Page 4 of Storm Watch

FOUR

LANA

Standing before me was a god, I was certain of it.

All raw muscle rippling beneath his forest-grey park ranger uniform. His deep green eyes sparkled as the sun glared down on us both in the middle of the empty trail. He stood on the trail, a calm, unmoving force. Almost flawless in composure if it were not for his shirt unbuttoned to his chiseled chest. His biceps bulged at his sleeves, veins trailing down to powerful forearms and firm hands. I was certain that this mountain of a man needed no rifle. He could have flexed and scared half the local wildlife into extinction.

After a moment’s pause, I finally managed some more coherent words, the feeling of shock trickling away, leaving me with a fine sweat peppered across my back. This man had saved my life. “Thank you.” I managed before letting out a tired breath, “Wow... That was something.”

My skin was electric, and I felt a stir within my very core, sending lightning through my insides. The new, slick wetness in my underwear was a testament to my excitement from the thrill of a near death experience.

The park ranger pulled the wide hat from his head, running his fingers through his short hair and down his face. His piercing gaze locked on mine, making me want to squirm under the fierce heat. He gave me what seemed like an approving nod.

“I am okay.” I said, reassuring myself more than him.

He reached out an empty hand, the other latched to his small pack and rifle slung over his shoulder. “Name’s Hayden Storme.”

Storme? A name that matched the man down to the commanding thunder in his voice.

I shrugged my heavy pack over my shoulders to even out the weight and reached out my hand to his. “Lana.” Hayden’s hand was warm, calloused and hard against my own. His fingers brushed against the base of my wrist, a soft pressure against sensitive skin, sending fireworks across my body to my nipples.

“Just Lana?” When he pulled away, it felt like a part of my soul slipped free, clinging to his fingertips.

“Just Lana.”

There was a smile on his lips. “Well, Just Lana, I am heading back to my truck. Do you need a ride anywhere or you still hiking the trail?”

Another heavy sigh slipped from my lips as adrenaline turned to an excitement-hangover and exhaustion. I wanted to keep going, but the encounter with the mountain lion then this mountain man with the rifle in my face had taken the wind out of my sails. A bar of chocolate and a shower were what I needed. “I think I am done for today.”

As if reading my mind, Hayden pulled around his pack and produced from a side pocket an item wrapped with crunchy aluminum foil. “Here, chocolate. It helps with nerves.”

“Holy shit, did you read my mind? Maybe the mountain lion killed me and you are the devil come to claim my soul.”

Hayden surprised me with a belly laugh that frightened a bird from a perch in the pines. “No, I don’t think a devil would have chocolate.”

“I mean, apparently he was damn fine. According to legend, I mean.” Oh god, I was nervous rambling.

“Well, I think it will please you to know I am only here to offer chocolate to gorgeous women and hiking recommendations.”

“Ha, gorgeous. You must have mistaken me for someone else.”

“Oh no, I don’t make mistakes.”

I flushed hard and fast. A hotness crawling up from my neck to my ears. I had died. I was certain of it.

Hayden’s voice was as smooth as the milk chocolate he gave me. It melted on my tongue at the first bite, warming me with its sugary goodness. He pointed up the trail with his enormous arms. “My truck’s about 30 minutes that way. I can give you a ride back to where you parked.”

I nodded, feelings whirling around in my chest, and followed close behind with the chocolate clutched between my warm hands, taking small bites as we traveled. As he walked ahead of me, I could see every muscle move in his ass and legs. My thoughts were racing at what had just happened, what was happening, and all the dirty ideas bounced back and forth in my skull.

We kept hiking in silence. Munching on the warm, melting chocolate as Hayden pressed forward kept my mind from straying to dirty thoughts as I watched those muscular thighs ripple within his slacks with every single step. Each time he turned to look back at me, my heart lept into my throat and my insides twisted with nerves.

It made me want him more.

“So, uh.” I started, wanting to know more of this savior. “What brought you to becoming a park ranger?”

He gave a humming noise in thought. I was worried I had overstepped some unspoken boundaries when he took some time to reply, his eyes gazing over the landscape as we walked.

"This is my office.” Hayden said, sweeping an arm out over the expanse of the trail and valley.

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