yourself,” she said to the image in front of her.
“But how do I do that?” the image argued back.
“You suck it up and rebuild your defenses, simple as that,” she countered.
“I don’t want to go back to being alone.”
God, I’m talking to myself now. Can it get any weirder?
A tear made its way down her cheek as she thought of how lonely her life had been since Holly and then her gran had passed away. The last time she’d cried had been at her grandmother’s funeral. Now the thought of Kylie Wilcox was calling out to her heart, filling it with emotion and need. With a sudden jerk of her hand, she wiped the tear away and walked into her bedroom, where she changed into jeans and a t-shirt and put on her work boots. Once she’d gathered her dig bag from a closet, she headed for the door.
The university had a site south of the city where beginning archaeology students and volunteers who were interested in the field could dig and learn. That was where she would go. There she could center herself again and find the answers she needed. She knew the healing sun would be warm on her back as she carefully dug and brushed while explaining to the students and volunteers what she was doing. She couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of looking for the past to find her future
†
“Well hello, stranger,” a low, sexy voice said.
Doctor Maxine Dylan was the dean of archaeology at the university. Her taut body and shapely legs begged for attention and appreciation. Her long, auburn hair was usually pulled back into a ponytail that fit through the back of the baseball cap she always seemed to wear. She was an exceptional archaeologist and had collaborated on LJ’s excursion to Peru by providing a workforce of her best students and graduate assistants. She was also at the dig as an advisor.
“Mind if I join in today, Max?”
The woman’s eyes raked over her body. LJ hadn’t anticipated that Max would be there. In the past, she rarely spent time at the dig site, opting to send one of her graduate students instead.
“I never mind you joining me in anything.” Max ran a finger down LJ’s arm, and LJ swatted it away. “Everyone, listen up.”
The participants at the dig stopped what they were doing and looked in Dr. Dylan’s direction before an excited hum went through the crowd.
“Today we are privileged that Dr. Evans came here to join us. As the majority of you already know, she has knowledge and a skill set you can all learn from. So don’t hesitate to take advantage of her being here with us today.” Everyone applauded before Max threaded her arm through LJ’s and led her to a small trailer she used for an office. “You can stow your things in here.”
“Okay.” LJ moved inside and could feel Max right behind her. For LJ, Max had been the ultimate fuck—primal, heart-pounding, hot sex. In the past, all Max needed to do was move close to her and LJ would become wet with arousal. It had been a long time since their last encounter, but the effect the woman had on her was still strong. Visions flooded LJ’s head of nights of heated, unbridled passion while on digs that threatened to drive her over the edge. She found herself drawn to Max again and turned to face the woman.
“You know”—Max moved to within inches of LJ—“we should get together tonight and pick up where we left off.” She let out a soft purr before leaning in and passionately kissing LJ.
LJ pushed her away, then stared into Max’s darkened, lust-filled, hazel eyes. “Stop!” LJ scowled. “What the hell are you doing?”
Max grinned. “It’s pretty obvious, unless I’ve lost my touch.”
“This is not the time or the place. Try and remember where you are and who might be around before you pull something like that again,” LJ growled. “I thought we had this same conversation on the dig in Peru.”
“We did.” In typical Max form, she laughed and then moved in to capture LJ’s lips again. When LJ moved to
“But how do I do that?” the image argued back.
“You suck it up and rebuild your defenses, simple as that,” she countered.
“I don’t want to go back to being alone.”
God, I’m talking to myself now. Can it get any weirder?
A tear made its way down her cheek as she thought of how lonely her life had been since Holly and then her gran had passed away. The last time she’d cried had been at her grandmother’s funeral. Now the thought of Kylie Wilcox was calling out to her heart, filling it with emotion and need. With a sudden jerk of her hand, she wiped the tear away and walked into her bedroom, where she changed into jeans and a t-shirt and put on her work boots. Once she’d gathered her dig bag from a closet, she headed for the door.
The university had a site south of the city where beginning archaeology students and volunteers who were interested in the field could dig and learn. That was where she would go. There she could center herself again and find the answers she needed. She knew the healing sun would be warm on her back as she carefully dug and brushed while explaining to the students and volunteers what she was doing. She couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of looking for the past to find her future
†
“Well hello, stranger,” a low, sexy voice said.
Doctor Maxine Dylan was the dean of archaeology at the university. Her taut body and shapely legs begged for attention and appreciation. Her long, auburn hair was usually pulled back into a ponytail that fit through the back of the baseball cap she always seemed to wear. She was an exceptional archaeologist and had collaborated on LJ’s excursion to Peru by providing a workforce of her best students and graduate assistants. She was also at the dig as an advisor.
“Mind if I join in today, Max?”
The woman’s eyes raked over her body. LJ hadn’t anticipated that Max would be there. In the past, she rarely spent time at the dig site, opting to send one of her graduate students instead.
“I never mind you joining me in anything.” Max ran a finger down LJ’s arm, and LJ swatted it away. “Everyone, listen up.”
The participants at the dig stopped what they were doing and looked in Dr. Dylan’s direction before an excited hum went through the crowd.
“Today we are privileged that Dr. Evans came here to join us. As the majority of you already know, she has knowledge and a skill set you can all learn from. So don’t hesitate to take advantage of her being here with us today.” Everyone applauded before Max threaded her arm through LJ’s and led her to a small trailer she used for an office. “You can stow your things in here.”
“Okay.” LJ moved inside and could feel Max right behind her. For LJ, Max had been the ultimate fuck—primal, heart-pounding, hot sex. In the past, all Max needed to do was move close to her and LJ would become wet with arousal. It had been a long time since their last encounter, but the effect the woman had on her was still strong. Visions flooded LJ’s head of nights of heated, unbridled passion while on digs that threatened to drive her over the edge. She found herself drawn to Max again and turned to face the woman.
“You know”—Max moved to within inches of LJ—“we should get together tonight and pick up where we left off.” She let out a soft purr before leaning in and passionately kissing LJ.
LJ pushed her away, then stared into Max’s darkened, lust-filled, hazel eyes. “Stop!” LJ scowled. “What the hell are you doing?”
Max grinned. “It’s pretty obvious, unless I’ve lost my touch.”
“This is not the time or the place. Try and remember where you are and who might be around before you pull something like that again,” LJ growled. “I thought we had this same conversation on the dig in Peru.”
“We did.” In typical Max form, she laughed and then moved in to capture LJ’s lips again. When LJ moved to
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