It took most of the day to work through the process of selecting the right areas and choosing the digital information that was needed. When she finished, she ordered wilderness area maps to pick up at the Tonto National Forest Ranger District Office not far from Apache Junction.
It was way past lunchtime, but until her stomach growled, she’d been too busy to notice. Her head came up as she caught the aroma of roast beef sandwiches and spicy dill pickles.
“It’s a little late for lunch,” Gage said, “but I realized I was hungry, and I figured you must be too.” He set a sandwich and a Diet Coke on the desk. “I sent Maggie over to Tony’s Deli. They have great food, and I thought a working lunch would be better than no lunch at all.”
She smiled up at him. “Thanks. All of a sudden, I’m starving.”
Gage absently nodded, his mind already back at work. The man was focused, to say the least. Since they’d walked into the office, Abby seemed to have become all but invisible.
“I meant to ask you,” he said. “When was the last time you had a physical? You need to be fully checked out before we leave.”
“One of your rules?”
He nodded. “An important one. If you need me to set something up—”
“My grandfather had the same rule. He didn’t want anyone getting sick while they were off in the middle of nowhere. You don’t have to worry. I had a complete physical before I came to see you.”
Gage nodded. “I just got a checkup, so we’re both good to go.” As Gage walked away, she noticed the muscles moving beneath the snug black T-shirt stretched over his broad back. Her abdomen clenched. Dammit, she didn’t have time for that kind of thinking, especially not with Gage.
She picked up the sandwich and took a bite, but her thoughts kept straying to the attraction she couldn’t seem to stifle. Work was the cure. As soon as she finished her lunch, she grabbed her camera and started taking photos of the office, which now boasted glossy printed digital maps pinned to a giant bulletin board, as well as brightly colored 3-D maps on several computer screens.
Through Gage’s open office door, she spotted him behind his desk, his head bent over a book he was reading that journaled an early expedition into the Superstitions. Approaching quietly, she started snapping photos, then did a short video sweep.
Gage looked up, and for a moment, their eyes met. Abby snapped a shot that captured his dark good looks and intense blue eyes.
“Got it. Thanks.” She wandered back to her desk, brought up the photo, and sucked in a breath.
There was no mistaking the hot gleam in those fierce blue eyes. Gage might be focused on work, but for a single moment in time, he had been focused completely on her. That single moment told her exactly what Gage had been thinking.
And it meant serious trouble for Abby.
* * *
Gage leaned back in the black leather chair behind his desk, his cell phone pressed against his ear. “All right, Walt, I think we understand each other. I look forward to meeting you.” He ended the call just as Abby walked into his office.
“I hope I’m not interrupting.”
He tried not to notice the outline of her pretty breasts beneath her sweater, failed miserably, and ignored a surge of arousal and forced himself to concentrate.
“That was Walter Jenkins. He and his son, Kyle, own the Cedar Canyon Ranch. I spoke to some people in Phoenix who know the Superstitions, and according to them, Walt and Kyle are two of the best guides in the area.”
“You hired them?”
“I think they’re our best bet. I still want to meet them, check out their stock and gear. The good news is they have cabins for rent on the ranch. We can stay right there.”
“I made reservations at one of the motels, but I can cancel.”
“Being out there should help us get familiar with the terrain and save us some time.”
“I’ll take care of it. I printed all the maps I could, and the rest are being FedExed overnight. We can pick up the wilderness area maps at the Ranger District Office.”
He nodded. “It’s getting late. I’ll go over what we have first thing in the morning. I like to look at them with fresh eyes.”
Abby smiled. “I’d like another look myself.” She covered her mouth to stifle a yawn. “What else do you need me to do?”
Gage glanced out the window. Darkness had begun to settle over the neighborhood, and the restaurants and bars were beginning to fill up. “That’s enough for today. We’ll start again tomorrow.”
“Are you sure? I can stay a little longer if there’s something else you need me to do.”
