Reunited with Her Daredevil Doc

by Susan Carlisle

  They ate with little discussion then cleared the table.

  With that done, Dana pulled out her first-aid kit. “How’s your arm?”

  “Sweating didn’t do it any favors.” It had stung all day.

  Her eyes softened. “I don’t imagine it does.”

  “I gave it a good wash. With a new bandage I think I’ll be good to go. And a couple of pain relievers.”

  “Let me have a look before I cover it.”

  He held his arm up in the air with the bent elbow resting on the table. She took his hand, brought it down to her eye level. He tried not to let her touch affect him but just a simple nonsexual one had him wishing for more. Did Dana have any idea what she did to him?

  Her eyes flickered up to meet his. Heat flashed in them before she let go of his hand. She straightened. In a firm voice she said, “Hold it up again.”

  He did as he was told, never taking his eyes off her.

  She looked at him, but defiance and determination rested in her eyes now.

  Disappointment filled him. He’d believed they had gotten past that since they’d returned to the cabin. Found some of their way back to what they had once had. But of course their time together now wasn’t any different than what they’d shared before. It was only temporary.

  With a gentle touch Dana smoothed the salve over the burned area. “This’ll have to hold for as long as possible. I don’t have much left.”

  “I have some in my pack but I’ll keep my shirt sleeve down all the time. That should help protect it.” He watched as she reapplied a bandage. “Tell me, are you still living on your grandfather’s ranch?”

  “I am. I don’t plan to ever move.” She carefully wrapped his arm.

  He looked at the top of her head. Her hair had dried. He wanted to touch it, but wouldn’t. “I remember you saying how much you loved it.

  “Is there anyone special in your life?” Maybe it wasn’t his business but he wanted to know and didn’t have another way to find out without asking.

  Her gaze flicked up to his then down again. “No. Let’s just say that I have a tendency to intimidate men.”

  He sat back and grinned. “Now there’s a surprise.”

  Dana’s gaze, darkened now, met his. She wasn’t sharing his humor. “I’m sorry. That’s obviously a sore spot. Will you tell me what happened?”

  “My last boyfriend started to make suggestions I should find another job. That I was gone too much. He wanted me to go to work in the office. He had a problem with jealousy. Didn’t like me being out overnight with other men even though it was part of my work.” She huffed. “As if we weren’t worn out at the end of the day and just hoping we had a chance for eight hours of sleep.”

  “So why were you with this jerk anyway?” For some reason he was far more indignant on her behalf than he should have been.

  Her fingers stopped moving and she looked at a spot on the other side of the room. She shrugged. “I met him just after my grandfather died. He worked in the probate office at the courthouse. I had taken some papers in. He was nice. Asked me to dinner.” Her mouth twisted into a grimace. “You don’t want to hear this.”

  “I do, if you want to tell me.”

  “It was a long time ago.” She went back to work with the bandage.

  Like it had been between them. It shouldn’t, but it sort of hurt that Dana hadn’t pined for him all this time.

  “At first he was fascinated by my job. He told all his friends he was dating a smokejumper. If we were out with a group he wanted me to tell stories. But slowly he started to make barbed remarks. When I didn’t agree with something he accused me of being controlling.”

  Now he understood why she hadn’t liked him accusing her of being bossy.

  “By that time I was moving up the ranks and he hadn’t gotten a promotion he thought he deserved.”

  “How long did you date this guy?”

  “Almost a year.” She spoke softly as if ashamed.

  Travis couldn’t keep the snarl from his lips.

  “I know. I think I was just looking for someone, anyone. I was lonely. To make matters worse, I hung on until he dumped me, in public.”

  Another person had pushed her away. Travis placed his hand over hers and squeezed. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.”

  “Maybe not, but that’s the way it was.”

  He let her hand go before he held it longer than he should. “You haven’t dated anyone since?”

  She shook her head. “Nope, I’ve focused on my job. Much easier to deal with. I don’t think I’m cut out for marriage and a family anyway. I’ve never really had a good example to follow.”

  “I don’t know if I agree with that. We made a good team that summer.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “And look how that ended.”

  “It wasn’t one of our finest moments. Let’s leave it there and move on.” As she placed the final tape on his arm, he lifted her chin with a finger. “It’s your turn.” He turned her head so he could better see her cheek. She’d already removed her bandage.

  “Looks good. There may be a small scar.” He picked up a plastic bandage from the table and opened it.

  “It won’t be the first I’ve had.”

  Her skin was too smooth and beautifully bronzed to be marred. He brushed the back of his hand over it. “It’s too fine to be spoiled.”

  Her gaze met his and held. The air turned thick between them that had nothing to do with a fire coming their direction and everything to do with the electricity between them.

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’ve been there and done that. I was supposed to have this perfect life and marriage. It didn’t happen. We can’t control what others do and think.”

  Dana looked at him. This time her eyes filled with curiosity. “That’s a statement that begs for questions. What happened?” Just as quickly she said, “Hey, sorry, that’s not my business.”

  Travis shrugged. “Water under the bridge. Let’s just say while I was busy getting through medical school my wife was out partying at the clubs and going home with my classmates.”

  “I hate that that happened to you.”

  “Yeah. The worst is I took being loyal seriously and she treated it as the least important part in our marriage. Trust, partnership, working together and growing together were important to me.”

  “Are they still?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve not let anyone close enough to find out. I don’t do long-term relationships anymore.”

  “Why did your wife run around on you?” she asked, disbelief filling her voice.

  Somehow that boosted his damaged ego. “She said that it was because I wasn’t available. I always had to study. Or go to class. Or to the lab. I guess she was lonely.”

  She looked down to where she toyed with a fingernail. “I can understand that feeling. Sometimes we do stupid stuff just not to be by ourselves.”

  Did he carry more blame than he thought for the breakup of his marriage? That wasn’t a comfortable realization. He liked it better when he’d placed all the blame on Brittney.

  Dana’s gaze locked with his, stayed there. She blinked. “We uh...need to finish here and get some sleep.”

  As sensitive as the discussion had been for both of them, at least they had broken through that glass wall between them. Those easygoing days of summer were no more. They both lugged baggage and hurt behind them that they couldn’t seem to leave on the side of the road.

  * * *

  Dana packed away her first-aid supplies. She felt Travis’s look on her but she wouldn’t meet his eyes. She couldn’t believe she’d just told him all that about her ex-boyfriend. She must’ve been tired. He’d been back in her life for less than two days and she was spilling all her secrets. Even her trail crew, who she considered her brothers, didn’t know what had ha
ppened. Since Travis had shown up again it was as if she was living in a parallel universe.

  And to think his wife had run around on him. Dana hoped Travis didn’t think she had been taking his ex-wife’s side by what she said. She believed in commitment, as well. From what she’d read between the lines, they hadn’t been ready for marriage. Travis had been focused on school and his wife had been focused on herself. Dana couldn’t criticize because she’d stayed with a man who ended up humiliating her. Adding to the pile of people who’d rejected her.

  Travis might’ve hurt her feelings at one time but even then she’d admired his devotion to honesty. She stood. As she moved past him to store her kit, Travis lightly captured her wrist with a hand. She looked at him. “Yes?”

  He said softly, “I’ve missed you. Our talks. You always had a way of making me see things differently.”

  “You’re welcome?” She dared a look at him unsure where this would go.

  “I did wonder about you. More than once.”

  She couldn’t stop warmth from filling her. More than once he’d entered her head. Mostly as the person she judged all other men by. “Travis, I’m not that naive girl anymore. The one who had a crush on the older guy.”

  His gaze found hers. “I’m aware of that. I like you, Dana.”

  She sighed. “You shouldn’t be looking at me that way.”

  “How am I looking at you?”

  This conversation had turned a direction she hadn’t expected. She took a step back. “Like I was your favorite candy.”

  Travis didn’t move closer but her body heated as if he had. His look captured hers again. “Candy, uh? Is there something wrong with that?”

  She glanced down at herself. “Yeah. I won’t be your play toy. You said yourself that you don’t do relationships anymore. I don’t know how to do a fling.”

  “How do you know?”

  With nervous motions she replaced her kit where it belonged. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I think we need to keep what’s between us business. That means no more personal comments or discussions.”

  “You sure that’s want you want?” His look bored into her.

  She straightened. In her firmest tone said, “I am.”

  “I’ll agree under one condition.”

  “What’s that?” She desperately needed him to agree.

  “That I get to satisfy my curiosity.”

  She knew better than ask but she couldn’t help herself. “About what?”

  “I want to know what it would have been like to kiss you.”

  Her throat went dry. She shoved her hands in her pockets. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  He took a half step toward her but remained out of touching distance. “Maybe not but haven’t you wondered? Wouldn’t you like to find out?”

  Yes! No. She watched him.

  “Meet me halfway, Dana,” he said so softly that the roar in her ears almost kept her from hearing him.

  Could she? If she didn’t she’d never know. She’d wanted to kiss him then. Wanted to now. What would it hurt for them to share one kiss? She could get it out of her system. Stop wondering what it would have been like.

  As she took a step forward, Travis did, as well. When they were inches apart Travis used two fingers to tip her chin up. She hardly dared to breathe. Travis Russell wanted to kiss her.

  He slowly lowered his mouth.

  Heat shot though her. His lips were full and firm. His first touch was gentle, tentative. She didn’t back away, didn’t want to. Her body trembled. She’d dreamed of this so many times. Her hands moved to his biceps, her fingers squeezing to keep from falling. Travis’s hands rested on her waist steadying her. As she made a mewing sound in the back of her throat, he slanted his mouth taking the kiss deeper.

  Travis pressed her more securely against him. Brushing his tongue along the seam of her mouth, asking for an invitation to enter. Dana didn’t disappoint him. She wanted more. And more. This was everything she’d dreamed of, and beyond. Her mouth parted. He accepted her welcome. Wrapping her arms around Travis’s neck, she clung to him.

  Dana had feared she’d missed out on something special all those years ago. She had. This was what it felt like being wanted, needed.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  THE SQUAWK OF the radio followed by, “Come in, Dana. Come in,” jerked Dana back from Travis’s stupor-inducing mouth. The man could kiss. Dazed, she forced her eyes to focus and her mind to engage. She took a step toward him. She didn’t want this moment to end.

  They were different people now. She was stronger. Could she have some of Travis and move on?

  “Dana, come in.”

  She pushed away but immediately missed the sizzle Travis created in her. With shaking hands, she picked up the radio. “This is Dana.”

  “I have an update. Fire is no longer under control. Headed your direction. Advise you move west ASAP. Over.”

  She felt Travis standing close behind her. “Ten-four. Will leave at first light.”

  “Take care. This one has turned into a monster.”

  “Ten-four.”

  She looked at Travis. “We better get some sleep. It looks like we’re going to be moving fast and hard.” Not waiting on a response, she went to her pack and pulled out her sleeping bag.

  To her relief Travis said nothing and stepped outside. He at least was giving her time to collect herself. She needed it. The almost childish attempt at a kiss years ago came nowhere near the toe-tingling, red-hot meeting of lips they’d just shared. Travis was a master and she’d hung on for dear life. Much more and she’d be giving herself to him body and soul. Something she couldn’t do.

  She’d given her heart without him asking before. The hurt from his rejection still pained her. Could she live through something like that again? The bigger problem was could she resist him and live with the disappointment of not knowing what it was to kiss Travis again?

  For now she had to try to settle down enough to get some rest. She’d need all her energy to make it through the next few days.

  Fifteen minutes later Travis reentered the cabin. She’d already laid her sleeping bag out next to the stove. “I don’t want to start a fire in the stove tonight. I don’t want to have any embers left when we leave in the morning.”

  “Understood. You take the bed.” He’d returned the mattress.

  She shook her head. “I can sleep on the floor. I’m used to it.”

  “For heaven’s sakes please let me be chivalrous for once without an argument.” His tone had a bite to it.

  She looked at him then. Really looked. He glared at her. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to men being chivalrous, as you put it.”

  He grabbed his sleeping bag from where it sat beside his equipment. “Well, you should be.”

  “Okay. I’ll sleep on the bed. I saw a couple of extra blankets in the cabinet over there. I’ll get them for you. At least you’ll have some padding.”

  “Thank you.” The early tone eased but his voice remained tight.

  She dropped her sleeping bag on the bed and went after the blankets. She handed them to him. “Thanks for the bed.”

  “You’re welcome. Good night, Dana.” With that he turned his back to her, finished making his bed and climbed inside his sleeping bag.

  Dana turned off the lantern. She thought of what would have been her amateur effort of kissing all those years ago and the expertise he demonstrated tonight. She shouldn’t have let it go so far, but once his lips touched hers she’d been a goner. The need to kiss him, to have him kiss her had been too strong. She wouldn’t let it happen again. Couldn’t let it happen again.

  Rejection would soon follow. She had learned the hard way it always did for her. Dana had enough of it. First her parents. Then she’d lost her grandfather. Travis, then a man she cared for. What made
her think Travis would take her seriously a second time? The only reason he’d kissed her had been to settle his curiosity. He’d said so himself.

  She wasn’t his type, never would be. Her life was with the smokejumpers. He would want someone to hostess dinners and to go to cocktail parties. Never would she want to shame him and that would surely happen. She wouldn’t be good enough for him.

  She started to remove her pants.

  “Leave your pants on and settle down, Dana,” came Travis’s husky voice. “Unless you wish me to join you. And it wouldn’t be to sleep.”

  She held her breath not daring to move. What if she did move? Would he act on his threat? Running a finger over her bottom lip, she remembered each and every moment of Travis’s kiss. It had been far better than her fumbled attempt. Maybe she should take off her pants.

  No, it was better to keep things the way they were. They’d both quenched their curiosity. It was over now. Her eyes closed on an active day involving hard physical work and emotional upheaval to drift into erotic dreams starring Travis.

  By the time she woke, Travis was already in the kitchen. The smell of coffee filled the air. “Breakfast in ten minutes and daylight in thirty.”

  His bags were already packed and waiting by the door. The few last-minute food supplies she’d left on the table where gone. He must have put them in his bags.

  “You’re up and ready to go.”

  “Let’s just say I miss hot baths and a comfortable bed.” He continued to work in the kitchen.

  Trying to make light of the situation, she said, “At least you have goals. That’ll make the walking a lot easier.”

  He glanced over his shoulder. “I’ll keep that in mind when my feet start throbbing.”

  She went to the wash pan near the back door and found fresh water already in the bowl. “Thank you.” She cupped her hands together and scooped it up to splash her face. It was warm. Travis had heated water for her. She let out a loud sigh of pleasure.