Page 5 of Falling for the Recluse

Adorable.

I’m pretty sure I’ve never even thought of that word before, much less used it in a sentence, but I do now. Josie Bennett is not only beautiful, she’sadorable.

Christ. She’s been here for less than an hour, and already she’s inspiring thoughts and feelings that are totally foreign. Ones I don’t want.

“Look.” I step closer, getting into her space. She backs up, still blushing.

“You’re right,” I say coldly. “I don’t want you here. But if I’m going to stay on Needle Island, I have to put up with you. And, yes. You will mind your own business, do your work, and stay the hell out of my life. The gossip is correct. I’m a grade-A asshole who wants nothing to do with anyone, least of all a perky little undergrad who thinks she’s going to save the fucking world by counting penguins.”

She stares at me. Hurt darkens her blue eyes.

Fuck fuckfuck.

I stiffen my spine, fighting back the stab of regret.

Josie lifts her chin. “Nice try, Dr. Stark.”

“What?”

“I saidnice try,” she repeats, poking me in the chest with her forefinger. “I get it. You’re trying to scare me off. You think if you’re mean to me, I’ll start crying. You think I can’t handle this. You want me to call the mainland and beg them to come back and rescue me from the big, scary monster stomping around Needle Island, beating his chest and snarling at everyone who gets too close. Well, I have news for you.”

She jabs me with her finger again. “I’m not that easily intimidated. And Needle Island does not belong to you or anyone else. No part of Antarctica does. Which means I have as much a right to be here as you do. I intend to carry out the research entrusted to me…and yes, that includes counting penguins. If you can’t see the value of studying and protecting one of the most important animals in the ocean’s ecosystem, then it’s no wonder everyone calls you theIce Prick.”

She glares at me, her breathing rapid, skin flushed, and a trickle of sweat creeping down from under the knit hat she’s still wearing.

The thick layers of ice inside me are already cracking. Splintering. For all my ogre-like animosity, I might not have the power to withstand the force of this girl.

And if I don’t…that’s it. I’m done for.

I turn away from her. “Come on.”

My voice is serrated like a knife’s edge. I feel her brief silence, then hear the clomp of her heavy boots behind me.

We go through the workroom, which is furnished with a potbelly stove, two computers, and several scarred wooden tables. Dozens of maps, photos, graphs, and computer printouts are tacked to the walls, and the big window overlooks the rocky slope leading to the shore.

“Kitchen.” I stab my finger toward the adjoining room. “And toilet.” Another finger-point to a door leading to the tiny bathroom. “Your bedroom is in the back.”

I stride down the narrow corridor and shove open a door across from my room. After unceremoniously dumping her stuff on the bed, I turn to find her peering at the sparse furnishings.

“There’s no desk.” She indicates her backpack. “Should I set up my workstation somewhere else?”

Though I dislike the idea of us working in proximity—the setup will make her more of a distraction than she already is—I stride back to the workroom. She hurries after me.

I point at an empty table across the room from my equipment. “You can use that desk.”

“Look, Dr. Stark, I don’t want us to be at each other’s throats.” She sets her backpack down and holds up her hands. “I realize I’m invading your territory, but there’s obviously no way around that since I’m already here. And it’s not like I’m trying to get in your way. We’re both here for the same reason, right? To work and discover new things about this part of the world. So we might as well find a way to coexist without animosity.”

“Well, that was mature and professional,” I mutter. “And kind of annoying since I’m the senior scientist here.”

Her mouth quirks with a smile. “So maybe you can teach me a thing or two.”

Our eyes meet. Electricity crackles through the air. My heart stutters. I almost have to bite my tongue to stop myself from listing all the things I want to teach her.

“You have a lot to learn,” I say.

It’s not a question, but she nods slowly. Her gaze slips over my face to my mouth. It’s all I can do not to cross the room and haul her into my arms.

Dragging my attention from her, I indicate an outlet by the desk. “You can plug your laptop in there. The electricity is reliable, but the internet connection is hit or miss. You won’t be able to use your phone to text your friends.”

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