by Fiona Archer
“It’s just a little sandbar type thing. I can get out and push it and jump back in.” Yeah. She’d seen people do that on the private beach by her parents’ place all the time. It shouldn’t be too hard as long as Mr. Sexy Ranger Man stopped staring at her with amusement dancing in his teal-blue eyes.
“Ella, you don’t want to do that.” He shook his head. “The bottom isn’t like the beach. It’s more like quicksand. You’ll sink to your knees.”
She shivered. The only time she wanted to be caked in mud was at the spa.
“The mistake you made, besides passing the campgrounds a half-hour ago, was turning around back there. Had you just backed out, you would have been fine.”
Thanks for the lecture. “What do you suggest I do now? I’m supposed to go live to my followers…”—she glanced at her Apple Watch—“in a little over an hour. I’m doing a whole series on different parks and some of the history they have in our community, along with their great outdoor activities.”
He covered his mouth, and his shoulders moved up and down.
She scowled. “I don’t see what’s so funny.”
“I’m sorry.” He cleared his throat. “I’ve seen some of your YouTube videos, and camping on an island that you won’t be able to get off until the tide comes back in doesn’t seem like your cup of tea. Especially all alone. Unless we had some sort of holistic yoga healing studio with a juice bar.” He pointed to the sky. “And the storm’s rolling in.”
“Well, if you think that, you haven’t been watching enough of my live feeds.” She tilted her head. Dark clouds hovered a few miles away. The weather app mentioned it would most likely rain, but that was all supposed to happen north of Martin County. “That’s all moving out to sea.”
“If you say so,” Philip said. He maneuvered his boat, pushing his bow up against hers. “Hop on.” He held out his hand.
“What about all my stuff? The boat? We can’t just leave it here.”
“We’re not going to.” He patted the bench. “Think you can manage putting this in reverse and hang out in the open water over there while I unstick the rental?”
“Of course.” Instead of taking the help he offered, she stepped from her vessel. “Oh, shit.” She lunged forward, being flung into his arms. She dug her fingernails into his thick shoulders.
“Well, hello, there.” He groaned, wrapping one arm around her and stretching out the other as he grabbed the steering wheel. His body twisted as his butt landed with a thud on the bench.
Straddling his lap, she jerked her head back and swallowed. His piercing gaze tore through her like the Blue Angels soaring through the sky. Her breath caught in her throat. She’d known Philip since high school, and while he was the heir to Prince Technologies, the biggest tech conglomerate in the United States, she’d never known him to be anything but rough, rugged, and a man all about the outdoors. She doubted if he even knew how to use a computer, other than to check his email—if he even had email.
He brushed her hair from her face. “Are you okay?” His tongue peeked out from between his plump lips and brushed at them with a thick, broad stroke.
“I should be asking you that.” Her heart hammered in her chest. She tilted her head, leaning in. It couldn’t be this easy to land her prince, could it?
He chuckled. “I think I’ll live,” he said, lifting her from his legs and gently setting her on the bench. He leaned over her, his hot breath tickling the side of her face as he tapped the throttle, nudging the boat forward until it hit bottom. “Remember what I said, just hang out in the middle out there. I’ll be right back.”
She let out a puff of air as she curled her fingers around the steering wheel, then backed out into the open water and put the engine in neutral. She watched Philip’s biceps bulge as he lifted the motor, setting it down with only part of the prop in the water. He tugged at the pull cord. Immediately, brown liquid spurted, churning up the filthy water. Birds squawked and flew from their branches into the blue sky.
He revved the engine in reverse as he stood on the back corner, rocking left and right until the vessel came loose and floated under the thick, lush branches. “I’m going to drive out to the other side. Stay right there.”
As much as she wanted to leave, she didn’t know how to get back to civilization.
Chapter Two
Philip finished his fried egg sandwich and stared at the storm brewing over the ocean. There were only five campsites on the island, and everyone had canceled because of the weather. All except Ella.
He rinsed out his coffee mug, glancing over at her tent, and bit back a laugh as she bent over, fumbling with a couple of poles that didn’t go where she was trying to put them.
What the hell was she doing out here? Ella was the daughter of Darius Kane, a real estate mogul worth billions. An investor who took pride in making sure his precious, one-and-only baby girl didn’t have to lift a finger if she didn’t want to.
As it turned out, her idea of making a difference in the world had been to become some kind of social media influencer—whatever the fuck that was. He’d once watched a couple of her videos on some bike-a-thon she’d participated in for charity. He had to admit, she was highly entertaining, mostly because she could barely ride a bike to save her adorable little ass.
In more recent shows, she’d helped to raise thousands of dollars for various causes, which actually impressed him and made him want to get to know the real Ella. Only he didn’t think she’d ever consider him the catch of the county. No. Ella dated men who enjoyed five-hundred-dollar bottles of wine, not guys who preferred to catch and clean their own dinner.
He strolled across the campground. If he didn’t help her now, she would be soaked in the middle of the night. “That doesn’t go there,” he said.
She jumped, hitting her head on the top of the tarp drooping over the front of the tent. The fabric twisted around her body, and she stumbled backward.
“I gotcha.” He stretched out his arms and snatched her up before she face-planted on the wooden platform. Unfortunately, her sleeping quarters toppled over into a heaping pile of nylon. He steadied her while he unraveled the material.
“I’m such a klutz.”
“Yeah, you are.” He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger. All through high school, he’d had the hots for Ella. Unfortunately, she belonged to the captain of the football team, who happened to be Philip’s best friend. “You also suck at camping.”
“The directions make no sense. I’m supposed to be streaming this live. My followers genuinely want to see what Black Park Island looks like when the tide goes out, but there’s no cell reception.”
“I have a Wi-Fi booster.” He tucked a strand of her soft, light brown hair behind her ear. The rest cascaded down to the center of her back. He’d gone off to college, and when he returned to Jupiter, Florida, she and his buddy had broken up, leaving it open for Phillip to make his move. Only he and Ella couldn’t be more opposite. They had only two things in common: their fathers were rich, and they’d grown up in the same neighborhood. Other than that, she could in no way fit into his world—as shown by the mess she’d made of the tent.
Her long, thick lashes lowered over her almond-colored eyes. They reminded him of gold sparkling in the river as the sun’s rays shone brightly, cutting through the water.
“You mean I could connect to the Internet?”
He nodded as he ran his hands down her forearms, enjoying her soft, silky skin. She had a lightness about her that he’d always admired. She wasn’t your typical trust-fund kid, but she certainly wasn’t earning a living on her own, that was for damn sure.
“It can still be a little spotty. But, yes. If you go over to the outdoor kitchen area, you should be able to pull it up. The password is alligator. You won’t be able to go too far from that spot, but it should work. I’ll fix your tent.” He took her hands in his, noting the long fingernails and the pretty, sparkly pink nail polish. Talk about a fish out of water. The poor gi
rl was in for a rough night.
“You don’t mind?”
“Not at all. Go, do your thing before it gets dark.”
“Thanks.” She grabbed a bag and jogged off with her hair bouncing over her shoulders as if she were in a shampoo commercial.
He turned his attention from Ella and her long, tan legs to the tent that a five-year-old could pitch with nothing but a diagram. His mother would smack him upside the head for how much enjoyment he hoped to get out of watching Ella attempt to start a fire and make herself camp food.
However, the weather still concerned him. The radar had these storms hovering just a mile north of the campsite through the early hours of the morning. Still, the local meteorologist believed it would expand to include the campground and could even create tornados. His little island wouldn’t necessarily be the safest place.
The pop-up took him all of ten minutes to set up. Since he figured she’d probably botch blowing up her air mattress, he did that for her as well, noting that she hadn’t bothered to take off the price tags on her brand-new equipment.
He leaned against the picnic table, folded his arms, and took in the view, trying not to laugh as Ella held up her cell and walked around the kitchen area as she pointed to different sections on the island. Her voice rose a few sweet octaves as she detailed her adventures, which included getting her boat stuck in the mud—although she took a few liberties with the story to make it more exciting for her viewers.
She did a little hip-hop dance three-sixty, blowing kisses at the camera when he noticed she was wearing a pair of strappy sandals and was about to tiptoe herself right into a sand pile filled with red ants that would have a field day with her tasty skin.
He pushed from the table. “Ella,” he called. There was no way this ended well. “Watch where you’re stepping.”
“Oh, and you all get to meet Ranger Philip Prince. He’s certainly proven to be my Prince Charming today.” Her foot landed in the tall sand pile, and hundreds of red ants went wild, clinging to her sweet skin. “Ouch. What the heck?” She looked down and started kicking her foot. “Oh, my God. They’re everywhere.” She flicked and slapped at her calf.
“Step away from the sand and stop moving so much.” He raced to the sink and filled a pot with water. “Relax.”
But she didn’t listen. Nope. She continued wiggling, her arms flailing wildly like a bird. She took two wrong steps and tripped on a root, and now her adorable ass was covered in sand.
And red ants.
Quickly, he doused her foot before hoisting her off the ground. Setting her on the counter, he started brushing her thighs, hips, and anywhere he saw the nasty little biters.
“Those are horrible creatures.” She wiggled, slapping at herself. “Crap. They’re inside my shorts.”
He laughed. Hard. He knew he shouldn’t, but he just couldn’t help himself. Turning the faucet back on, he covered his hands in water and rid her bare skin of any insect he could find. “You might want to take a quick shower and put on fresh clothes.”
She held up her phone as she wiggled left and right. “Okay, my lovelies. You heard the man. Besides, these ants are making a meal of my tushy. Now, don’t forget to go to the county website and click on the donation button. We don’t want to lose this beautiful park. Until next time, take a step out of your comfort zone and into a brand new you.”
“You were still recording?” Philip lifted her into his arms, carrying her toward the showers. He contemplated taking her to his quarters. But if he did that, he’d try to put the moves on her, and that wasn’t a path he thought he should travel. They were just too opposite. Besides, a woman like Ella wouldn’t want to spend a few days to a week out here. The only thing to influence would be the wildlife.
“The show must go on.” She continued squirming in his arms. “Would you bring over my bag?”
“Will do.” He kicked open the door and set her down inside the shower area.
She immediately undid the top button of her shorts.
He groaned. This was going to be a long night.
Chapter Three
Ella sat on the wood stump in front of the open fire and twisted her damp hair up into a messy bun on the top of her head. In the distance, lightning lit up the sky like fireworks. The wind picked up, rustling the leaves and bringing with it a sudden chill. Shadowy clouds covered the stars and the moon, making the island eerily dark.
The world thought Ella didn’t have to lift a finger because her father handed her whatever she wanted on a silver platter. For a long time, she would have agreed with that assessment, owning it as if she were proud of the fact. However, a few months ago, she’d overheard Philip at a party, talking about how shallow she appeared. She had to admit, he had a point. She used her influence on things like lifestyle brands and posh travel spots. Philip had gone as far as to say how someone with her reach could really do some good in the world.
But what? And that’s when she decided to slowly change her focus from a self-absorbed, privileged, rich girl to a young woman trying to figure out who she was. She’d create awareness about the issues of her community and take charge of her life. Ever since she’d listened to Philip knock her down a peg, she’d set out to change what topics she covered in her videos. She also wanted to show Philip that there was more to her than sparkles and rainbows wrapped in a pretty box that had little to no substance. His words.
She twisted the cap off her water and took a long swig. Scanning the campsite, she wondered where he’d ducked off to. In her research about Black Park Island, she’d read that the rangers lived onsite. What fascinated her even more was that back in the early forties, a trapper named Conrad owned the island. After he married, he dammed off the river, making it so no one could come to the island unless he wanted them to. Conrad, his wife, and their two children lived here, isolated from the world until Conrad died in nineteen sixty-nine. His wife, who later wrote a book about their life, opened up the river and sold the land to the county, where it became part of the park system.
Unfortunately, it was currently on the chopping block. The county might sell this piece of property to a privately owned establishment, which could potentially upset not only the wildlife balance but rich history, as well.
She shivered as the first raindrops hit her body. They were large, and they stung almost as much as the stupid ant bites had. The wind howled, and in a second, the sky opened up and drenched her, dousing the fire in the pit.
Quickly, she climbed into her tent, zipping it closed. Darkness engulfed her senses. She fumbled to find the battery-powered lantern. The wind lifted the sides of the canvas, rattling the metal stakes used to tie it down. Thunder shook the earth, while a lightning bolt snaked across the sky, lighting up the inside of her tent as if she were the film of an X-ray.
“Ella. Come on.” Out of nowhere, Phillip stuck his head inside her tent.
She jumped. “You scared me.”
“Sorry,” he said, reaching inside and curling his arms under her legs and back, lifting her into the air.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s not safe for you to be out here right now.” He took off, sloshing through the mud. Large raindrops smashed into her face like water balloons exploding on impact. “According to the Storm Prediction Center, we’ve got the perfect mixture of wind and pressure to create a tornado.”
She tucked her face into his neck, trying to peek open one eye. He ran to the other side of the grounds and ducked behind the community building before moving down a short, wooded path to a log cabin.
No. More like a log house right out of the pages of Adirondack Living. Wrong part of the country, as Florida tended to go with stucco and pastels, but it worked for the rugged ranger.
He kicked open the front door and set her feet on the hardwood floor. “We’re going to have to hunker down in here.” He quickly locked the door, took her by the hand, and practically yanked her arm right out of its socket. He snagged something off the table in th
e kitchen before shoving her through his bedroom and into a big bathroom. “Get in the bathtub.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s the safest place.” He held up a computer tablet and tapped the screen. “A tornado just touched down two miles from here. Now, do as I say.”
She climbed into his impressive bathtub. It wasn’t your everyday, run-of-the-mill bachelor cabin.
Thump!
“What was that?” She hugged her knees tight to her chest.
“Probably a tree hitting the ranger station.” He stepped in behind her, stretching his legs out on either side of hers and drawing her back to his hard body. With his arms wrapped around her, he tapped on his gadget.
“You know how to use that?”
He chuckled. “You should see all the techie things I have in my office. It takes a lot to keep this island and park running. Besides, how do you think I found you? Didn’t you notice how far off the beaten path you’d gone today?”
“I guess.” She glanced at the ceiling as the house vibrated and shook. It was like being in the black and white part of The Wizard of Oz. She half expected to look out the window and see a woman riding her bike with a little dog in the basket. “So how did you find me?”
“All the rentals have trackers on them.”
“That’s very big brother-ish.” She dropped her head back onto his strong shoulder and inhaled sharply. He smelled like fresh fog mixed with a salty sunrise. She glanced up at him. His blue eyes electrified the room but calmed her soul. The wind tore through the trees outside, and desire ripped through her body like wild horses roaming free on the beach. “I’m glad you found me.”
“I am, too.” He kissed her nose.
The house rattled, knocking a picture off the wall. A deep howl echoed through the night.
“What the hell is that noise?” she asked.