Page 12 of Hawk and the Cougar

“Come take a look at this,” the young man said.

Professor Hawkins placed a hand on the small of Liz’s back and started them forward. The warmth of his fingers penetrated the fabric of her blouse. She concentrated on taking steady steps.

“I’ll talk to Emma,” he said. “She doesn’t have to take my class, but this is a tough field and she’s doing herself a big favor by staying ahead of the game.”

“What do you mean she doesn’t have to take your class?” Liz asked.

“My class is a graduate course.”

“Good Lord.”

He looked at her. “You didn’t know?”

Liz gave a soft laugh. “She left me in the dust long ago.”

“You obviously did a good job with her.”

“Or she did a good job with me.”

He chuckled. “Don’t let her know that.”

They reached the young man, and Professor Hawkins dropped to a squat outside the roped off section, beside a round discoloration in the even soil where the ground had been levelled.

“A bioturbation,” Liz said.

He looked up. “Very good.” His attention shifted back to the ground. “Log and photograph the bioturbation, then continue digging around it. Let me know if you find any more.”

The kid nodded, and the professor rose. He lightly grasped her arm and stepped several feet away from the section the young man was working.

He released her. “Did you study archaeology?”

She shook her head. “Em and I have been on several digs together.”

“Sounds as if you enjoyed it.”

She nodded. “I did. I’d love to do more. But these days she’s so busy with school, there’s not much time.”

“Why not join in here?”

Liz blinked. “I—I don’t know.”

“Do you have any place to be?”

There had been no pressing business at Leland Industries, so she’d left her assistant manager in charge for the day. “I don’t know now if I should—”

“We can always use extra help,” he cut in, “and it’ll give you a chance to have a little fun.”

The dig was out of cell phone range, but Liz had no worries about Nancy’s ability to keep production of the Linda Bellmont clothing line running on time at the factory. Still, Professor Hawkins didn’t know that.

“That dress won’t do,” he said before she could refuse. “At least, not given the crowd we have here.”

She startled. Not given the crowd?

“I have an extra pair of coveralls you can use, and I’m sure we can scare up a pair of sneakers or work boots. Last thing you want to do is ruin the leather on those loafers.”

“I’m not an archaeologist,” she insisted.

Once again, he placed a hand to the small of her back and started them walking alongside the dig. “Maybe you should become one.”