CHAPTER ONE

 

“What the hell is that?” Dr. Ti’ann Jones squinted at the new image materializing on the molecular echo imaging readout screen. Ambient heat filtered in through the tent canvas, despite the temp regulators to keep the equipment cool, and she absently swiped at the sweat dripping down her temples. She poked a finger at the screen, indicating the scroll of elements that made up the unexpected object. “That can’t be right.”

Her colleague, Dr. Krin Freemont, glanced between the finalized view of the odd shape and the molecular readout table, a frown marring his nearly perfect dark caramel complexion. He pushed a shock of red hair out of his eyes and shook his head. “I have no idea what that is.” He leaned back, the movement making his canvas chair groan.

“You’re the genius. No miraculous leaps of insight here?”

Krin chuckled. “Hey, whatever that is, it’s not a plant and it’s not geological, therefore, it’s not in my realm of expertise.”

Ti’ann spared him a quick glance then grunted. She considered the heat trying to defeat the cooling system and wondered if it was affecting the readout. They hadn’t had any trouble so far, but that didn’t mean the MEI hadn’t decided to malfunction. She swung around to a secondary unit and started a diagnostic run, just to make sure everything was working properly.

“You’re the paleo-zoologist.” Krin gestured at the list of molecules that comprised the object. “It’s got genetic material. It’s organic, whatever it is, and it’s sure as hell not plant life. That makes it your field, Dr. Jones.”

“That,” she turned back and poked the screen again, “,is not like any fossilized animal I’ve ever seen, heard of, read about or seen in any historical data. On or off this planet.”

But she had to reluctantly agree with him. It was organic. The genetic material was native to Narava, but it was also composed of elements she’d never encountered in an animal, living or dead. Ever.

A beeping sound alerted her to the end of the diagnostic run. “Damn. The equipment is working fine,” she muttered. “So, whatever it is, we’re getting an accurate reading.” She frowned at the image again, the mystery of it was as frustrating as it was fascinating. “You know, if it weren’t for the genetic components, I’d swear that was a structure. Pyri-Stone and Quinn’s Beryl Crystal is in the ground all around this area. Perfect building material.”

“But even the earliest human settlers didn’t build here. Especially that deep underground.”

“What if…?” Ti’ann bit her bottom lip as an image of Narava’s controversial native species, the Shifters, flashed through her mind—their long golden bodies and the multi-colored swirling eyes of their natural forms. She met her partner’s jade gaze. “We could always ask—”

“No.” He cut her off with a sharp gesture and straightened in his seat.

“You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”

“I know you better than you know yourself, Ti’ann. You think this has something to do with …them.”

“Well, what if it does?” She lowered her voice and leaned in close to him. “Someone from a Shifter support group might know what we’re looking at.”

“No. You do not want to bring that kind of attention to our site. There are fanatics on both sides of the extermination argument. Especially with the current Senate debates. You don’t know who might land here.”

“There’s a friend of a friend of a friend I can contact.”

“No,” he repeated. “Even if you can trust this person, their presence will attract attention. We’ll end up with fanatics, protesters, politicians, news reporters…” He shuddered at the mention of the last group. “All of them trampling our site. Not to mention the possible violence. No.”

“Do you have any other ideas?”

“Yes. We ignore this thing.” He flicked his hand toward the screen. “And we get back to the rest of the dig.”

“Can you really do that? This could be the biggest thing we’ve ever found. It could make our careers.”

“Or it could be nothing at all.”

“And we won’t know which until we dig.”

“So we dig. Without calling in outsiders.”

“What if it’s dangerous? Neither one of us has even a guess what it is. I don’t want to unleash some as of yet undiscovered Naravan disease or hibernating monster because I didn’t check all possible sources for information.” Their jobs had always been complicated by a lack of good data about this planet’s ancient history, so they had to be extraordinarily careful in their searches.

“What makes you think supporters will know any more than we do?” Krin challenged.

“The only way we’ll know is by asking.”

He groaned and turned to stare at the closed tent-door flap. “You’re determined to contact these people?”

“I can’t ignore this. We can’t. You know we can’t. Look at it. It’s amazing, impossible. But I don’t want to start digging if it turns out this is something potentially dangerous. We’ll keep the arrival of this outside help quiet. Only you and I need to know the truth about their affiliations.” She grinned and ducked her head to catch Krin’s gaze. “Come on. You know you want to.”

His reluctant smile made her chuckle. But when he faced her fully, his expression was serious. “Okay, we’ll do things your way. But I want one concession. If you do this, we bring in security for the site.”

“We don’t have the funds. The grant barely covers our expenses as is.”

“A friend of Devin’s has some connections,” Krin suggested. “It won’t cost much.”

“That doesn’t sound entirely legal.”

“You want to contact a secret support group and you’re worried about legal?”

“Krin . . .”

“This is about keeping us all from getting killed.” He launched up out of his chair and started pacing around the tent. His circuit was short with all the equipment in the way. He paused when he heard voices from just outside the tent then continued to pace when the sound faded away.

Ti’ann had never seen her best friend this agitated. Not even when he’d been contemplating the serious step of proposing to his partner Devin, or when he’d faced possible expulsion for punching his supervisor while pursuing his third Ph.D.

“You’re really serious about this?” she asked. “You really think we need security?”

“Yes.” He stilled and faced her. “I think if that anomaly has anything to do with them, we’re gonna need all the help we can get.”

“And what makes you think this man will be neutral on the issue? What if he sympathizes with one side or the other?”

“He’s paid to be neutral. It’s what he does. That’s the whole reason I’d rather hire someone like him than go to a public security firm or to the Guards.”

She rolled the end of her long braid around her fingers and pursed her lips. After a silent moment, she nodded. “Okay, Krin, if you honestly think we need security, go ahead.” She turned back to the readout screen and focused on the anomalous shape causing all the trouble. “But you’re responsible for coming up with a way to pay him. I’m not stealing artifacts or coughing up hard won grant money.”

She heard Krin’s sigh of relief and almost smiled.

“I’ll take care of everything.” He left the tent without another word.

*****

“Dr. Jones.” One of the volunteers, Micca, stopped beside Ti’ann, drawing her attention. “There’s a man here to see you.”

Ti’ann stretched her back until her spine popped, sighed, then wiped the purple dust on her hands over her green khaki pants. She glanced up at the sky. The sun had arched past its zenith, starting its afternoon dip toward the horizon, but the valley was still awash in bright, hot light.

“Who is it?” she asked Micca, blinking at the young woman.

“I don’t know. Dr. Freemont just told me to come and get you.”

“Thanks.”

When Micca turned and walked away, Ti’ann looked back at her dig site and the small animal bones she was unearthing. Their white coloring glowed in the dark purple grit covering the valley floor.

She activated the scanners surrounding the area she was working on, covering it with a magnetic blanket shield to protect it from being reburied by the sporadic winds that blew through the valley. Collecting her memo tablet from the large rock she’d set it on that morning, she nodded to the nearest person still carefully dusting specks of purple from an unclassified thigh bone and crossed to the lift platforms that carried the crew up from the valley floor to the campsite.

As the lift rose, she wondered if the members of the Shifter support group had arrived already. James Monroe, her contact in the group, had insisted on bringing several people with him, something that made her a little more nervous about her plan. She was glad Krin had insisted on security now. Keeping the reason for the presence of a small group secret was a lot more difficult than doing so for a single person. And that was just among her own team. Bringing in a group might well attract the attention of just the type of people Krin was afraid of.

But she wasn’t expecting Monroe and his people for another three hours or so. It could be the security guy. She had no idea when he was expected. Though, she’d be surprised if Krin called her up for that. The security was officially Krin’s responsibility. She was in charge of the Shifter support group. That suited her just fine. She was anxious to find out what their anomaly was, excited about the potential. The mystery of it had occupied her mind all morning, and she could barely wait for Monroe and his people to arrive.

As she walked down the rocky path leading from the lifts to the campsite, she pulled out her memo tablet and called up the list of elements making up the anomaly. Puzzling through the strange mixture of molecules, she only looked up and noticed her surroundings when she heard a hesitant cough. Blinking, she realized she’d reached the very edge of the camp and had nearly walked right past Krin. She started to smile.

Until she spotted the man next to Krin.

Her breath locked in her throat. She froze, unable to move or think or speak. Even when Krin stepped forward and made the introductions, several heartbeats passed before what he said worked its way into her brain.

“He’s the man I was telling you about,” Krin said, a note of hesitance in his voice.

She pressed her lips together to keep her mouth from dropping open and focused on Krin.

“Dr. Jones,” he continued, despite the creases marring his smooth forehead, “this is Nathan Longfeather. He’s agreed to assist us with our security issues.”

Ti’ann nodded and was about to say they’d met before when a deep and, unfortunately, well-remembered voice said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Jones.”

Her gaze snapped around, locking with his dusky, green-amber eyes.

He didn’t remember her.

She saw it in his expression, as plainly as if he’d pulled a knife out and shown it to her before plunging it into her gut. Oh god, he didn’t have any idea who she was.

She suppressed the sudden tremors sneaking up her body and sucked in her top lip, pressing it hard with her teeth.

When he extended a hand at the introduction, she took it but pulled away from the warmth of his big palm with a jerk. She couldn’t look him in the eyes, but letting her gaze wander over the rest of his face didn’t help either.

He looked exactly how she remembered him—strong, high cheekbones; sharp, broad nose; sensuously firm lips on a wide mouth; smooth brown-red skin.

His straight black hair hung nearly to his waist, almost as long as her own. The top was held back from his face by a small braid.

His broad shoulders and narrow hips hinted at a temptingly masculine physique. Though, through his loose trousers and flight jacket, a person would have to guess at the degree of muscle and strength.

Unless that person had seen him out of his clothes.

Ti’ann’s mouth dried at the memory.

She turned her attention back to Krin, so she wouldn’t have to confront the man who appeared too often in her dreams. She clenched her teeth together and tried hard not to let the hurt show. But a quiet voice, deep inside, whispered, Of course he doesn’t remember you. Why would he, Ti’ann? Look at him. He’s gorgeous. The kind of man most women would die to have. Why would a man like that remember someone like you?

“I wasn’t expecting him so soon,” she muttered flicking a glance at Nathan before settling back more comfortably on Krin. Actually, she’d had no idea when he was expected. But she had to say something, anything to fill the void. Krin would start to worry if she didn’t. And speaking to Nathan right now, when her chest felt tight and her stomach hollow, was impossible.

“I was told the situation required my immediate attention,” Nathan answered. “And as I was between jobs, I had time to make myself available at the request of a friend.”

There wasn’t even a hint of the discomfort or embarrassment she was feeling in his voice. Just a relaxed confidence, edged for business.

Ti’ann took a deep breath and stiffened her spine, turning back to Nathan. “I’m not sure how dire our situation is, Mr. Longfeather. But Dr. Freemont thought it best we have some security. You came highly recommended from his friend.”

She tried raising her voice above a mumble. But meeting his indifferent gaze was almost more than she could take, so she turned her attention to the tablet in her hand, pretending to focus on the row of anomaly data still on her screen. If she didn’t have to look at him, she could pretend he was just an ordinary person, that she wasn’t affected by his presence anymore than he was hers. She could pretend he wasn’t the man who had turned her world upside down three years ago and ruined her for all other men. She might even be able to convince herself her heart wasn’t being crushed by the loss of an impossible fantasy. Lying though, even to herself, had never been one of her strengths.

Attempting a distracted tone, she said, “I assume Dr. Freemont’s told you we won’t be able to pay you out of our regular source of funding.”

“We’ve already discussed a price and method of payment, Dr. Jones,” Krin said, the tone of his voice hinting to stay away from the topic.

In her present state, she was happy to, as long as she could get away from Nathan Longfeather as quickly as possible. “Fine. In that case, I’ll leave the particulars to you two. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t interfere with the dig sites themselves, Mr. Longfeather. Otherwise, do what you think is necessary.” She kept her focus on her memo tablet, running a finger over the screen to call up more data as she walked past the men toward camp.

Nathan stopped her with a statement directed to Krin. “Would you mind if I spoke with Dr. Jones alone for a few minutes, Dr. Freemont?”

Her stomach tightened in panic. She couldn’t be alone with him! Not yet.

Krin must have seen panic on her face when she snapped her gaze to him because he hesitated.

“I’m sure whatever you have to discuss with Dr. Jones can be discussed with me as well, Longfeather. We’re partners.”

“I understand. I just have a few questions for the doctor before I begin my survey of the area.”

Krin held her gaze in silent question, waiting for her to make the call.

After a moment, she nodded. “They could use a hand at the secondary site,” she said to Krin. When he continued hesitating, she added, “I’ll meet you in the imaging tent in half an hour.”

The appointment seemed enough to settle him. He extended his hand to Nathan. “Thanks again for coming on such short notice. Find me after you’ve done your initial survey.” To Ti’ann, he added, “I’ll see you in thirty minutes.”

When they were alone, Ti’ann took a deep breath and faced Nathan. She kept her gaze on a spot just beyond his right ear. But the avoidance made her feel like a ninny, so firmed her shoulders and met his gaze. “What did you need to ask me, Mr. Longfeather?”

“First, call me Nathan. Mister Longfeather doesn’t quite work on a man in my profession.”

She nodded but didn’t comment.

“Second, I’d like to know what you think I should expect here.”

“I know it isn’t entirely normal for a paleontology dig to require security, but it’s always better to be safe.” She studied her tablet again, so she could drop eye contact. She was not a good liar. Or so Krin always told her. “We’re awfully close to Gremblewreath and we’ve had a few joy riders buzz by. Since the town is known for having a less-than-law-abiding element, we don’t want to risk any of the equipment getting stolen or vandalized.”

“I wasn’t called all this way because of Gremblewreath thugs, Dr. Jones. I don’t come cheap. There’s a reason you and your partner have decided to hire my particular brand of services. But to do my job effectively, I have to know what I’m facing. What I’m really trying to secure.”

She tried for a casual shrug, which felt stiff and insincere, and said, “You’re here to secure this dig site. Some of our finds can be quite valuable in academic circles.” Her gut tightened when she glanced over her tablet at him. He wasn’t buying her story. She hated, hated, feeling so off-balance and uncertain in front of him. She was a professional damn it. Just because he didn’t remember her, didn’t mean she had to let him know he upset her.

He shook his head and settled his hands on his hips. “Keeping something from me is going to make it impossible for me to do my job, Dr. Jones. Enough of the bullshit, if you don’t mind.”

She narrowed her gaze and, for an instant, indignation overwhelmed her hurt and self-consciousness. “I was under the impression you were both neutral and discrete, Mr. Longfeather.”

“That’s what I’m being paid for.”

“Then all you need to know is that you’re guarding my dig site. All of it. You’re here to make sure no one from the outside hurts my people.”

“And just exactly who would want to hurt your people? Given this is just a paleontology dig.”

She cursed silently and focused on the memo tablet again. Not only did he make her feel like an idiot, now he was making her act like one. “Mr. Longfeather—”

“Nathan.”

She ignored his interruption. “The details aren’t important. We scientists keep our discoveries close to the chest. Suffice it to say, we may—or may not—have found something of great interest. The find has the potential to cause some…complications. To avoid possible difficulties, Dr. Freemont felt we needed your brand of help. And if you’re prepared for any kind of trouble, then that’s really all the information you need right now.” She held up a hand to stop him when he started to speak. “I am not prepared to go into any more details at the present. You’re just going to have to deal with the information I’ve shared.” She forced herself to look up and meet his gaze. She might feel like an ass right now, but she was a professional. And her work was too damned important to her to let him intimidate her. Or at least to let her intimidation show. “Am I clear?”

To her surprise, her outburst earned her a crooked, devastating grin. Ti’ann felt all the horrible hurt and mortification wash back over her, burying the strength she was desperately clinging to.

“Clear,” he said.

His deep voice sent a skittering of desire down her spine, causing an unwanted rush of memory. The dark, cool hotel room, tangled sheets, sweat and lust, the hard strength of his body above hers, the brush of his long hair across her breasts. She blinked and took an involuntary step away from him, her throat tight from a combination of pain and longing.

“Good,” she said, but even to her, her voice sounded strained. She swallowed and forced out, “Any further questions can be directed to Dr. Freemont.”

“Oh, I will, Dr. Jones.”

She jerked out a nod and turned to leave, but his husky voice stopped her.

“By the way, do you have a first name?”

Pain lanced through her. She kept her back to him so he wouldn’t see how devastated she was by his simple question. “Of course.”

“Would you mind telling me?”

The last time he’d asked for her first name had been under very different circumstances. Standing here now, with him politely curious, she felt like that other time must have happened to someone else. The sexy, blond woman she’d tried to be all those years ago was someone from a dream, with no connection to her real self. Why would Nathan see that woman in the person she was now? Straightening her shoulders, she kept her attention on the trees in front of her as she said, “Ti’ann.”

Nathan said something under his breath, but she was too busy hurrying toward the safety of camp to hear him.

 

“I thought it was you,” Nathan murmured to Ti’ann’s retreating back. He could hardly believe it was her. And of all places, to meet her again, in the backwaters of Narava. He almost hadn’t recognized her. She’d had blond hair when they met three years ago. And her clothes, then lack of clothing, had kept her lush body on display. With her now brown hair pulled tightly into a long, thick braid, her curves hidden in loose pants and t-shirt, and her sexy gray eyes focused on everything but him most of the time…it was hard to see the woman he’d spent those spectacular, erotic nights with. He’d had to hear her name to be sure he wasn’t imagining things.

He watched the natural swing of her hips as she walked away and his gut tightened as detailed fantasies began mixing with memory. She’d pretended not to know him just now. She was a crappy liar. He’d seen the spark of recognition before she’d attempted to mask it. She hadn’t forgotten their time together any more than he had. Why she pretended they didn’t have a past was a mystery he’d get to soon enough. When they had some privacy.

For three years, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about this woman and their two brief nights together. Despite his best efforts. For a few months after, he’d even considered trying to track her down.

He hadn’t.

He kept telling himself it was best he’d left when he had. She was the type of woman a guy could fall hard for, and at that point in his life, he couldn’t afford the distraction.

If only his ex-partner, Alex, had followed the same advice. Falling for Gina had nearly gotten them all killed. And Alex had always been the one telling Nathan not to seduce clients! Dumb bastard had gone and broken his own rule. Then married the woman! To be fair, Nathan liked Gina. She was good for his friend. And what had happened hadn’t been her fault. He put the blame solidly on Alex’s shoulders. But as far as Nathan was concerned, the fact that his friend was ridiculously happy with his wife did not make him any less of an asshole.

Breaking up their partnership after all the years they’d worked together hadn’t helped endear Alex to him either. Even if it had been the right decision. When Nathan saw Alex these days, he took great pleasure in rubbing the ex-mercenary’s face in his idiocy. Since Gina thought their banter was funny, Nathan didn’t even feel guilty about the abuse he heaped on Alex.

Thoughts of his ex-partner made Nathan frown. Until that moment, he’d had every intention of seducing the lovely Dr. Jones again. Though the first time, he hadn’t known she was Dr. Jones. In fact, he hadn’t been able to get her name out of her until the first time he’d made her come. Knowing her name didn’t make any difference, though. Then or now. Then, he’d been too busy driving them both to exhaustion.

Now?

Now, he wanted… No, he needed to see if the passion they’d experienced in those two nights could possibly happen again. He had never experienced anything like it, before or after. Lust so intense, so drugging, he could barely keep his hands off her. He’d had to leave the suite a couple of times just to avoid exhausting her unconscious.

He smiled thinking about it. She’d actually kept up with him quite well, if memory served.

And that was one of the problems. Was he remembering those two nights for what they were or had he blown them all out of proportion in the last three years? After watching her gray eyes flash when she attempted to put him in his place, he was pretty sure his memories were accurate. He was looking forward to confirming that, as much as he was looking forward to making her admit she remembered him.

Unfortunately, she was now his client. That was the other problem. He never got involved with someone he was working for. He actually followed the rule Alex had always drilled into him. When working, Nathan kept his dick in his pants.

With a resigned sigh, he accepted he was going to have to do that now, too. For a little while anyway. He’d let Ti’ann pretend she didn’t know him, and he’d resist dragging her off to his ship to prove how well she did. But as soon as this job was finished, he had plans for the good doctor.

Energetic plans.