Professor Charlotte “Charlie” Reynolds assumes that weather is the only thing she has to worry about when she leads the last backpacking group of the season up Tempest Mountain. Joined at the last minute by sinfully sexy Jake Nelson, Charlie is caught up in a dangerous whirlwind of nature, drug trafficking and a man she can’t seem to resist.
Agent Jake Nelson knows his latest mission to secure evidence will be dangerous and potentially put the entire group of hikers at risk. When the feisty Dr. Reynolds catches his eye, he’s torn between the need to protect and the desire to possess.
Contains some graphic sensual scenes – ice water not included
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Excerpt:
A tingling sensation built between her shoulders. Someone – or something, was
watching. She eased off the boulder, her pulse jumping as she scanned her surroundings.
Reaching for the yellow spray canister on her belt, her gaze swept over the trees to her
left, paying close attention to the thick bramble between. Bears could be foraging lower
for food this time of year, if the upper elevations were depleted. Her senses were on full
alert and she turned in a slow, deliberate circle, her instincts urging her to run. Hide.
Then she swung toward the parking lot. Her gaze locked on to a gorgeous pair of
intense chocolate brown eyes and she nearly gasped at the jolt of awareness that shot
down her spine. It had been a long time since a man had triggered that particular feeling.
“Dr. Charlotte Reynolds?” The smooth, velvety voice resonated through her body,
and Charlie felt the blood rise in her face at the amused up-turn of his full, soft-looking
lips. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
She blinked, swallowing hard as she dropped her gaze, deliberately replacing the bear
spray while she tried to recover her composure. “It’s okay. I—um…”
Words failed as she caught sight of his black leather work boots, and followed them
up to military style pants tucked in. A black t-shirt pulled tightly across a rock-hard chest
did nothing to slow her racing heartbeat. Just below his chin a small scar beckoned to her
for a kiss. Moist heat pooled between her legs, and she looked away, her eyes lighting on
the others, all watching with ill concealed interest.
Great first impression, professor. Pull yourself together. Looking back down at the
clipboard, she scanned the list.
“You must be Jake Nelson?” At his nod, she checked off his name, and then
remembered the woman who was supposed to be with him. Desire doused with reality,
she peered around the distracting new guy to find a petite redhead standing slightly to the
side. “And you must be Adrienne Winters.”
The girl nodded, her long hair hanging in frizzy ringlets that framed her narrow face.
She looked bored, not exactly dressed for hiking in her tennis shoes and designer shirt.
Charlie noticed a large backpack with two bedrolls attached leaning against a nearby tree,
and guessed that Jake would be carrying the supplies for them both. She couldn’t help the
tinge of disappointment she felt.
“You can call me Charlie,” she said briskly, checking Adrienne off the list and
stowing the clipboard in her gear. “If you’d both join the rest of the group behind me, we
can go over a few safety rules and then get started.”