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Nerves coursed through me that could be either cold or actual anxiety at being alone with an attractive guy near my age and stranded miles from civilization. Okay, Whit-whatever-his-last-name-was looked hot. A feeling of shame washed over me because if I was having thoughts about my sexy park ranger, I obviously didn’t have much in the way of feelings for Ryder West-nearly-football-pro-college-hottie. I realized these were shallow first world problems my philosophy professor would have a field day with, but I still couldn’t knock the thoughts about Whit’s uniform and how hot dark green had suddenly become.
Feeling about as helpful as tits on a bull, I was fidgeting to put the mothball smelling blankets down on a wooden bench. I placed the candles on the matching wood picnic style table and looked around the cabin. Thick beams of wood and space utilized to its fullest with everything having multiple utilitarian purposes. My fashionista mother would say the place was like a Whitman’s sampler with a little bit of everything, but nothing special.
“Come sit down, the fire will get going in a minute.” Whit encouraged me to join him, patting the floor absently as he used a flint to spark the dry brush. Flame caught air and substance, flickering like a fledgling fire. Leaning over, he blew on it slowly and I couldn’t help but notice the way his lips pursed, forcing air out in a controlled manner, stoking the fire. His butt filled out his park issued pants nice and firm while the cargo pockets made me curiously wonder what secrets he had hiding in each. On his knees, the fabric was pulled tight and belted at his hips, accentuating each masculine curve and dip. They were stupid thoughts that reminded me of my own immaturity. I was here with a complete stranger and already thinking about how I could hook up with him for just one night. I didn’t need a fire to keep me warm; Whit’s body stirred something within me. Flush heated my cheeks, and embarrassment that he might catch me looking him over had me awkwardly sitting down, my body falling to the floor in an ungraceful heap of horniness I didn’t expect.
The loud sound of my fall had Whit looking over at me, his brows drawn together before he spoke. “Are you okay?”
Embarrassment flooded me and I nodded awkwardly. “Yeah, I s-should thank you for coming out here to save me.” Lamely I didn’t know what else to say.
“You should, but I won’t hold it against you.” Whit drawled the last bit out and continued looking me over, his indigo eyes filled with mirth darting back and forth. He was probably laughing at me.
“So is this part of your job?” He smiled at my question, kindness crinkling at the corner of his eyes, so I knew he was definitely laughing at me now.
“Job?”
“Rescuing stupid girls who go off on hikes ill-prepared for bad weather?” He could see right through me. I was never good at small talk.
“Oh. Well…I suppose search and rescue comes with the territory. I guess there is more to your story than you being a stupid girl, right?”
Rolling my eyes earned me a genuine laugh from Whit and I was struck by his unusual name. “What’s your full name?”
“Deflecting. Nice.” He leaned back on his knees, arms crossed over his chest, which I noticed was pretty brawny underneath his jacket. “It’s Whittaker Jones. I’m named after my grandfather, crusty old bastard but a good guy growing up. He used to take me fishing and hunting in these woods as a kid. You?” He was right again. Smart and good-looking, Whittaker was definitely trouble for me.
“Named after a great-aunt who never married and died with twenty cats in her house. It sounds much worse than it actually is. She was sweet and owned a kitschy book store back home.”
“Ah,” he nodded. “Where is home?”
“Brooklyn, near Williamsburg and the bridge.” He rocked back on his heels and flutters of emotion erupted under the guise of his perfect smile.
“You miss her.” Slowly he reached up and brushed a hunk of my wet hair back over my shoulder, exposing my face to him, and the light of the fire burning brightly warmed me.
“Yeah. I ended up working there as a teen after school to give her breaks. She always baked these lemon iced cookies for me to sneak back home. I loved her.”
“Well, I wouldn’t turn down cookies if you felt inclined to bake me some, as a thank you gesture, of course.” Winking at me, I was lost.
“Of course.” Reel me in because I was done. Blushing singed my cheeks and I would have dug up Aunt Amelia and shook her alive to get her recipe if it meant Whit would look at me like that again. “How about chocolate chip? You get me out of here and I’ll bake you a double batch.”
“Seems like a good deal. So tell me again what prompted you to walk out on the trail with no real jacket or a phone?”
“Not giving up on that, are we?”
“Nope. You’ve made me curious why you’d risk life and limb hiking in the dark.”
“Fine.” Exasperated, I started to shiver again, partly from sitting so close to him and out of damp chills from my clothes. “It was about a stupid guy, but it doesn’t matter because I’m not interested in him anymore.”
“Good, because we should probably take our clothes off now.”
“What?” I screeched and Whit looked at me wide-eyed as mine focused on him.
“Oh shit, I didn’t mean it like that.” Holding his hands up defensively, I thought
about sucker punching him in the mouth. I might have my moments, but I was a city girl and I didn’t take crap from anyone. I didn’t mind being the forward one, or seen as fickle of heart, but I drew the line at someone taking advantage of me.
“Sure you didn’t,” I grumbled.
“Honestly, no. I’m not that kind of opportunist. With the fire going, we should probably get these wet clothes off and the dry blankets on so our stuff can dry overnight. I can’t have you getting sick on my watch.” Now I felt like an idiot for assuming he was trying something when he was really just doing his job. Who was I kidding? I was an idiot. I couldn’t read signals from the opposite sex if my life depended on it apparently.
Standing up, I grabbed the blankets and tossed one to him and took the other. “I’ll uh just…can you turn around and not look?” Flustered, I took the blanket and walked over to the cold corner, ready to change.
