This is what it felt like at man’s discovery of fire.
Chapter Four
Jax
“What’s a naturalist?” Sierra asks, sipping her mango juice over breakfast.
She’s looking radiant and relaxed after yesterday’s massage and nap on the beach. I’m sure it has nothing to do with her run-in with that sexy pilot Austin.
Today we’re hiking the volcano crater, so we’re taking full advantage of the breakfast buffet to build up our strength.
I’ve just been telling her about my conversation with the kayak guide and that I’ve signed up for every stinking excursion the guy offers for resort guests.
I have to think about Sierra’s question because I didn’t ask Brooks. “I don’t know. Like a park ranger, I guess? Well, a park ranger who can’t arrest people.”
Sierra takes a bite of her toast. “Park rangers already cannot arrest people,” she snorts.
“Oh yes, they can. Remember my 19th birthday party?”
Sierra scrunches up her face in thought. If only I were kidding. Leave it to my father’s business associates to cause such a scene at a ski lodge that the forestry authorities showed up and asked them to leave. It was supposed to be a low-key trip with just a few of my friends, but it had turned into … something else. My father and the people who finance his record label are loud, overbearing, and obnoxious.
“I hope our pilot stud friend appreciates that chipmunk face of yours.”
Sierra blushes and shoots me a look just as my phone rings. I check the screen and promptly ignore it.
“Was that Louis?” Sierra asks, looking a little freaked.
No. Worse than my would-be fiancé. I shake my head. “My dad’s security guy, Damian.”
“Are you going to answer?”
“Not today. Not while I’m on vacation.”
“Sooner or later, you’re going to have to tell your dad where you are.”
I blink and glance down at the screen where I see he’s left a voicemail.
“Then my father should call me himself instead of passing it off to his flunky,” I say.
Chapter Five
Brooks
I knew I should not have let Jax’s interest in my activities put thoughts into my head. I knew I would let it tell me stories that aren’t real.
All morning I’ve been preening like a peacock in the mirror, combing my hair, and practicing charming things to say to Jax. I let myself get carried away on the idea that her signing up for two weeks’ worth of hikes and adventures meant she was into me.
But upon arrival at the tour, I learn it was all too good to be true. She’s here with her friend Sierra and Austin Fisher, the ruggedly handsome bush pilot. Of course, she’d be interested in the pilot. He’s got that quiet, broody side that women like. He’s a man of action. Austin has game coming out of his ears.
Sure, I can identify the genus and species of any exotic bird in this jungle, but I can’t talk about beer or sports or whatever other dudes talk about. I certainly can’t captivate a girl with stories about dangerous fighter jet missions around the world. I’m a geek in cargo shorts and a pith helmet, administering organic bug spray to resort guests.
As if to illustrate that point, Austin saves the day when the worst possible thing that could happen on one of my tours happens. A child, who has been falling behind the tour group because he’s become distracted by the wildlife, tumbles off the trail and falls down the slope of the crater. Not minutes after I’ve told him not to sit on the back of a tortoise. The little shit.
Everyone panics, except Austin. In superhero fashion, he uses a vine to rappel down to where the kid is barely hanging on. I mean, the scene could be straight out of a movie, and he might as well have been using a whip to pull him and the kid up. Who’s Dr. Jones now?
I manage to inch myself down the rocky slope far enough to help Austin hand the kid off to me. I forget all about Jax for a minute while I’m making sure the kid is all right and not injured. After I make arrangements for Isaac and his parents to have the golf carts meet them at the rim of the crater, I fully expect the woman in my dreams to be fawning all over the guy.
But Jax surprises me once again.