Dr

Dr. Calypso Reed has a knack for finding things. On the hunt for a priceless medallion in the rainforests of Peru, Cal is determined that her first solo expedition be a success. But she never counted on having hardheaded Nash MacClure follow on her heels, or expected the dark presence she feels watching her, waiting.

Nash can't get Cal out of his mind, or the night between them they never finished. Sent to watch out for her after her brother's premonition, Nash is determined to find out whether his feelings for Cal run as deep as he fears. But can he keep Cal safe long enough to make her see how right they are for each other?

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Chapter One

Hell no!

Calypso Reed shut off the overhead spray in the outdoor shower. She snagged the towel she’d brought along with her and managed to wrap it around her middle before he got within twenty feet of her.

No fucking way.

Cal glared at Nash McClure, his long strides devouring the distance between them. Cal didn’t wait for him to reach her. She shoved open the neck-high door and stalked across the grass separating them. The angry pace carried her from the sheltered corner shower stall outside the lodge where the team was staying in until tomorrow morning.

She felt more than a dozen pair of eyes follow her as the surrounding archeologists, interns and a handful of others stopped what they were doing.

Cal didn’t care. This was her expedition, her first time without her overprotective father or older brother hovering and she’d be damned if Nash was going to be their stand in.

Annoyance boiled into anger as she stopped in front of him. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Built like a Roman gladiator, Nash tended to intimidate people. From his six-foot plus frame to the wicked scar that hugged his cheek from ear to jaw, he tended to scare even his students. Cal found few men intimidating, even ones who towered over her, but something about Nash had always set her on edge. His dark eyes too easily pinned a person in place.

Which always made her more determined to remain unruffled by his presence.

Nash’s heavy gaze slid up to met hers, and instead of the customary frown she’d grown used to, he smiled at her. A lazy curving of his lips that made Cal remember the slow, easy feel of his mouth against hers.

“Nice to see you again, Dr. Reed.”

Cal tugged her towel closer, a little too conscious of his attention dipping below her neck. Her insides warmed despite her annoyance, or maybe because of it. Nash McClure had a way of making her want him. Period.

“What are you doing here,” she repeated, her voice as firm as she could manage without drawing more attention to them.

Nash tipped his hat back, the style a little too reminiscent of Indiana Jones, and grinned at her. “Maybe you should get some clothes on before we talk.”

Cal cocked her head. “Am I making you uncomfortable?”

The frown she knew well clouded his face as he leaned forward. “Do you really want to know what you’re making me, right now?”

She didn’t move as he inched forward, forcing her to tip her head back to look him in the eyes. There was no way in hell she’d back up. “This is my expedition. So unless you’ve got a damn good reason to be here, I suggest you get your ass back in the Jeep and back to class.”

Although Nash appeared more content in front of a lecture hall packed full of students or colleagues, he looked damn good out of his suit. His brown hair was almost long enough to be considered shaggy, considerably longer since the Christmas party six months ago.

And before her thoughts could drift to the night that never was, Cal glanced past his shoulder and spotted Daniel behind him. Daniel and her father had been friends since attending university together. When her parents created the Avalon Foundation, Daniel went to work for them, following them around the world as they tracked down artifacts and lost treasures. He’d been out of the field for months, ever since his wife was diagnosed with cancer.

Daniel stepped up beside Nash, his smile warm and his gaze politely fixed on her face. “Good to see you, Cal.”

Cal slung an arm around his back in an awkward hug. “I didn’t know you were coming down here.”

“When Nash mentioned he was headed to Peru and your hunt for the Widow’s Medallion, I decided to tag along.”

Feeling Nash’s eyes bore into her, Cal focused on Daniel. “Yvette is doing well then?”

“Very well. She was sick of me underfoot and banished me down here for a couple weeks.”

“Remind me to give her a call and thank her.” Daniel’s arrival took the sting out of Nash’s appearance. Somewhat.

Across from her, Nash scowled. “Are you doing to get some clothes on?”

Offering up her most innocent smile, Cal glanced at him. “So I am making you uncomfortable.”

A firm hand encircled her wrist, dragging her away from Daniel.

Cal tried to rip her arm free. “Get your hand off me.”

“Why are you being such a pain in the ass?” Nash spoke through his teeth.

“Let…go,” Cal warned.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Or what?”

His brown eyes flashed a second before she turned her back into his chest, gripped his upper arm and flipped him over her shoulder.

Somehow she managed to keep her towel intact, but suspected more than a few interns behind her got a good peek at her ass.

Cal didn’t wait for Nash to get up from his sprawled position on the ground before she stormed towards the lodge.

There was no way in hell Nash McClure was staying.

* * * * *

From his spot on the ground, Nash concluded rather quickly he was an ass. Not because he’d provoked Cal, but because he’d watched her toss more than a dozen men to the ground in the eight years he’d known her and should have seen it coming.

Slightly annoyed, amused, and his ego only a tad bruised, Nash sat up. He watched Cal stalk towards the lodge and knew without a doubt Calypso Reed could take care of herself. Which led him to wonder what he was really doing here. Judging by the ache in his lower back he had to be a glutton for punishment.

Daniel leaned down and held out a hand. “Tell me again why you two aren’t together?”

Nash didn’t answer him as he stood, his gaze firmly planted on Cal’s provocative form disappearing inside the lodge. If it wasn’t for her brother’s premonition she might be in trouble, he wouldn’t be here at all. Most days he was content to teach and work with Cal’s dad on special projects that came up, and not have to deal with her stubborn my way or the high way attitude. But standing here now, breathing in the heavy humid air, a restless energy hummed through him and he remembered how much he loved being out in the field.

And if he was being honest with himself, the trip gave him the opportunity to figure out whether or not his lingering hunger for Cal stemmed from their one reckless moment being interrupted, or because of something more.

When he and Daniel headed for the lodge, most of the onlookers pretended they hadn’t witnessed her pitch him to the ground. Nash imagined the tale would make the rounds tonight among those too anxious to sleep knowing they headed into the rainforest in the morning.

Knowing she needed time to cool off before they talked again, Nash followed Daniel into the dining area set up in the lodge’s great room. The lodge could hold up to fifty people, but given its location there was no electricity and only a handful of kitchen appliances used generators. The early evening sun made the kerosene lamps necessary, but lent to the casual atmosphere of those team members who already occupied the surrounding tables.

By the time they both filled their plates and sat down, Nash lost what little appetite he possessed. He pushed the food around on his plate until a door closed overhead. He lifted his head and watched Cal walk along the second story hall that overlooked the great room below.

She’d exchanged her towel for a pair of shorts that showed off her sculpted legs and a fitted shirt.

His erection pressed against his zipper.

Okay, so maybe the change in wardrobe did little to minimize his arousal.

At the bottom of the steps, Cal turned and their gazes collided. Nash sucked in a breath. The great room suddenly felt more like a closet and much too hot.

A voice called her name, and she glanced away before she joined a guy who waved her over to his table. Obviously a student-intern, the blond-haired guy Cal grinned at couldn’t be more than twenty-one. Even still, annoyance flickered through Nash at the genuine smile Cal flashed at the kid. He had no right to be jealous. Aside from one hot and unfortunately interrupted night in his office at Avalon’s head quarters in Athens last Christmas, there was nothing between them but a boatload of sarcastic comments.

He’d worked for the Avalon foundation since he was twenty-five. Cal had been twenty-two and carried a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas. She still did. Back then, he’d been too busy trying to impress Cal’s father to let himself be distracted by those big blue eyes of her and the untamable blond hair she forever pushed out of her face.

But lately…

The sound of Cal’s laughter rang out in the great room. Nash glanced towards the small group who joined her table as she leaned her head close to the student’s. His gut clenched.

“I’ll catch up with you later, Daniel.” Nash dumped his untouched food in the trash and crossed to her table. He nodded politely, noticing Cal’s assistant, Monique, among the group. The feline redhead licked her lips before she smiled at him.

Nash ignored the overtly sexual gesture and focused on Cal. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

Cal hesitated and he waited, half expecting her to say no. The student opposite her shot Nash a warning glance when she stood up. Nash paid no attention to the kid and preceded Cal out the hall. In front of her he couldn’t stare at her ass, and he knew he would if given half a chance.

Figuring she might very well yell at him at some point, he led her towards the excavated ruins next to the lodge discovered more than fifty years ago. Nash leaned against the warm stones tucked into the lengthening shadows.

Cal crossed her arms, but said nothing.

For a moment Nash wished he’d been sent to look out for Cal’s younger sister. His life would be much easier–less fun–but easier.

“I don’t need a babysitter, Nash.”

“Hey, I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me here.” Not exactly true, but he sensed she might flip if she knew he’d also come to see her. It didn’t take a genius to figure out she purposely avoided him at every function since Christmas. In the past he’d been content to keep things the way they were, but things had changed…at least for him.

“My parents sent you?”

Nash resisted the urge to shiver against the nails-down-chalk-board tone. A touch shrill for her, but he didn’t blame her. It would rub him the wrong way to know anyone might interfere with one of his expeditions too. “Yes.”

She sighed, and then followed it up with a stream of curses that made him smile. He thought about letting her bitch for a while. Watching her rant amused him, but seeing as how there was plenty to talk about, he got to the point. “Jack had a premonition.”

Cal averted her gaze and paced away from him, silent for a moment. “It can’t be that bad or they would have made me go home.”

“Jack couldn’t pinpoint anything in particular, just that you needed someone watching your back.”

Cal settled against the wall beside him, kicking a stone at her feet. “So that’s why my parents sent you down here? They could have just called.”

Nash wondered if she intentionally meant to stand so close to him. “Well they sent me instead.” He turned so he faced her. Inches separated them.

She didn’t lift her gaze from the ground. “And if I refuse to have you here?”

“What exactly is your problem with me anyway?” He certainly never invited the sarcastic barbs she lobbed at him on a regular basis for the last eight years. “I’m not here to take over.”

“No, but you’ll be in the way.”

Nash leaned closer. “Afraid I’m gonna steal your glory?”

Her head snapped up, indignation shimmering in the deep blue depths. “No.”

With a casual lift of his shoulders he said, “Then there is no reason we can’t be professional about this.”

“I’m still calling the shots.”

“I wouldn’t dream of trying to take over.”

She eyed him doubtfully. “Just keep your distance.” Her voice wavered.

Nash moved in, all but pressed her body into the wall at her back. “You didn’t have a problem with my distance six months ago.”

Cal flattened her palm against his chest. “Don’t.”

Nash backed off. This time. “Am I making you uncomfortable, Dr. Reed?”

For the second time that day he remained where he was, his attention firmly fixed on her behind as she whipped around and strode away. Again.

* * * * *

Someone had been in her room.

Nothing appeared out of place, even her notes remained in a neat pile on the table next to the small bed. Yet Cal couldn’t shake the feeling someone had been in her room. Once she’d been old enough to understand her finely tuned gut instincts, she made a point to never ignore them.

Crossing to the window, she glanced outside into the fading light. Nash still leaned against the ruins, drenched in shadows. Whoever had been in her room must have seen her return to the lodge and left. Were they looking for something specific or just snooping?

Cal lifted the mattress and removed the copied contents of the 15^th century journal the Avalon Foundation acquired a month ago. The brief sketch of the medallion and short journal entry beneath it was all she’d needed to get a general feel for the location of the solid gold piece. It took her nearly a week after she arrived in Cusco, Peru to pinpoint the best place to enter the dense jungle on the southeastern side of the Andes. Her particular gift for finding things, inherited from her father, proved to be as finicky as her hormones some days.

But the medallion was close, the humming vibe in her middle told her that much.

Nash’s news about Jack’s premonition had set her on edge. Her brother’s own gift was remarkably dead-on most of the time, leaving her little choice but to be cautious from here on out. She wasn’t about to call off the entire expedition, not when it had taken her months to convince her father she could lead her own team. And she couldn’t start to second-guess the thirty people that made up her team as she hunted for the Widow’s Medallion, certainly not before they even left the lodge.

Someone knocked on the door.

Cal left her notes on the bed and took her time answering. Dealing with Nash took more patience, determination and restraint than she remembered. She hadn’t expected his arrival and did not look forward to spending the next couple of weeks with him on her heels.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes when she discovered Eric on the other side, his eager grin downright puppyish. Not oblivious to the crush Eric had on her, Cal smiled back easily. He worked hard and never failed to make her laugh. As long as he understood nothing personal was ever going to come from them working together, they would continue to get along fine.

“Feel like a walk?”

Cal shook his head, a yawn rising to the surface to make her refusal that much more credible. “I’m beat. Plus we’re all getting an early start. I don’t want you worn out by midday when we’re slugging our way through the jungle.”

“Your faith in me is staggering.” He bent his head. “Give me a minute. I need to recover from the subtle blow to my manhood.”

“Somehow I think you’ll recover.”

Eric clutched his heart, his lips curving in a goofy grin. “Well, night then.”

“Night.”

Cal shut the door and managed to get halfway across the room before another knock came. With another denial to Eric’s request on her lips, she opened the door.

Nash filled the space, looking far too comfortable as he leaned against the jamb. A trace of annoyance crossed his face. “Expecting someone else?”

He didn’t wait for an invitation and slid past her. She sandwiched her lips into a firm line and stopped herself from slamming the door. Barely.

Nash flopped down on the bed the way he might his own, and picked up the journal. “Want to fill me in?”

She shoved his feet off her bed. “Don’t try and tell me you came down here without knowing anything.”

He shrugged. “I read some, but this is your project and I’d like to know what you think.” He flipped through the pages. “I’m guessing you picked up a vibe from the book.”

Nash was one of the few people who knew about the unique talents her family possessed. While she took after her dad, her older brother inherited their mother’s gift–or curse–of premonition. Her younger sister on the other hand could read people’s auras.

Perhaps that was one of the reasons Nash continued to unnerve her. Ever since she and Nash had known each other the subject never came up between them, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he thought she was a bit of a freak.

Reaching forward, Cal flipped through the journal pages. “From this one.” She waited for him to skim the passage written by a Spanish Missionary hundreds of years before.

Nash tipped his head back after a moment. “Is it a coincidence El Dorado is also mentioned in this notation?”

“If you’re asking if I’ve picked up a vibe for the lost City of Gold. No.”

His shoulders slumped even though she knew he doubted the legends of the fabled city. Her father had the same reaction. Nash actually reminded her a lot of her dad, with one exception; her father, at his very core, was a treasure hunter, always about the thrill of finding the artifact. Nash on the other hand enjoyed figuring out the answers afterwards, who, where, when, why.

For years, she’d watched Nash get swept up into her father’s whirlwind expeditions. In the beginning she’d been jealous her father routinely chose Nash to go on a number of expeditions over her and then she simply got used to it.

“I’m assuming you haven’t mentioned El Dorado to everyone else?”

“And have every fortune hunter on our ass within twenty-four hours? No.”

“How far in do you think the medallion is?”

“Not sure. Best guess is ten to twenty miles. Give or take.”

“Total number of the team?”

“Thirty. Make that thirty-two now.”

Nash nodded thoughtfully, his attention shifting from the journal to her.

A flicker of something–desire?–flashed in his eyes.

“If you’re satisfied…” She nodded to the journal. “I’d like to go to bed now.” So she could stop thinking how good he looked stretched out in front of her.

“Why are you trying to avoid me?”

“Because I don’t like you hanging around doesn’t mean I’m avoiding you.” The lie dropped rather easily off her tongue.

Nash sat up and something in his posture pushed her senses into high alert.

“Funny, because I’ve had the distinct impression you’ve been avoiding me since Christmas.”

Cal didn’t say anything. One: She didn’t want to talk about that night. And Two: She hadn’t realized he paid enough attention to notice she’d been steering clear of him. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with that last bit of information.

“You do remember that night?”

Being half naked on his desk was hard to forget. “Well, I did have a bit of champagne that night.”

His shot her a deliciously crooked grin. “Yeah, a glass and a half gets me smashed too.”

Okay, so it had been just enough to make her give into the urge to touch him, let him touch her. The same urge she’d been battling for too many years.

“Is there a point to this conversation?” Her too-sweet tone didn’t match the arms she crossed in front of her. And it sure as hell did nothing to stop the heat thickening her stomach under Nash’s long, heated gaze.

He stood and moved towards her. The small room gave her no place to go.

Nash cornered her. “For six months, I’ve wondered what might have happened if we hadn’t been interrupted that night.”

“Did sex cross your mind at all?” Lots and lots of it.

His lazy smile deepened. “Sex for damn sure. But…”

The room felt way too hot and he was definitely too close. “But…what?”

He slid am arm around her, drawing her against his chest. His heart thundered under the palm she planted on his chest to push him away. For endless seconds his eyes clung to hers before he dipped his head. Hot and slow, his mouth devoured hers. For half a second she listened to the part of her brain that told her this was asking for trouble, then she told it shut the hell up, and let herself be sucked in.

His arms felt so familiar, so right. A soft moan lodged in her throat as he cupped her bottom and lifted her up against him. His arousal nudged her belly. Warmth burrowed deeper in her stomach and spread like lava sliding down a mountainside.

He groaned and flexed against her, his erection a spark to the hot ache simmering between her legs.

Slowly, Nash drew back, releasing her before taking a step back. “Have a good night, Cal.” A cocky grin touched his lips. “Don’t oversleep, wouldn’t want to have to lead the team myself.”

Cal stared as he walked out, just missing him with the pillow she snapped up and fired at the door at the last second. She snatched the other one off the bed, half hoping he’d be arrogant enough to pop his face back in. His laughter faded as his footsteps carried him down the hall.

No such luck.

Flopping back on the bed, Cal stared at the ceiling. Before her thoughts could center on where he’d be sleeping tonight, she smothered her face with the pillow.

She was seriously fucked.

Chapter Two

His palm slapped the door above her head, shutting it. “Don’t go.”

Cal didn’t move. Her breath slid out as Nash crowded her back. He leaned in close and his mouth grazed her ear, his breath hot on her cheek. She let her eyes drift shut at the feel of his hard body pressed against hers. His hands moved to her waist, drawing her to his chest.

“We shouldn’t,” she began.

A sound somewhere between a groan and a growl rumbled up from Nash’s throat. He whipped her around and pinned her between him and the door.

Dark, whiskey colored eyes swept over her face, pausing on her lips. “Why shouldn’t we?”

“Because it could…”

Nash skimmed his lips along her jaw.

She curled her fingers into his shirt. “…complicate things,” she finished on a whisper.

“To hell with complications.” His mouth swooped down, caught and conquered.

Cal leaned into him, wanting to feel every inch of the athletic frame she’d spent so long yearning for. His tongue slipped past her lips and caressed hers in wide, hot strokes that made her stomach clench.

A hot palm splayed across her exposed lower back, the other moved up to her shoulder. His slid one finger under the strap of her dress and tugged. Nash pulled back long enough to hold her gaze, before he pushed the other strap down. The black strapless bra hid her breasts from him, but under his seductive gaze they grew warm and heavy, craving his touch.

Nash explored the side of her neck with slow, shivery kisses. “I’ve wanted to touch you for so long. Don’t make me wait another second, Cal.”

Cal swallowed past the tightness in her throat and gave a nod that could only be described as shaky.

It was all the encouragement he needed. He tipped her chin up and kissed her long and hard, as though he couldn’t decide if he wanted to punish her for making him wait this long, or because he wanted to punish himself for taking so long to get around to it.

Her strapless bra hit the floor, replaced by a warm hand and teasing fingers. A moan trembled past her lips. Nash grinned and trapped a nipple between his thumb and finger. Lightning hot threads stretched within her.

A moment later his mouth replaced his hand. The tip of his teeth gently nipped before he swirled his tongue across the aching peaks and sucked.

She buried her hands in his hair, squeezing her eyes shut at the delicious tension that whipped through her belly. Combined with the ache blossoming between her legs, there was little logic to be found to stop her from having what she wanted.

Nash.

Turning her around, he brought his mouth back to hers as he maneuvered them across his office. Her knees hit the back of the couch and they fell back together. Cal wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer, the feel of his body an addictive weight she could easily get used to.

He hiked her dress up, trailed his hand along the outside of her thigh then moved to the inside. Her body instinctively arched against him, seeking more of the sensual contact.

Nash traced the edge of her panties. “Very nice.”

One finger slipped past the thin barrier and stroked down. A strangled moan slipped past her lips.

“Not bad.” He sank a thick finger deep inside her.

Locking her thighs around him, Cal moaned again, louder this time.

“Better.” Nash skated a finger across her clit, and pumped into her again.

Her insides liquefied, her internal temperature rising at the exquisite invasion. She parted her legs, wanting so much more she could barely think beyond how good his hands felt on her.

“Still want me to stop?”

Cal bolted up in bed. The pounding continued and it took a minute to realize someone was at the door. She glanced at the blank display on her battery-powered alarm clock.

Shit.

Jumping out of bed, she crossed to the door and yanked it open. As expected, Nash stood in the doorway.

His lips parted in the trademark grin that haunted her dreams. “Morning, sleepy head. You planning on leading this team, or did you change your mind and want me to take over?”

He wasn’t so annoying in her dreams. Cal started to shut the door.

He planted a hand against it, preventing her from slamming it in his face. The gesture reminded her of the last images from sleep still hovering close to the surface. Her body warmed all over again.

His dark eyes raked down the front of her before he glanced suspiciously past her into the room. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you didn’t spend the night alone.”

Cal glared at him, but she didn’t know who she was more annoyed with, him for acting like he had a right to know who she spent her time with, or herself for letting her thoughts be a little too transparent. “What business is it of yours who I spend the night with?”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. She knew that look and might have taken a step back if she wasn’t used to it by now. Or if she wasn’t a bit too preoccupied studying the full mouth that consumed hers only moments ago in her dream. Memories from a night she seemed helpless to forget.

In less time than it took her to blink, Nash’s tough guy expression dissolved, replaced by a blatant hunger she also recognized.

This time she did take a step back.

Nash cocked his head, the corner of his mouth hitched up. “Dreaming of me, huh?”

“You wish,” she snapped, then quickly realized her mistake. His comment had been merely a shot in the dark, and her defensive tone no doubted proved his guess wasn’t too far off the mark.

She tried closing the door again. Nash didn’t budge.

“I’d like to get dressed now.”

His gaze dipped to the low neckline of the tank top she’d slept in. “You look pretty good to me.”

“Nash,” she began.

He took a step into the room, his intentions clearly stamped on his face.

Cal held up a hand. He brushed it aside, but she held her ground. “We’re late and we—”

“Can’t?” he supplied, as he bent his head.

She wanted to stop him, knew she should tell him to get out, but something about him standing this close…

His arm came around her waist. “Cal?” His deep voice sank into her skin.

She made the mistake of glancing up at him. Not a mistake exactly. She knew she wanted to kiss him. Unfortunately, she also knew nothing would ever come from starting something between them. They were too different. She’d drive him crazy within a week. A month tops. Neither of the past three relationships she’d stupidly attempted had survived past a month.

Nash’s lips caressed her jaw. “Do you want to kiss me, Cal?”

She closed her eyes, turned her mouth towards his. “Are you looking for permission?”

He trapped her bottom lip between his. “I just need to know you want it as much as I do.”

She bunched his shirt between her fingers. He turned his attention lower, teasing his way down her neck to her collarbone.

“I’d say it’s rather obvious.”

Nash trailed up the other side as his hands cupped her bottom and rocked her against him. “Oh, would you. Obvious to you or to me?” He lowered his mouth back to hers.

“Dr. Reed?”

Call leaned past Nash and spotted Eric hovering in the doorway they’d foolishly left open.

Perfect. Just the kind of headache she needed. As if her and Nash’s little display yesterday hadn’t given them all something to talk about. “I’ll be right down.”

Eric didn’t move. “I was hoping to talk to you for a minute.”

“Give me a second, Eric, and I’ll be right down. We can talk then.”

For moment Eric didn’t move. Nash tensed, and she gripped his arm, half expecting him to tell Eric to get lost.

Nodding, the intern turned and disappeared down the hall.

Cal closed her eyes and thought about leaning her head on Nash’s chest, if only for a minute. Instead, she backed out of his embrace, and shook her head. “I won’t have the team gossiping about us. We can’t do this. Not here, not… Strictly professional from now on.”

The same dark frown clouded his face, but he nodded grudgingly. “I’ll see you downstairs.” The door clicked shut behind him.

Cal allowed herself just a moment to remember how good it felt in his arms, how good his mouth felt…

She banished the thought from her mind before it could fully take root. There would be time enough for that kind of thinking later. Dressing quickly, Cal gathered the rest of her things and crammed them into her pack. She tucked the journal into a side pocket she could access easily. Just touching the book set the vibe humming inside her. It wouldn’t be long until she got her hands on the medallion.

Cal paused at the door. Apprehension slithered down her spine. Easing the door shut, she headed down the hall, but in the back of her mind she wondered if whoever had been in her room last night had tampered with her alarm clock.

And did they plan to tamper with anything else?

* * * * *

Thick humid air clung to him like a second skin.

Nash smiled. His muscles were pleasantly tired from trekking through the jungle for most of the day. God, he’d missed this. Not even the fact that Cal barely spared him a glance since this morning could put a dent in his good mood. He had been mildly annoyed after her “strictly professional” order earlier, but after thinking about how easily she responded to him, both last night and again this morning…

“Earth to Nash.”

The feminine voice made him want to cringe. “Monique,” he said politely, acknowledging Cal’s assistant with a nod. Only a few times did he and Monique cross paths, which always suited him just fine. Something about the slick redhead left him uneasy.

“Thinking about getting back to class already?”

Nash scanned the team ahead of them. He caught sight of Cal near the front. “Not quite.”

She inched closer. “I’m glad you joined the expedition.”

Something in her tone reminded him of a cat stalking a canary.

“A man of your abilities is a real treat to have around, you know.”

He shifted his attention to the petite woman beside him. “I’m just here to help Dr. Reed.”

Monique took another step towards him. “Well, I’m sure I speak for her when I say how much we appreciate that.” She raised a hand.

Nash caught her wrist before she could touch his chest.

“Could I talk to you?” Cal’s sharp voice sliced through him. “Now.”

Monique ducked her head and rejoined the team plunging through the dense foliage a short distance away.

Nash groaned inwardly and glanced at Cal. Her blank expression did nothing to reassure him she wasn’t pissed.

“I thought you might want to take the lead.”

Nash looked over his shoulder at no one in particular, then back at her. “I’m sorry. Are you talking to me? I thought I heard you ask if I wanted to take over.”

Cal rolled her eyes. “If you can stop flirting with my team, then yeah, I’d like you up front.”

“I wasn’t flirting with Monique.”

Frowning, Cal stared at the surrounding jungle.

“What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

Nash didn’t believe her. “Still feeling the mojo?”

Cal raised a brow, a hint of a smile teasing her lips. “Mojo?”

He shrugged. “Whatever you call your built in radar. You still feel the medallion?”

“Yeah.” She stared out at the jungle again, distracted.

Nash opened his mouth to ask her what was on her mind, but she strode away from his first.

* * * * *

Nash stepped from his tent and stretched, noticing few remained around the closest fire, most having already retired for the night. He knew he asked for trouble by heading to Cal’s tent, but his insides were too wired to sleep. Although, there was a good chance talking to Cal would only make him more tense. She could be damn stubborn if she wanted to be, and if she meant to keep things professional between them, it might take a lot of convincing to get her to back down.

In front of him, Cal climbed out of her tent and headed for the small group seated around the fire. “Kevin, get that damn tarantula out of my tent, would you?”

She nodded at Nash in passing and kept right on going.

Nash stared at her back before jogging to catch up with her. “Hold up a second.”

She shot him an impatient look. “What?”

Words deserted him. He had nothing specific to talk to her about, and he couldn’t seem to grasp a suitable subject that wouldn’t sound lame.

“Eric,” he said finally. Maybe not the wisest topic of conversation, but he could have done worse. He could have brought up Monique hitting on him repeatedly all day.

Her brows scrunched together. “What about him?”

“He’s got a thing for you.” Nash hoped to hell he didn’t sound as jealous to Cal as he did in his own head. The intern in no way threatened him. He didn’t even know what possessed him to mention Eric at all really.

Cal laughed and started walking. “Not a whole lot gets past you, huh.”

Nash quickly fell into step with her as they moved to the edge of the campsite, away from those still up. “He’s not giving you a hard time is he?”

“Why? Thinking you might set him straight if he was?”

“Is he?” Nash gripped her elbow, bringing her up short.

“No.” Cal glanced pointedly to where he held on to her. “But if he was, I’d take care of it.”

He released her. “Of course you would.” The words came out with a distinct annoyed quality clinging to them.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just that everyone knows Calypso Reed doesn’t need anyone’s help.”

She propped a hand on her hip. “Exactly what is your problem?”

Good question. Nash stared down at her. Screw it.

Nash hauled her to him, silencing any protest she might have made with his mouth. He almost groaned at the sinful feel of her mouth beneath his, and when she parted her lips, he accepted the invitation, and deepened the kiss.

Her hands fisted in his shirt as she kissed him back with the same intensity that nearly caught him in a chokehold last night.

Abruptly, he pulled away. “If you want to finish that, you know where to find me.” Hoping he wouldn’t be kicking himself in the ass within the hour, he left her behind him. She didn’t follow him and by the time he reached his tent, his mood had turned foul.

Nash jerked the zipper down on his tent and slipped inside. Immediately he knew he wasn’t alone and snapped on the battery-powered lantern at his feet.

A telltale sprout of red hair peeked out from the top of his sleeping bag.

Well fuck.

* * * * *

Cal stared at Nash’s back as he all but stormed away. Clutching the journal to her chest, she turned back to the face the dark jungle surrounding them before she didn’t something really stupid and went after him.

A shiver curled up her spine and she glanced around, searching the darkest shadows for what made the hair on the back of her neck stand at attention. Instinctively, she took a step closer to the camp behind her. It wasn’t wise to venture far from the fire, but she’d needed space. Between the medallion, Nash, and the niggling in her gut she couldn’t shake, she felt overwhelmed.

Nash.

Why couldn’t she manage to push him out of her mind? She couldn’t afford to have her attention divided. She needed to concentrate on the expedition. The team was counting on her to lead them to it. And instead, she’d spent the majority of time since yesterday trying to sort out exactly what Nash’s presence did to her.

Maybe…

No. That would be a truly stupid, beyond stupid, idea.

She glanced in the direction of his tent. Maybe it wasn’t. Maybe the only way to shake the itch for him was to scratch it. One night. Then maybe she might be able to sleep without fear of his image interrupting her rest. By tomorrow they could be past this charged sexual tension that vibrated in the air between them, and could get down to business and find the medallion.

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. So much so that she reached his tent before she could convince herself that sleeping with him could wind up making her crave him more instead of less.

At this point, with erotic images of her and Nash locked in naked, tangled positions, nothing would stop her from telling him exactly how much she wanted him.

Unzipping his tent, Cal got halfway inside, and came to a dead stop.

Chapter Three

Unable to meet Nash’s eyes, Cal took a seat next to him. “Morning.” She felt Nash stare at her, and when he didn’t say anything, she lifted her gaze to his. “What?”

His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You’re talking to me?”

Her jaw dropped. “You know, you’re right. I am talking to you. Quick, feel my forehead. Do I have a fever?”

He rolled his eyes at her sarcasm.

She shrugged. “If you’d rather, I can go have breakfast with Eric.” She only managed to get halfway to her feet before Nash snagged her wrist.

Warm brown eyes pleaded with her. “Don’t go.”

Mistake. The word ricocheted through her mind. She shouldn’t have sat down, but she hadn’t wanted things to be awkward between them after last night.

Nash slowly released his hold on her wrist and she sat down, but her skin stayed warm from the contact. It also made Cal question everything she thought she finally worked out in her head during the last few sleepless hours. But right now insisting they keep things professional between them until they at least found the medallion seemed the farthest thing from her mind.

He studied her carefully, crossing his arms in a gesture that made her wary as much as it made her want to feel those arms wrapped around her. “I figured after you stormed away last night, I’d have to corner you to get you to listen to me.”

Cal snorted. “I did not storm away.” Not exactly.

“Yes, you did.”

“I just walk fast.” Spotting Monique curled up in Nash’s sleeping bag had caught her off guard. Plus she hadn’t felt like sticking around after first raking Monique over the coals–in front of Nash no less–for her lack of professionalism, and then again before Monique slipped inside her own tent. No doubt Monique would be raw with her when she finally showed her face this morning.

Nothing like working with a pissed off assistant.

And people wondered why they shouldn’t get involved with co-workers. It complicated the hell out of everything. Looking at Nash, his hair still mussed from sleep, his jaw unshaven, she reminded herself she’d chosen to heed her own advice.

She wanted to blame Nash for all of it, for making her think there was something between them worth exploring. Maybe there was, maybe there wasn’t. Either way, her first solo expedition wasn’t the place. She’d planned to tell him exactly that when she first sat down. Now as she watched him stare at her with those bottomless whiskey colored eyes that dropped to study her mouth, she couldn’t seem to get the words out.

“Still pissed?”

“I wasn’t pissed.” After her initial shock of discovering Monique in his bed and Nash’s immediate defense of things not being as bad as it looked, she’d simply turned and walked out. Not until they both rushed to catch up to her to explain the situation did she realize how much the idea of finding them like that bugged the hell out of her.

She wanted to be indifferent about the whole thing since there was nothing between her and Nash but a handful of kisses and one half finished evening months ago. Her own frustration over how much she cared who he slept with prompted her to take a strip off the two of them before she got her emotions under control. Cal wasn’t sure precisely what she said in the heat of the moment, but having had time to process it all since then, she did believe both of them that it was huge misunderstanding, much to Monique’s disappointment.

Nash arched a doubtful brow.

“I was mildly annoyed,” she admitted. Maybe a touch more than mildly, but the woman had been naked in Nash’s sleeping bag. Six hours ago that was where she had planned to be.

Grinning, Nash leaned forward. “Your nose turned red.”

“What?”

“Your nose. Lit up like Rudolph’s.”

She gave him a blank look. Her nose did not turn red. Her nose only turned red when she was really ticked. If she’d been really ticked off, the whole camp would have known about it.

“As in the Reindeer,” Nash added, the trace of humor in his voice not lost on her.

Cal sighed. “I know who Rudolph is, but my nose did not turn red.”

“Have you seen your face when you’re mad?”

“My nose… Never mind. I just wanted to talk to you about—”

“Good morning.” Daniel sat down beside her. He glanced skyward at the thick clouds that trapped the humidity between them and the ground. “Think the rain will hold off a few more hours?”

Distracted, she mumbled, “One can only hope.”

“I think we’re getting close.” Daniel sipped from his thermos cup.

Nash winked at her. “What do you think, Cal? We getting close?”

“Not when we’re sitting around here.” She stood up. “Time to get everyone moving.”

Nash opened his mouth, but Cal cut him off. The last thing she needed was him saying something in front of Daniel, who would then pass any interesting tidbits on to her Dad. It would turn into the Spanish Inquisition from there.

“Wait a second, Cal.” Nash stood up.

She didn’t wait for him and shot over her shoulder, “I have some things to take care of. We’ll talk later.” She rushed on, not giving him a chance to catch up.

Damn it, he was turning her into a coward.

As she crossed the temporary camp already being packed up, she felt his eyes bore into her back. She wanted to wish he hadn’t shown up. But then she’d have to take back those few stolen moments when his mouth made her remember all too clearly how much she wanted him.

A headache sprouted and began to throb between her temples. Cal absently massaged the back of her skull, annoyed at the less than stellar start to her day. So much for improving on things from last night.

Not paying attention to where she walked, she slammed into Kevin.

The critter-savior and translator steadied her, then hastily stepped back. “In a rush?”

“Yes. No.” Cal sighed. “Who the hell knows?”

Kevin’s bouncy laugh normally drew a smile from her and this morning was no exception.

He nodded towards Nash. “So what’s the story with you two anyway?”

“We’re just…”

“Colleagues,” Kevin supplied. He shook his head, his grin widening. “Monique and I are colleagues. You and Nash are something else.”

“Yeah, well, when you figure out what that something is let me know, would you?” Cal grinned and returned to her brisk pace to get back and finish packing the rest of her stuff up. She needed to focus on what she’d come here to find.

The Widow’s Medallion.

At the thought, her insides tightened in the familiar hum. But beneath the telling vibe that had stayed with her ever since her arrival is Cusco, she continued to feel an increasing edginess that had nothing to do with Nash or the medallion.

* * * * *

“You guys smooth things out since our unexpected arrival?”

“I’ll let you know.” Nash glanced from Daniel towards Cal, missing the tree branch Daniel had shoved out of his way. It smacked Nash in the face.

He swatted it aside. “Damn it.”

Daniel chuckled. “You’re falling apart, aren’t you?”

Nash scowled at him.

“Hey, it happens to the best of us at one time or another.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Nash stretched as the group spread out in the small clearing. The trees thinned here giving them a chance to rest since they set out three hours earlier. Off to the right, the ground sloped away. Nash caught a glimpse of water through the vegetation that covered the steep bank.

Daniel’s short bark of laugher might have irritated him if he hadn’t caught Cal staring at him.

Daniel shot him a sidelong look. “What the hell are you waiting for? That’s as good an invitation as you’re gonna get from that one.”

“Right.” He didn’t make a move. Something in her eyes this morning made him wary. He’d expected her to be annoyed with him. In some ways her calm attitude when she sat down next to him was worse than had she walked up and decked him.

“Well, if you don’t, he’s going to.” Daniel motioned to where Eric strode towards Cal. Moving just slow enough not to raise too many eyebrows, Nash reached Cal first. He didn’t give her time to acknowledge Eric, and snagged her wrist, pulling her away from the others, closer to the embankment. “How about we finish that talk?”

She didn’t fight him, but she blue eyes were hesitant. “Now is not a good time.”

“About last night,” he began.

Cal cocked her head. “Didn’t we cover this already?”

Nash frowned. “No. You escorted Monique back to her tent and then vanished.”

She crossed her arms. “You were expecting me to come back after finding another women in your tent?”

“I was hoping.”

Her eyes shrank to mere slits. “Men.”

Obviously not the brightest thing to say. Put him in a room full of archeologists and he had no trouble talking about any field or classroom related subject. Give him five minutes with Cal and he was damn near destined to say something to piss her off.

She spun away from him, close enough to the edge of the slope to make him nervous. “Watch your step.”

He dragged her a few inches away before she dug in her heels. “Stop worrying about me. I can look after myself.”

“I didn’t invite her to my tent, Cal.”

She sighed. “I know.”

Then why did he hear some invisible “but” in there somewhere? Nash took a slow, measured step towards her. “There’s only one woman I want in my bed.”

Her gaze heated then slid away. “I… It’s just that…”

“Just what?”

A hint of impatience brought her face back to his. “Let’s just focus on finding the medallion.”

“And forget about us,” he snapped.

Her spine straightened. “What us?”

“Don’t play games with me, Cal.” He took another step towards her. This one deliberately meant to put her on edge.

“I’m not playing games.” Her voice lacked its usual bite. “So you’ve kissed me a few times and felt me up once. I’d hardly say that constitutes as an ‘us’.”

A faint glimmer of some emotion he could only identify as uncertainty haunted her eyes before she looked away. Calypso Reed made it a habit to stare down just about everyone she met. The fact that she could only hold his gaze for a few seconds at a time, gave him a spark of hope.

“Cal?” He reached for her hand.

“Don’t.” Although razor sharp, her voice still trembled. She jerked away from him. “I can’t think straight when you touch me.”

“If you’d stop being so damn stubborn—”

Nash didn’t get to finish that thought.

Cal lost her footing, and her surprised cry shoved his heart into his throat. Half turning, she reached out to catch herself. She snagged the front of his shirt at the same moment she slipped down the muddy bank.

Unfortunately, she took him with her.

* * * * *

Adrenaline slammed through her system as Cal raked her hands down the damp earth. Branches and vines slipped through her fingers or snapped as she fought to slow herself down. Her behind skidded and bounced, jarring every bone in her body as she fought for stability.

The ground disappeared beneath her, and one last time she reached out and snagged something.

Nash.

Gripping tight to his ankles, she jolted as they came to a swinging stop.

Pulse racing, Cal chanced a glanced down. They dangled thirty feet above a lake. She vaguely registered the pounding of a nearby waterfall over her thundering heart, but focused solely on clinging to Nash. Dragging in a breath, she tipped her head back to see him gripping a vine no less than two feet from the edge of the muddy bank.

“You okay?”

Was he kidding? “No.”

She felt herself slipping and fought to readjust her grip.

“Stop wiggling.”

Cal glared up at him. Did he not see the position she was in?

“Nash? Cal?” Daniel’s voice carried though the above trees.

“We need rope. Now,” Nash yelled.

The muscles in her arms burned.

“Hold on. They’re coming.” She heard the strain in Nash’s voice.

The burning in her arms turned into cramping. “I don’t think I can hold on much longer.” She gritted her teeth, refusing to look down again to confirm there weren’t sharp rocks waiting beneath them.

“Can you climb up me?”

Had he knocked his head against a tree branch on the way down? “Do I look like Lara Croft to you?”

“Who?”

Desperate to avoid the drop to the water below, she inched her grip higher, but felt the fabric sliding. “You’re not wearing a belt are you?”

“Forgot to pack one,” he gritted out.

A fiery ache sank its teeth into her arms. “Nash.”

“Hold—”

The vine snapped.

Cal dropped straight down. Dark water swallowed her, sucking her deeper. Her pulse roared in her ears like a runaway train and she kicked frantically towards the surface.

She came up sputtering. Treading water, she scanned the surrounding water. “Nash?” She circled around. “Nash!”

A second later his head crashed through the surface. Relief slid through her.

“Cal?”

Cal tipped her head back and spotted Daniel perched at the edge of the bank overhead, a rope tied around his waist. “You two okay?”

Again, not really. “If you mean alive, then yes.”

“Well, get the hell out of the water. We’ll hike down to you both.”

Cal didn’t wait to hear Nash’s response before she forced her tired muscles into action long enough to swim to shore. Spent, she collapsed on the ground.

Nash sank down beside her. “You—”

She slapped her hand over his mouth, cutting him off. “If you ask me if I’m okay again, I’ll have to hurt you.”

A sexy half grin touched his lips as she dropped her hand, then flopped on her back, her tired muscles too exhausted to do anything but be limp for a couple of minutes.

His relieved gaze took her in from top to bottom. “All in one piece anyway.”

“So it seems.” Cal didn’t want to think about how scared she been for that one moment she’d been alone in the lake without him in sight.

He glanced back at the muddy ridge they’d fallen from. “Quite the drop.”

She flung an arm over her eyes. “I’m trying to suppress it.”