Three

Standing on the ladder, Amber had a great view of the museum store. To add to the arrangement she was working on, she pulled another bobblehead tyrannosaurus from the box resting on the shelf below. A quick glance behind her told her Gladys had finished with her customer and would soon want to inspect Amber’s merchandising skills, which were—in a word—none.

She’d spent the morning learning to operate their computerized register system as well as walking the entire floor to locate and identify each and every item. As far as she was concerned, she should be getting paid for this rather than working as a volunteer. But this was only her first day on the job.

Stocking the shelf with green felt-covered bobblehead dinosaurs was a far cry from digging in the dirt to excavate the real thing or learning the work behind accessions or collections.

Despite her disappointment, she smiled at the display and dusted off her hands. Gladys stood at the bottom of the ladder, looking up. The way Gladys smiled, Amber decided she’d convinced the older woman she had accepted her assignment without further complaint.

Gladys adjusted her glasses. “I thought you weren’t sure what to do. Looks like you have a knack for display. I think you might be a keeper.” She winked then turned her back to Amber, heading back to the register.

I’m a keeper? “Wait, Gladys.”

A teenager stood at the register, looking around expectantly. Gladys either didn’t hear or ignored Amber and hurried to assist the customer.

Amber didn’t want to be a keeper. At least not in the museum store. She began descending the ladder then remembered the box on the second shelf and climbed back up two rungs. As she gripped the ladder to grab the box, her hand swiped one of the bobbleheads. It tumbled over, knocking the other toy dinosaurs over like dominoes, the clattering amplified by the store acoustics.

With an hour until closing time still left, Amber huffed, wishing the day were over already. She wasn’t sure she could stick it out. And if she left, she’d have to wait until Cams could return to pick her up. She began restoring the dinosaur arrangement, wondering if the top shelf was really the best place for the display. But Gladys had insisted that children were tempted to play with the dinosaurs, leaving the toys too damaged to sell.

“The top shelf, it is,” she mumbled to herself, hoping for a readjustment in her attitude.

“Hi, there.” A smooth voice spoke from behind.

Where had she heard it before?

Amber turned around to see the guy she’d run into yesterday on the trail. “Oh, hi. You decided to stop by the museum store. That’s nice of you.” Why was she being so flirty with him? He was much older. Had to be married. But something about the way he looked up at her sent a warm, giddy feeling over her.

Please, don’t let him be married. She’d hate to think a married man would look at someone besides his wife like that. A glimpse at his left hand revealed no ring. But that didn’t necessarily mean anything. She made her way down the ladder without repairing the damage she’d done, stopping two rungs from the bottom. The bobbleheads weren’t going anywhere.

“Looks like you’re doing a great job for someone who didn’t want to work here.” He grinned.

Lifting the cardboard box that she’d tossed onto the shelf earlier, she blew out an exaggerated breath. “Not hardly. I’ve knocked these things over twice today. I’m so clumsy.”

“I know. Your family heirloom.”

“My family—” Amber looked at him. He remembered that?

“Starting tomorrow, you don’t have to worry about arranging the dinosaur toys. You officially begin your training as an intern assigned to the digs.”

She stepped down another rung, lingering on the last one, confusion whirling with panic inside. “How. . .how would you know that?”

The stranger stuck out his hand, waiting for hers. “I’m the museum director, Brandon Selman.”

Stunned beyond comprehension, Amber nearly stumbled off the ladder. Embarrassment flooded her thoughts and face.

“You mean, you’re Dr. Selman?” she asked, recalling Gladys’s adamant words.

He chuckled and dropped his hand. She’d never taken it.

“I may have a PhD but there’s no need for formalities. Mr. Selman will do in most cases.”

As she recalled, Gladys was pretty emphatic about the doctor part. Amber wouldn’t take any chances. “I was. . .expecting someone much older.”

The warmth in his expression faded somewhat.

“No, I didn’t mean it that way. What I meant is that you look so young. You’d think hours in the sun, digging for fossils would age a person faster, making him look older.”

He cocked a brow, waiting for her to shut up, she was certain. Probably thought she was as clumsy with her words as she was on her feet.

Uncertain whether to remain embarrassed, be angry or forever grateful, she fumbled over her words. “I’m. . .I feel like such an idiot. Everything I said yesterday. Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”

“Miss McKinsey, I honestly didn’t know you were an intern here until you invited me to stop by the museum store just as you ran off.”

“Oh, please, call me Amber.” She examined her shoes while she allowed excitement to bubble inside. Had there been a mistake, or had her chance encounter with him on the trail brought her dilemma to his attention?

She smiled at him, feeling shy. Hadn’t she just been flirting with the man? Hopefully, he hadn’t noticed.

“I don’t know what to say. Thank you.” She felt humbled to think that this man with a doctorate and who knew how many other degrees, who ran a reputable museum, would have heard the cry of her heart. It seemed like even God hadn’t done that. Dr. Selman had listened, and he’d done something about it.

“You’re welcome. I’m sorry for the confusion about your volunteer position. As it turns out, someone who works in the digs broke her leg this morning. We’ve had to juggle people. So, now you get to do what you came here for.”

So much for him hearing the cry of her heart. Figured. If even God didn’t listen, who would?

Then it hit her. “Oh, no. I hope it wasn’t Muriel who was hurt. She’s one of the new interns and my cabinmate.”

“Tori Gillispie was one of our returning interns working under Dr. Laudan, our research paleontologist.”

Amber studied his eyes, searching for the right words. “How did it happen?”

He stared down at her, suddenly turning serious. “Remember what I told you last night about the Badlands being dangerous?”

Amber nodded, thinking about that moment. It was then that he’d talked about ancient ruins in the moonlight. At the time, it had felt almost magical.

He cleared his throat, apparently aware her thoughts were elsewhere. “The dig is along the side of a rocky outcropping. There are deep slopes and cliffs. Though it’s mostly safe, especially in the amateur digs where the tourists are allowed, there are some risks involved. Tori misstepped and fell.”

“I’m thinking it could have been much worse.”

He studied her closely. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“You’re referring to my family heirloom.”

“I won’t stand in your way.”

“I’d love the experience. More than you know.” A thrill rushed through her. Though this wouldn’t be her first time at a fossil dig, it would be her first time as an intern instead of a tourist. She smiled up at the handsome museum director.

Dr. Selman gave her a funny look. “I want your time here to be a valuable learning experience.”

She thought again of the girl who’d been hurt. “I’m sure accidents are rare, aren’t they?”

He nodded as he subtly glanced at the mess she’d made of the toy dinosaurs, then back to her. “Have you ever been in the field before?”

“Sure I have.” Amber swallowed under his scrutiny. Michael had gone with her on amateur digs several times, but she didn’t want to bring up her brother now, if ever. Please, don’t let him ask where, when, or how.

She’d just have to keep her distance, not get too close to anyone. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to know about him. If they did, then. . .he really would have succeeded in destroying her life.

❧

“Good. Then you have some experience. And you’re right. Accidents are rare.”

Except in my world. . .

Brandon couldn’t believe what he was doing. After a night of tossing and turning, feeling guilty over his attitude, he’d made up his mind to find the young intern he’d met on the trail last night. His previous ordeal was a once in a lifetime regret. At least he hoped.

Jim wouldn’t be happy. But Brandon couldn’t stand the thought of her being stuck there. Early that morning, he’d found her file on Jim’s desk and read her request to work under Brandon directly. He knew that was in part thanks to his friend, Phil Young at UND. He almost laughed at the way things turned out—Jim had ended up giving in to Gladys’s requests for help. Poor girl.

With the news of Tori’s accident, Brandon was stepping in, if just this once.

“Tomorrow morning, report to the certification room. It’s in the basement. Jim can put you through the quick start program to ready you for a new group of tourists coming through next week. You’ll be guiding the tours and eventually, maybe even assisting with amateur digs. I can’t promise you that. But with Tori’s injury, Dr. Laudan might request additional help sooner rather than later.”

“Thank you again for this opportunity. I won’t let you down.” Amber flashed him a beautiful smile, her eyes filled with relief and gratitude. Then her smile faltered a bit. “I’m just sorry about Tori and hope she recovers soon.”

Brandon nodded. “The museum sent her flowers, wishing her a speedy recovery.” On the selfish side of things, Tori’s injury could be a setback for his plans for museum accreditation. He yanked his thoughts back to the present and glanced over at Gladys, who finished up with her last customer. She wouldn’t be happy about losing Amber either.

“I should at least complete this display for Gladys.” Amber laughed a little nervously. “Clean up my mess.”

She climbed up and began setting the dinosaurs right. Brandon picked a few off the floor and handed them to her. Despite his feelings about being obligated to tutor others, Brandon was glad he’d given Amber what she wanted for a far different reason. After only a few minutes in her presence, he sensed her enthusiasm, especially about the new assignment, and it was contagious. She’d sparked something in him he hadn’t felt in a long while.

Perhaps that’s what Phil had seen in her as well.

She smiled down as she took another bobblehead from him, brushing his fingers. “The basement, huh?”

He angled his head slightly. “Say again?”

“You said the certification room is in the basement.”

“Hasn’t anyone given you the grand tour yet?”

“Um, of the museum store, yes. Of the museum, no.”

“You need a tour, then.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Once the dinosaurs were perfectly in place, some of the heads bobbling, she began her descent down the ladder.

Brandon’s thoughts had already pushed ahead to the backlog of work on his desk. There were others to give her the tour. Like Jim or Gladys. Why hadn’t Jim scheduled some sort of orientation for these people? Might as well give Gladys the news.

“Gladys?” he called, as he glanced around the store.

“I’m just locking up. Be right there.”

Gladys waltzed around a shelf of dinosaur puzzles toward him and smiled. “Did you need something?”

“Miss McKinsey needs a tour of the museum, including the basement classrooms. The works. Would you. . .”

With a disapproving shake of her head, Gladys gave him her evil eye. But he saw the twinkle behind her glare. “Are you stealing this girl away from me?”

Brandon lifted his hands in surrender. “She comes to us from a colleague of mine. He wouldn’t be very happy if I sent her back with only knowledge of how to run a cash register now, would he? Could you—”

“Can’t do it. I have to balance and lock up the money. I’m afraid giving the grand tour, showing off your museum is your calling, talent, and gift. And considering you’re taking my only help from me, and I just spent all day training her—”

“All right. Fair enough. We’ll find you someone, Gladys. Don’t worry.”

Gladys frowned at Brandon then winked at Amber. “You kids run along. I’ll put up the ladder.”

“Are you kidding? I’ll put it away.” Brandon wasn’t about to let the older woman struggle with the ladder.

After folding it, he carried it to a closet tucked away in the back of the store. He’d never regretted hiring Gladys. She was a faithful and hard worker. When he returned, Gladys was closing out the register with Amber.

When Amber saw him, she smiled.

Her smile was almost too beautiful. Suddenly, his throat turned dry. He was in unfamiliar territory.

This is strictly business. Maybe he should have accepted Jim’s offer to keep interns and volunteers out of sight. But he knew that was impossible, and like Jim had said, an intern did not necessarily a protégé make.

“Ready?”

Amber grabbed her purse and moved from behind the counter. “As I’ll ever be.”

Brandon led her through the back of the store and down a flight of stairs. He opened the door for her. She gave him a brief glance when she walked by, stepping into the long hallway lined with classrooms.

He led her into the first room on the right. “This is the instruction room—texts, videos, and lectures created to keep the attention of adults and children alike.”

They moved to the next room. “This is the lab where the tourists can learn the proper procedure for handling fossils.”

She ran her fingers lightly over the counter then looked up at him, eager and full of hope and something akin to awe.

The admiration he saw in her eyes reminded him of another time and place, and someone he desperately wanted to forget. Uncomfortable, he turned away. “Next, I’ll show you where we receive the collections we’ve accessioned.”

After showing her the remaining rooms, he began flipping off the lights and making sure the doors were locked for the day. Amber chattered on about UND. How grateful she was to be interning at Harrington. He enjoyed listening to the excitement in her voice. He’d been that enthusiastic once.

“Dr. Young assured me that spending time working with you would help me better assess the direction I should take. While I love geology and have considered paleontology as my field of study. . .” She trailed off, shaking her head.

Brandon understood her very well. “You love the idea of collecting on a far greater scale.” He glanced down the hallway, making sure all the lights were off and considered her words about spending time working with him. By engaging in the process, he’d already put one foot into a place he had planned to avoid. How should he handle this?

“Why, yes. . .you read my mind.” She stared at him as if she had more to say but hadn’t figured out how to say it. “Dr. Selman, how did you decide what to do with your life? There’s just so much I want to do and I can’t do it all.”

As his mind filled with a million answers, he hung his head and chuckled. “You mean, how did I decide what I want to be when I grow up?”

“Yes,” she laughed, softly.

There was something in her voice. Something delightful, yet unnerving. He turned his gaze to Amber. In her eyes, he glimpsed something both familiar and unwelcome.

She saw herself as his protégé.

“I didn’t.”