“They’re nothing but a bunch of old men out of touch with reality.” For a moment, Cameron’s façade faded to show the determined man beneath. Then he smiled, and once more his happy-go-lucky glamour was in place. “And right now, bro, reality looks pretty damn hot.” He clapped Liam on the shoulder.
“Stay away from her, Cameron.” Liam folded the map, not wanting to think about his brother making moves on Sarah. It was none of his business, though he’d looked for rings. Didn’t want a jealous boyfriend yelling about Sarah being alone with he and his brother in the middle of nowhere. The entire drive, he’d smelled the lavender scent of her shampoo, the light floral fragrance that surrounded her. One he hoped she didn’t take into their tent. She smelled like springtime, and to bears and other animals with a keen sense of smell, that meant food. Around her, his body thought of something else all together.
“Well, don’t we sound like a bear with a thorn in its paw.” Cameron straightened. He studied Liam for a moment. “All right. I’ll stay away like a good little boy. There’s something about this woman that you’re not telling me. Could be her long wavy hair, or the body that’s curved in all the right places. Or maybe, just maybe, my big brother has finally found a woman who’s going to get under his skin.” Laughing, Cameron turned on his heel and left the study.
Liam watched him go. Once more, he rubbed the bridge of his nose. Just listening to his brother’s words, teasing though they’d been, conjured a mental image of Sarah Doyle. Cameron pinned it right. She had long, wavy hair held back with a clip, and a body that-- even under a baggy sweatshirt and jeans--definitely curved in all the right places. Long legs that made a man wonder what they’d be like wrapped around his hips. What Cameron didn’t mention was the intelligence in her hazel eyes. Or her scent. That lavender smell that tugged at his gut. Springtime. Food. Flowers. Everything he shouldn’t want and couldn’t have. He breathed a heavy sigh, still swearing he could smell her even through the floor that separated them. The Quintursa wouldn’t be happy with this development. Not at all.
He fired up his computer, the wallpaper of an Alaskan Grizzly reminding him exactly what was at stake. Everything.
Deadhorse
,
Alaska
was as close as it came to a company town. As much as he’d hate to see the oil business and the jobs it brought leave, he’d hate to have this land and its creatures destroyed even more. A slippery slope, one he’d been walking all his life. The best he could hope for was that Sarah would write her report and
Washington
would listen. It was a long shot, but right now, it was all they had.
The phone rang just as he checked satellite and weather maps to plan their camping excursion. Picking it up, he listened for his brother. Luckily, Cameron was gone. “Round the Bend EcoTours, Liam here.”
“She’s arrived?” The Quintursa agent gave no greeting. He never did. From the sound of his voice, Liam thought it was the same one he’d been working with for a while, but he never could tell. Damn bastards were far too secretive by far. As if Liam would ever betray any of them, or their secret.
“Yeah, she’s here. We’re heading out in the morning. I was just double checking the forecasts.”
“Good. We have more information on Hodges Associates. I hope this Sarah knows what she’s getting into. Bill Hodges is in some mighty deep pockets, none of them friendly to our cause. I’m sending you everything we have. She is not to know. Understand?”
Liam nodded, used to the super-spy secretive nature of the organization that governed his kind. Most of the time he thought they took themselves entirely too seriously. But then, several months in a Russian prison changed his outlook and his life. “Copy. She isn’t to know a thing.”
“And anything you gather you’re to send directly to us. We want to know everything about this woman.”
“Understood.” Already, Liam filtered his information. Some things, like how good she smelled, or the way he knew her breasts would fill his hands, he wouldn’t tell them. Hell, he had no business thinking that way. She was a human. Truth be told, he’d most likely never get a chance to find out anyway.
“First impressions?”
“I think she’s serious about this. Looks like she knows what she’s doing, though I’ll go over her equipment tomorrow. Didn’t come dressed in a power suit. She looks like she’s ready to go camping. I expect we’ll spend a few days out. I’ll show her the oil rigs. The damage the pipelines do to the environment and what happens when they break, then send her back so she can write her report about how increased oil drilling would be a determent to this national treasure.”
“Good. Good. We need to make sure she stays sympathetic to our cause. You have authority to do whatever it takes to keep her on our side. Full authority.” The weight in the agent’s words, made Liam sit up straight in his chair. He’d never been given full authority before, always told in half-truths and couched language what he could, and couldn’t do.
“Do you understand?” the agent asked, when Liam didn’t answer.
“Yes. I do. Thank you. Full authority to keep her on our team. I hear you.” Already his mind raced with the possibilities. His body reacted differently. Mentally, he willed it to behave. He hadn’t had to seduce a woman yet to get what he wanted. Completely mutual and fully pleasurable. When it came to Sarah, totally out of line.
“Keep us posted.” Then, without waiting for a reply, the agent hung up.
Liam stared at the dead handset for a moment, before replacing it in the cradle. His email chimed with the anticipated information. Opening it, he scanned the document. Apparently Bill Hodges was quite the piece of work. Not liking what he read, or its implications for Sarah, he knew he’d be spending the next couple of hours stuck in his den. Now, more than before, he needed to warn Cameron away. Best Liam deal with this himself.
A flash of movement outside the window pulled Liam’s attention from his computer. He leaned back, watching a bachelor grizzly lumber towards the stand of trees and bushes beyond the lodge. Liam didn’t recognize the animal. This time of year, bears congregated where they could to find food. He’d fielded bear complaints from Deadhorse citizens who couldn’t be bothered to bear-proof their backyards. To a creature determined to gain as much weight as winter, an unlatched garbage can created the perfect buffet. He frowned, knowing once again he’d have to fight the battle of humans versus nature. Inevitably, nature lost.
He watched the juvenile male for several moments longer, half wanting to go upstairs and see if Sarah looked out her window at the bear. He doubted she’d seen one so close before. Perhaps this would be the perfect time to introduce her to
Alaska
’s wildlife from the safety of the lodge. He pushed back his chair and rose to his feet.
A hint of lavender filled the air. From his position behind his desk, he watched as she descended the stairs and went into the living area. A glance out the window showed the bear had left. Just as well. Maybe she should get her first glimpse of a grizzly in the wild, with nothing but a bit of canvas and him to protect her. Might make a better impact.
His stomach rumbled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten much today. Dinner first. A chance to get to know Sarah better. He shut down his computer, deciding he’d done about enough work for today. The Quintursa authorized him to use any means necessary to convince Sarah to write a report recommending no further drilling in the refuge. For a moment, he wondered if that meant revealing his secret. He shook his head. They couldn’t have meant that. For centuries his kind had lived among humans, silent guardians trying to protect them from the things they did. Of course, prior to the 1900s, they’d spent more time protecting the humans from Mother Nature than the other way around. A smile quirked his lips. Funny how things changed.
He glanced in the living area. Sarah stood at the windows, staring out into the Alaskan landscape. With her arms wrapped around her, she looked very vulnerable, very frail. He wondered what went through her mind. “I’ll start dinner in a little bit. Do you like salmon?”
She turned and smiled. “I do. Thanks. I’m sure it’ll taste better up here than from the freezer at home.”
“I’m sure it will. Is there anything you need? You settled in all right?”
She nodded. “I’m good. Thanks.”
He hoped so. From the bottom of his heart, he hoped she was good. Because if she wasn’t, more than an ecosystem rested on her report. She held the fate of an undiscovered species in her hands, and she didn’t even know it.
And he couldn’t tell her.
When it came to dining out, Liam figured Sarah required fancy restaurants with candlelight and a wine list expensive enough to break his budget. He doubted the oak table tucked into the corner of the breakfast nook counted as high dining. Of course, the salmon was fresher, and probably cooked better too. The succulent aroma filled the room, and he’d already waved Cameron out of the kitchen several times. He heaped both their plates and carried them to the table. A fresh pitcher of iced tea provided the beverage.
Sarah sat at the table. She’d changed into a long-sleeved mock turtleneck, though she still wore her jeans and boots. She smiled when he set the plate of baked salmon with a fresh salad before her. “This looks great.”
“Thanks.” He slid into a chair across from her. “Enjoy!” Picking up a fork he dove into his meal, anxious to see what Sarah would think of it.
He watched her take the first bite. Her eyelids fluttered closed. A soft moan escaped her mouth. She chewed, swallowed, then opened her eyes and grinned. Liam’s gut clenched. That he could be the man, even through his culinary skills, to make her produce such sounds spread warmth through his veins. He struggled to keep his breathing even, his body loose. Just a client. He repeated those words in his mind, but the memory of her husky little moan wrapped around his gut and wouldn’t let go.
“That’s wonderful. I don’t think I’ve ever had salmon prepared that well before, and I’ve eaten in some pretty fancy restaurants.” She took another bite.
“I’m glad to hear it. Up here, we know our salmon.”
And it’s a delicacy to the bears.
He didn’t add that, though he’d stood along the banks of a river and watched grizzlies gather for the annual salmon runs. He’d even been in the water among them, though most wouldn’t call that a wise move. Still, nothing like the adrenaline of sharing space with over five hundred pounds of grizzly.
“I see.” Her grin widened, and for a moment, he wondered what else she saw. The Quintursa agent’s words haunted him. Find out what she would do with this mission by any means necessary. The subversive nature of it stuck in his throat. She dove into her meal, thankfully sparing him the need for further small talk.
Liam joined her. Raw, cooked, deliciously seasoned, it didn’t matter how he ate salmon, he loved it. It was easily one of his favorite foods, and he dove into it with relish. Soon, empty plates sat between them. He sipped his tea, watching her. “So, what exactly do you do for your firm?”
“Hodges Associates is unglamorously what you’d call a ‘think tank.’ Various government agencies hire us to think about problems and come up with solutions. I’m one of their senior researchers. So I research stuff, then write reports with my recommendations. Sometimes, on the bigger issues we go into committee, but mostly I work on my portfolio of issues.” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke. Her hands moved animatedly. Liam could tell she was a woman with a passion for her job. A passion he hoped could translate into good news for the wildlife preserve.
“And your work here. Is that yours, or do you have to deal with a committee for that too?” He tried to sound relaxed, as if his kind didn’t have to make the gamble that she, and her company, and the government, would do the right thing.
“It’s just mine. As far as our projects go, it’s a small one, though don’t worry. I’m giving it my full and undivided attention. That’s why I’m here. I want you to show me what I need to see in order to make my decision. The oil pipelines and the jobs they bring are just a part of it. The wildlife matters too, at least to me.” She finished her glass of tea. “I want you to know I’m going to do the right thing.” Her voice shook a little, as if she feared people wouldn’t let her do the right thing. He knew how that went. He dealt with the Quintursa and their demands all the time.
“That’s good to hear.”
“So, what do you do? Round the
Bend
EcoTours? I bet you see a lot of interesting places.” Deftly, she turned the conversation to his business.
Now came the interesting part, how to tell her what she wanted to know without giving anything away. “We have. My brother and I like to travel. We’ve seen quite a few places,
Russia
,
Sweden
,
Canada
, several South American countries. It’s all part of the job.” Deliberately he left exactly what he’d seen vague. Sarah didn’t need to hear about his time spent inside a Russian cell, awaiting interrogation. “Makes for interesting times, that’s for sure.”
“And now you’re based out of
Alaska
. I’d think you’d have chosen somewhere warmer.
South America
sounds exciting.”
Liam chuckled. “Exciting doesn’t begin to cover it. Not when you’re ducking guerillas and drug traffickers. No, it’s nice and quiet up here. Or at least it usually is. And you don’t have to go too far for some spectacular scenery. I can take the cold.”
“That’s good. I must confess. I’m not quite ready for it to be near sixty for a high. At least I packed warm clothes and a cold weather sleeping bag.” Automatically, she started to gather up her dishes. “Can I help you with those?”
“Sure.” Liam rose to his feet, thankful for the help. “And we’ll see about those camping supplies in the morning. I want to go over everything before we leave at six-thirty.”
“In the morning?”
“Don’t look so shocked. With the abundant sunlight, days are long up here. Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.”
And if not, you’ll go back home and write a report that we’ll both like.
He helped her carry the dishes to the sink, and then ignoring the dishwasher, ran water in the sink. They’d be roughing it soon enough. The time for city conveniences was over.
~* * *~
When he knocked on Sarah’s bedroom door at promptly
in the morning, he half expected her to be running around making last minute preparations. Instead, she stood beside the bed dressed in layers, from the turtleneck he saw peeking out from beneath the collar of her sweat shirt and the jeans and hiking boots with two layers of socks beneath. She looked, frankly, like a pro. He couldn’t help but be impressed.
Her backpack frame lay on the bed, everything stowed away. No sign of her small suitcase, though a tent, sleeping bag, and assorted gear was fastened to the frame. He stepped into the room, suddenly overwhelmed with her lavender scent. “I should go make you take a shower,” he said.
“What? I just took one this morning. Surely I don’t stink so soon.”
“Lavender,” Liam said.
Sarah’s eyes widened. “Oh. My shampoo and bath wash,” she whispered. “I didn’t know.”
He stepped closer, drawn to her by the intoxicating scent of her skin. Breathing deeply, he drew the floral scent into his lungs. It reminded him of springtime, of a bear’s need to find the most succulent berries and feast. He stopped inches from her, probably too close, but she didn’t move away. The air fairly crackled with electricity. Curling his fingers into a fist, Liam resisted the urge to reach out and stroke her cheek. He swallowed hard. Nostrils flared, he struggled not to draw more of her scent into his lungs. Damn his enhanced senses!
“I could go take a shower,” her voice was quiet, but firm.
An image of her standing beneath the spray, water sluicing over her body filled his mind. “That’s okay.” If his voice came out rougher than he intended, he ignored it. “We’ve got to get going. I’m sure after a few hours of hiking you’ll smell completely different.” He held her gaze for a moment longer, then stepped back. “Let’s see what you’ve packed.”
She relaxed as he turned his attention to her pack. He wished he could do the same. Unzipping the main compartment on her backpacking frame, her scent assaulted him once more. He hurriedly went through her belongings, getting more and more impressed as he did. For a city girl, she sure knew how to pack for the backwoods. He secured everything again, and then stepped back with a nod.
“Very good. You’ve done this before?”
Sarah shook her head, her grin so big it threatened to split her face in half. “Nope. Just a good researcher. It’s what I do. So are we hiking out?”
“I want to go a bit farther out, so we’re going to take the ATV and then hike the rest of the way. There’s a shed where we store it when we’re out in the backwoods. Do you need help with that?” He gestured to her gear.
“I’m good. Thanks.” As if to prove her point, she snagged the frame from the bed and nodded toward the door. “Ready when you are.”
“Okay.” He turned and hurried from her room. She followed behind, easily keeping up with him. He hated that he’d even doubted her, yet with her coming from the political arena, he had no idea what to expect. And he’d expected the worst. His admiration became more than grudging when she said nothing as he secured their gear to the small trailer behind the ATV and then climbed on behind him without a word. Her hands wrapped around his chest, her breasts flattened against his back.
She felt so damn good. Maybe he should have gone into
Anchorage
and let off some steam before taking this mission. At least then he wouldn’t think about her strong thighs on either side of his hips, or the way her scent surrounded him like a warm blanket. Maybe he should have brought Cameron along, if nothing else then as a chaperone. He chuckled at the idea of his brother supervising anyone. “Ready?”
At her nod, he revved the engine. They rolled out of the garage, and in a few moments, the lodge disappeared from view. They were alone together. Now, he had to show her his world, without revealing his secrets.
~* * *~
Sarah reveled in the roar of the engine, the wind whipping at the tendrils of her hair coming loose from beneath her cap. She’d tied her hair back with an elastic, trying to maintain as outdoors a profile as possible. She doubted long hair went well out in the bush. Beneath her hands, the muscles of Liam’s chest flexed as he steered the ATV down a well-worn path. The bumps in the road jostled them together, and she swore she heard his breath catch every time her breasts crushed against his back. She knew hers did.
She kept her hands clasped firmly against his sternum, not wanting to venture north, or south. Walt had called again this morning. Sure, it hadn’t been the ungodly hour on the east coast that it was there, but she’d deliberately left her cell phone back in her room. She doubted she’d have a signal much beyond the lodge anyway. The more she talked to him, the more she didn’t know about their relationship. She should want him. A successful lawyer, climbing the corporate ladder fast enough to make full-partner within the next five years. She should be happy. She should have taken his ring and danced all the way to the altar. That she didn’t meant something she wasn’t quite willing to admit to herself, at least not yet.
The ATV slowed near an open shed. Liam stopped and left the vehicle idling as he unlatched the shed and opened the door. It looked barely big enough for machine and man to slip inside. He nodded to the clearing surrounding them. “We hike out from here,” he said over the din of the engine. With quick movements, he unfastened their packs, redistributing some of their contents, then no sooner had she slid from the seat to stand a short distance away, did he hunch over the handlebars and lead the ATV into the shed. It just cleared the door. He stepped out, locked the door, then headed to where their gear sat on the ground. He slid into his backpacking frame and waited for her to finish getting into hers.
Liam didn’t offer to help, and frankly, Sarah appreciated his belief she could handle things on her own. Her heart pounded a mile a minute. Beneath her gloves, her palms sweated. Thankful it wasn’t cold enough to see her breath, she finished fastening the straps. Now, the true test of her research would happen. For someone as devoted to her work as she, it was a heady moment.
“Let me look that over.” He took a moment, adjusting a couple of straps, then stepped back. “Looks good. We’re going to hike out. I’m going to set a brisk pace, but this isn’t a time to be a martyr. Something doesn’t feel right, or something hurts, you let me know, immediately. Out here, even a blister could be a major problem. We’re not too far away from the lodge but it’ll be a bitch getting you back there if you’re injured. Okay?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t be a burden.”
Even though I’ve never camped before in my entire life.
She pasted a smile on her face, the same kind she gave to politicians and congressmen when they saw her boobs and not her brains. “Trust me. I can handle this.” It said. It had always put them at ease, and since Liam made a grunt of acknowledgement and turned, she assumed her words had reassured him too.
He started down the path. Sarah followed, her strides long, but not uncomfortably so. If he slowed his natural pace for her, it couldn’t have been by much. She looked around in an attempt to absorb the sights and sounds of her surroundings. Summer in
Alaska
truly was a beautiful time of year. Mother Nature battled to make the most of the limited sunlight and heat to produce as much as possible. Birds twittered in the trees. Wildflowers popped from the ground, each one reaching for the sky, trying to grow a little bit further, a little bit faster than its neighbors. Though she didn’t see small mammals, she heard them rustling in the foliage around her.
She breathed deeply of the crisp air. Though Deadhorse with its trucks and the pipeline lay not far away, she didn’t smell exhaust. Even the tiny amount emitted by the ATV dissipated into the air. Somewhere in the distance she heard a rustling stream. If it weren’t for the knowledge of the shed and the ATV they could be out in the middle of the wilderness. She grinned. Even with the ATV, they were.