerly touched the tip.

  “It’s already stopped bleeding. Here’s a baby wipe.” Chuck held out a white square. “Wipe off the blood and you’ll be good as new.”

  “You’ll be fired for this,” Dale said, snatching at the wipe.

  Erika glanced at Jenna, her eyes wide. They both knew Dale could do it. He was a slimy bastard, but he was on their team for a reason. The man had intelligence in spades. If he wanted Chuck fired, he’d make it happen.

  That was, if he didn’t have someone equally smart to pit herself against him. They’d played this game in the past many times and for many different reasons. One day, when they didn’t need him anymore, Jenna would get that little creep fired.

  She stepped forward nonchalantly, no easy feat with her pack hindering her movements. “Dale, don’t be ridiculous. Chuck was preventing you from groping a fellow employee. If it wasn’t for him, you’d have not only sexually harassed Erika, but assaulted her in the process. Actually…this is a grievous offense. How will you talk yourself out of getting fired this time, I wonder?” Jenna tapped her chin, shooting Ada a glance.

  “That’s what I saw.” Ada nodded adamantly, holding on to Mike so as to step forward, her balance as shaky as everyone else’s. They were a mess. “That is exactly what I saw. You sexually harassed Erika. Chuckles helped her.”

  “Chuckles?” Mike asked with a smirk.

  “Chuck. Whatever.” Ada waved it away.

  “Ranger Chuck, now is probably a good time to mention that our disgusting little toad of a coworker here isn’t allowed within three feet of any woman.” Jenna tsk’d at Dale. “Quite the pickle you’ve gotten yourself into.”

  A malicious light gleamed in Dale’s brown eyes. A smile curled his lips.

  “We ready?” Chuck asked with a rough voice, surveying the crew.

  “Yes, sir, Chuckles.” Dale’s leer froze Jenna’s blood. His gaze drifted down her body. “With all the open space and places to hide, we’re just fine. And oh look, only one point of authority.” His pants tented again. “This is the most interesting game of ours yet, Miss Jenna. I look forward to it.”

  A flash of something raw and ruthless crossed Chuck’s gaze. “I’m the only authority you need.” His voice turned vicious, filled with strength and power. “No one will be in danger on my watch.”

  “Jee-suzz.” Mike scooted away from both Dale and the guide.

  “Dale’s just being dramatic,” Jenna said with an assurance she didn’t feel. She raised her chin just a fraction. She would not feel threatened by that maggot. She refused. “Don’t mind him.”

  Dale’s eyebrows ticked upward and his smile grew. He was silently begging to differ. Erika rolled her eyes.

  “I mind everyone. That’s my job.” Chuck motioned for Erika to get moving. She lurched to a start. Jenna followed as Mike got a jerk of the thumb to fall in behind Jenna. He didn’t complain either.

  “I need to bring Chuck to the next team argument. He gets things done,” Jenna said.

  “He’s terrifying.” Erika looked over her shoulder. “Dale’s all talk, though.” Erika swatted at the air. “Pfft. He’s just—pfft. Get outta my face, fly! He’s just trying to get your goat. If you gave any sign that it affected you, he’d probably stop.”

  “Fat chance.”

  “Right, so then he keeps at it. He loves the battle of wills.”

  “You need to stay close to me, girls,” Lewis said quietly as he hurried to catch up with Jenna.

  Mike made a disgusted sound and tramped out to the side in Lewis’s wake. “An excuse me would be nice…”

  “I don’t trust that Dale,” Lewis said, ignoring Mike.

  “You are just now realizing that?” Erika asked with disdain.

  “No, I’m just now realizing that we are out here all alone without society’s rules and regulations, and there is a sex offender on our hands.”

  “We’ll deal with it. Buddy system.” The trail narrowed, forcing Jenna to half walk through the long weeds on the side of the trail. Jenna put her hand on Lewis’s forearm. “Can you walk in front or behind?”

  “Oh.” He looked at the dirt path under his feet before noticing where Jenna was walking. He slowed so she could move in front of him. “Sorry.”

  “Just call you Prince Charming, huh?” Mike’s voice drifted up.

  “I think I’ve got this.” Erika’s arms drifted down to her sides.

  Jenna let her mind drift, feeling the weight and pull of the pack, and adjusting accordingly. It was heavy, but it wasn’t unbearable. Like setting out to sea, she just had to learn to move with the weight as it influenced her balance and she’d be all set. Sea legs, woodsman style.

  The guide’s voice increased in volume, giving them information about the area, but Jenna’s mind had already slipped into work mode. As Chuck identified a bird fluttering high overhead, the angle of one of the northern walls took up her focus. The group stopped, everyone looking up, while Jenna chewed her lip, going over the math one more time. She needed a way to give it more structural integrity without using ugly braces. While a brace wouldn’t be the end of the world, it would compromise the design in that area.

  “Let’s all take a look at this,” Chuck said from somewhere behind her.

  Jenna blinked as the group moved off to the side, leaving her alone on the trail. Still pondering her building dilemma, she shuffled into the tight semicircle and leaned over a broken tree, matching everyone else’s movements. A finger attached to a large and powerful hand broke through her mathematical haze. Her gaze roamed up Chuck’s arm, and she noticed a ragged scar slashing through his defined forearm. His bicep was huge, straining his light shirt. The guy had to be wicked strong, and, with a few other jagged white lines marring his skin, used to rough and tumble. She had no idea the woods business was so violent.

  Maybe he really was the only authority they needed…

  “What do you think?”

  Her eyes left the mountainous shoulder and zeroed in on his kaleidoscope eyes. It was like looking at the Northern Lights at midnight.

  “Huh?” she said stupidly.

  She followed his gaze and saw a giant spider barely six inches from her face. It skittered in its web.

  Fear shot through her, followed by a jolt of adrenaline. She jerked back and screamed. Her bag, once moving, wanted to keep moving. It dragged her down, arms flailing. She hit the ground with a grunt and then ripped herself out of the confines and danced up, checking the ground for other spiders, or worse. She stamped her feet and beat at her arms, feeling a million little spider legs covering her skin.

  “Jenna! It’s okay. It’s just a spider.” Lewis rushed at her with his arms out, for all the world lurching around like Frankenstein’s monster. “It can’t hurt you. It’s not poisonous.” He stopped and looked back at Chuck. “Or is it?”

  She batted his hands away as Erika bent over, guffawing. She flung a finger in Jenna’s direction, shaking wit
h laughter.

  An image of that gigantic spider crept through Jenna’s mind. She shivered and then wiped off her arms again, checking her body just to make sure something hadn’t crawled on her when she’d hit the ground.

  “I’m fine.” Jenna shook Lewis off and slapped at her skin again. “I’m good. Right? There’s nothing on me?”

  Lewis pulled his hands to his body and studied her closely.

  “No, you idiot.” Erika wiped her eyes. “It isn’t a flying spider. Jesus. City girl.”

  “Oh really? When did you go off grid and get all countrified?” Jenna slapped at her neck and then checked her hand. Not seeing any bug guts, she wiped her hair away from tickling her neck.

  “I grew up in the sticks.” Erika braced her hands on her hips.

  “The suburbs and the sticks are not the same thing.”

  Chuck pulled Jenna’s bag off the ground with one arm. He held it out to her, not straining with the weight. That mocking glimmer was back in his eyes. “It would behoove you to pay more attention to your surroundings.”

  A flash of rage stole her breath. She slapped his hand away. The bag tumbled to the ground. “You think this is hilarious, do you? You think we are just stupid city folk, helpless without the big, tough woods guide? Well, listen up, Ranger Chuck. I’m just fine minding my own business. I won’t go crying to you when I stub my toe, how’s that? But I don’t need you shoving my head at a huge spider—”

  “It wasn’t that big,” Mike said.

  “—when I’m thinking about work. I am here to figure out how to get a building thirty years ahead of its time on the New York City skyline. I need to keep it from crumbling and killing everyone inside. That is a real problem. That’s what I’m paying attention to. Not some poisonous spider—”

  “I don’t think it was poisonous,” Lewis repeated quietly.

  “—ten feet off the path! We’d both rather I was on a beach in Mexico somewhere, but I’m here. So I’ll follow you, I’ll eat shitty food and sleep in bug-infested woods, but don’t think for one second that I am helpless. Got it? Keep your damn judgments to yourself.”