Wilderness Girl Read online

  He waved her off. “Don’t worry about it. I had fun doing it.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  His gaze turned intense. “So is there anything else you want to know?”

  She could tell he was baiting her. Thinking it a game, she grinned. “Like what?”

  He shifted his feet, set his hands just below his hips. “Like my name?” he said in wonderment, and watched her carefully.

  Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my gosh.”

  She’d had such a vivid image of him in her mind: his dark eyes burning into hers, his scent, his powerful shoulders, the way he moved. And those lips – those lips drove her to distraction.

  “Yeah. Oops.” His tone teased, but also held a tinge of offense.

  Perhaps he thought she wanted nothing more from him than this weekend. Nothing could be further from the truth.

  “I didn’t ask because….” He might laugh, but she had to be honest. “I felt I already knew you. If names are important…I’m Dana.”

  He cocked his jaw, as if she’d sucker-punched him. “Dana.” He nodded. “I’m Hank.”

  She ducked her head. “Nice to meet you, Hank.”

  “Likewise.” He blew through his lips and smiled planting his foot closer to her. “You’re crazy.”

  “I’ve been told that.” It didn’t always sound as nice as when he said it, though. She tilted her head toward him. “Hank? Really?”

  “Yes. Why?” Insult edged his voice.

  “I’ve never known a Hank.”

  “I’ve never known a Dana.” He stepped closer. “But I’m glad I do now.” His chest expanded with a ragged breath.

  “Me too.” She laid a hand on the front of his shirt, couldn’t stop from running it up to his collar bone. He had such amazing curves and narrows.

  Holding her waist, he leaned in slowly, watching with open eyes until his lips met hers.

  Oh, yes, now that was the way to do it. She slipped her arms around his neck and pressed into him. His lips were worth waiting for. Full and moist, she wanted to be swallowed by them.

  His mouth hid a wonderful surprise–a long, powerful tongue. Oh, she lost herself imagining the things his tongue could do to her.

  Easing away, his nose touched hers. “I’ve been wanting to do that since that first night in Wilderness Outfitters.”

  “Really? I didn’t pick up on that.” Her hands explored him of their own accord, it seemed.

  He laughed. “You were the only one in the store who didn’t pick up on it, then.” His hand trailed down her thigh. In response, her body curled into his, her lips moved up his neck to his ear.

  “But I wish you hadn’t worn these shorts.” His fingers ventured up, tracing just beneath the bottom.

  “Why?”

  He leaned his forehead against hers. “Because it’s very hard to control myself right now.”

  “I know what you mean,” she murmured. She’d never wanted to touch someone like she wanted to touch him. She tilted her head and pressed her lips to his.

  His grip tightened around her. His hands moved down her back and over the curve of her rear, and she moaned. His fingers delved inside her thigh, and she ground against him.

  He gently pushed her hips from his. “Whoa, let’s slow down.” His breath shook the words.

  Her face must have shown her disappointment and confusion.

  His finger traced her jaw. “We both just came out of bad relationships. It’s better if we take it slow.” He looked past her. “I always seem to pick the wrong girl. I move too fast, and end up getting hurt.”

  The wrong girl. She didn’t want to be that. Or another bad relationship.

  She took a deep breath and forced herself to remove her arms from his neck. “You’re right.” She was in no rush to get hurt either.

  He bit his lip, as though he hadn’t quite convinced himself. “Come on. Let’s walk.” Grasping her hand, he led her up the hill.

  He glanced at her. “You’re doing pretty well for a newbie.”

  “You’re being kind. I’m not exactly a wilderness girl, though I am liking it out here.”

  His face relaxed into a smile. He always seemed surprised at the things she said. Surprised and happy. Making him feel good gave her an unexpected thrill. Like she was touching him deeper than just the surface.

  They climbed the trail without speaking, though her head swirled with questions, mostly about his recent breakup. What had caused it? Did he initiate it? Or her? No way would the girlfriend have broken up with him? She’d have to be crazy. Or blind. Or both.

  Dana told herself to be content with the feel of his strong hand in hers. The dappled sunshine through the trees. The echoing bird calls.

  “Tell me about your girlfriend.” Ex-girlfriend, she wanted to clarify. She hoped the position was fully open now. “What was she like?”

  “Tanya was….” he winced, groping for words.

  Tanya. She already sounded like a Playboy bunny. Dana could picture her in her pink fuzzy ears, and not much else. Biting her long fingernail between parted lips. Why did they always do that? The ridiculous pose made them look brainless.

  “She was beautiful….”

  Of course. Dana kicked a pebble into the underbrush.

  “Everyone loved her….”

  Well, duh. Now Dana wanted to follow the stone into hiding.

  “She liked to party a little too much. Didn’t like my art.” He said it lightly, but the hardness in his eyes said it all. Tanya had hurt him. Bad.

  “Why not?”

  “It embarrassed her when I’d stop to look at something left on the sidewalk for the trash collection that I thought I could use. I passed over a lot of good finds because she didn’t want me rummaging through other people’s throwaways. Correction, she didn’t want to be seen with me while I did it.”

  “But you create cool new stuff from old stuff.” If the bimbo couldn’t appreciate that, then he should be glad to be rid of her. Except he obviously wasn’t.

  He kept his eyes on the trail ahead. “She didn’t follow the concept.”

  “And you’re saving good things from taking up landfill space.”

  He glanced back at her, in some silent realization she didn’t understand. “Didn’t get that concept either.”

  She mock-frowned asking teasingly, “Why were you with her again?”

  He shrugged. “The sex was great.”

  And yes, ladies and gentlemen, the clincher of every deal. But why had she stayed with Sean so long? To be truthful, he wasn’t exactly Casanova. A spark had definitely been missing.

  “What about you and your ex? How’d you meet him?”

  “Online.” Sean friended hundreds of people online. His web pages always had the latest widgets and gadgets and images. He was excellent at promoting himself, but somehow couldn’t live up to his own image.

  “Not through a dating service? Someone as pretty and funny as you doesn’t need that.”

  Warmth rushed to her cheeks. “No, a mutual friend introduced us through Facebook. Sean posted some funny things on his page, so I thought, hey, great – a guy with a sense of humor. Unfortunately, he didn’t appreciate mine much.”

  “It’s why I don’t do Facebook. Some people are better virtually.”

  Not Hank. He defied description. A virtual representation could never fully portray his sensuous lips, his beautiful eyes, uber-sexy body. “Exactly. But honestly, I don’t get out much, go to clubs or anything.” She stopped short of telling him she had a hard time meeting new people, usually.

  “Clubs are a waste of time. Drinking and decision-making don’t make for the best bar mates. It’s much better to meet someone in a real-life situation.”

  “Say, a camping store.” She bumped her shoulder into his.

  He stopped, and pulled her to him. “Definitely a camping store.” He delved his fingers into her hair.

  She moved closer to kiss him, but he looked up the hill.

  “There’s so
mething I want to show you.” With his arm around her waist, he walked on.

  Disappointment growled inside her, but she kept it to herself. “What is it?”

  He kissed the top of her head. “A rock.” He widened his eyes.

  A rock. Great. Get excited about a rock, but not about kissing her. “Let’s see it.”

  Toward the top of the hill, he tugged her off the trail through a grove of trees that ended in a line near a huge stone outcropping overlooking the valley below.

  “Wow. Some rock.” She tugged him toward the edge. “Can we sit for awhile?”

  “I was about to suggest the same thing.” He held her hand lowering to the ground, his leg grazing hers as he sat.

  The view stretched before her postcard perfect. “This is amazing.” She grasped his knee taking it all in. Warm from the sun, the rock invited her to recline. She pointed up. “Look, is that a hawk?”

  A majestic bird circled overhead, against a backdrop of fluffy white clouds set in a crisp blue sky.

  He eased his back onto the rock beside her. “Yup.”

  She drew her knees up and closed her eyes. “This is so relaxing.”

  His silence made her curious. Squinting one eye open, she peeked to find him watching her.

  “What?”

  “I didn’t think you’d like it.”

  “I do.” More than she should. She let the back of her hand fall against his abs.

  “I’m glad.” He grasped the inside of her leg.

  The gap between his T-shirt and low-riding jeans gave her a peek at his smooth, taut skin. Inhaling a deep breath, she reminded herself to keep things slow. Not to let her fingers wander, much as they itched to.

  His hand inched higher inside her leg, caressing her skin. She pretended not to notice, though the warmth between her legs wasn’t caused by the sun-heated rock.

  He sighed. “I really wish you hadn’t worn these shorts.”

  Another excellent choice. She would go with her instincts more often from now on. “I haven’t shaved my legs. You’ll cut yourself if you’re not careful.”

  He chuckled and leaned up on an elbow. “I’ve never met anyone like you.”

  Shielding the sun from her eyes, she said, “I hope that’s a good thing.”

  “So far, so good.”

  She loved how he laughed with his eyes. “So you’re reserving judgment?” If she could will his hands to move, they’d be removing her shorts.

  “It’s pretty likely to swing in your favor.” His finger traced her collar bone.

  She gulped. “Anything I can do to sway you?” Who was saying these things? Something about him made her want to tease and taunt. Make him want her. Maybe because he held back on her. Could be part of his plan.

  As if he’d read her thoughts, he pulled her onto her side, his warm breath teasing her neck. Instinctively, she moved her leg up his thigh. With a moan, his tongue caressed her skin and his hand edged up her T-shirt. His kisses came faster and his tongue moved to her breast. He nipped and suckled, and she clutched his head with a sigh, then scraped down his back to the top of his jeans. She delved her hand into the back of his shorts, down his ass, caressing his hip.

  A deep noise came from his throat, a moan suffused with pleasure. He grabbed her hand and pulled it from his pants.

  “No,” he whispered with heavy breath.

  Thinking he was teasing, she pressed closer, her tongue at his ear. “Yes.” She tried to move her hand to his zipper, but his grip held her in place.

  He pulled away. Pushing himself up, he squinted out across the valley.

  She lay on the rock as though in shock. “What’s the matter?”

  Exhaling a long breath, he shook his head. “Dana. You’re dangerous.” He looked over at her with a mix of sadness and longing. Gently, he tugged her T-shirt into place.

  She ran a hand over his arm to his cheek. “Not really. Only if you want me to be.”

  His face went blank. “We should get back.”

  “Why? What’s wrong?” Scrambling to her feet, stones skittered off the edge and tumbled below, taking the moment with them.

  “Nothing. It’ll be dark soon.” When she was safely away from the edge, he walked back the way they came. He moved at a brisker pace, pushing branches aside, waiting for her to pass.

  What did I do? Did I say something wrong? He practically ran away from her.

  Nearing the trail, she scraped past a thorny bush. “Ow.” She hissed through her teeth, looking at her thigh. A thin red line of blood appeared along a scratch.

  His lips formed a thin line. “That’s why you shouldn’t have worn those damn shorts.”

  “What is your problem with my shorts?” She held the edge above the scrape so the blood stain wouldn’t seep in.

  He pointed up and down. “Because your legs are….”

  She frowned. “My legs are what?” Then it hit her. The way his eyes almost rolled back in his head. You like my legs, she wanted to taunt. She stifled a grin. So she was having an effect on him. Maybe as powerful as the one he was having on her.

  A groan burst from him and he walked ahead. “Let’s just go, all right?”

  Wordlessly, she followed him to the stream. He bent without looking at her.

  She climbed onto his back. “Careful. The blood will stain your shirt.”

  He hoisted her up. “You probably didn’t even bring a Band-Aid, did you?”

  She held his shoulders, less tightly than last time. “No. I hadn’t planned on traipsing through the woods.” Yikes, she sounded like a scolding mother.

  He stepped into the water too quickly and slipped on a rock.

  He was rushing to get back – why? “Whoa. Slow down.” She clutched tighter.

  “What?” He still sounded upset, and still strode ahead too quickly, sending water sloshing up.

  “I don’t want to drown.” Except in his kisses. Not likely to happen.

  He mumbled something under his breath.

  How had everything taken such a terrible downturn? Never should have brought up his ex. “You know, I’m not out to hurt you.”

  “What are you talking about?” He slogged through the stream faster. Too fast. His shoes slid across the rocks.

  “All of a sudden, you act as if I’m poison. I’m just trying to understand why. I’m every bit as vulnerable as you.” She clung closer as he jostled her with his fast stride.

  “That’s what I said.” His leg twisted beneath him and he lost his balance. He gripped her thigh tightly struggling to correct it, but released his hold as they tipped to one side and toppled into the stream.

  Her head went underwater. The rocks in the stream bed grazed her knee. At least she wouldn’t drown, it wasn’t deep enough. She pushed herself up to a wobbly stand, the current surging around her legs.

  Throwing back his wet head, he rose from the water and lurched toward her. “Are you all right?”

  “Fine.” Her arms flailing for balance against the stream, she forced her legs ahead.

  “Here, I can carry you.” He reached for her hand.

  “No.” She moved away from his grasp and her foot slipped on a slimy rock. Was he playing with her? He had to know how sexy he was, how women reacted – too easily – to his animal magnetism.

  The water whooshed when he slogged past her. “Just get on.”

  “I told you I can take care of myself.” Pushing her legs toward the bank, she slipped as the water grew shallow and the rocks greener.

  “Careful.” His hand steadied her waist.

  She sprinted up the bank. “No worries.” Her sarcastic tone could not be helped. Mr. Take It Slow had no real worries. With his looks, he could have any girl he set his sights on.

  Nearing her tent, he stopped, one foot planted ahead on the hill.

  She whirled to face him, her wet hair slapping her cheek. “You can go on. I said I’ll be fine. I’m going to get my book, dry off in the sun, make a little dinner…. Maybe I’ll even change my dam
n shorts.” Under her breath, she muttered, “Would that make you happy?”

  His gaze ran from her soggy sneakers up her stream-soaked legs to her clingy wet T-shirt. “You should clean out that cut. You don’t want it getting infected.”

  She said nothing. Whoever said better when wet should have seen Hank in damp clinging clothes, chest still heaving, hair dripping down his cheek. She wanted to lick him dry. She folded her arms so he wouldn’t see her hardening nipples.

  He stepped closer. “I have a first aid kit. I’ll go get it.”

  “Don’t trouble yourself.”

  “It’s no trouble. I’ll be right back.” Without waiting for a response, he jogged off and disappeared into the trees.

  “Ha, I’ve heard that before. Adios, compadre.” If he was anything like the other guys she knew, he wouldn’t return. Something knotted inside her. He wasn’t, though. He seemed nothing like anyone she’d ever known. Still, if she intended to stay the night out here, she’d have to fend for herself. To do that, she’d need to get the fire going again.

  Turning, she pushed her hair away from her face. She should probably comb this mop before it dried. No – sticks first. She bent to pick up scattered twigs, and dumped them into the circle of rocks.

  She set her hands on her hips. “Okay. Now what?” She should have taken notes.

  “Here, I’ll help you get it started.”

  Startled, she glanced in the direction of his voice. He’d come back.

  He extended his arm, a tube of ointment in his palm. And a Band-Aid.

  Yes, he was good at starting fires. Too good.

  She forced her gaze away. “Don’t let me hold you up.”

  “I’m in no rush.” The high pitch belied his casual tone. He stood waiting for her response. If only his lips weren’t so inviting. His muscles so chiseled, like a god standing before her. Finally, he lifted her wrist and set the first aid items in her hand. “You take care of your cut, and I’ll take care of the fire.” His eyes burned into hers.

  Why he was teasing her, being so nice, she couldn’t guess. Maybe she was supposed to be his rebound girl, to help him get over Tanya. For Dana, finding anyone new was always a painful process.

  “Thanks.” She sat atop the cooler and tended her cut – barely a scratch, really – as he somehow teased the pile of sticks aflame. She stood, unsure of what to do next. He’d gone out of his way to help her. She should at least offer to feed him.