Perfect Specimen: Brietta by Kate Donovan Read Free Book Online

is all better. Just a fluke.”
    “You’re a mess, you know that?” His expression morphed into a grin. “An archaeologist who can’t dig without passing out? That’s priceless.”
    “I hit a rock,” she reminded him.
    “Yeah, well, you terrified Hannan. The good news is, I don’t think he’s gonna hit on you anymore.” Without warning, he grasped her chin in his hand and forced her to look into his eyes. “Tell me the truth. Are you okay?”
    She nodded, impressed by how quickly his eyes could go from clinical to blazing.
    “I can massage your head and shoulders tonight if you want.”
    “That’s not necessary,” she assured him, her voice haughty.
    “It helped on the plane.”
    “Pardon?”
    “It’s not half as perverted as it sounds. You were in pain, I rubbed your forehead, you seemed better. I’ve been meaning to mention it,” he added with a sheepish smile.
    She licked her lips, impressed again. “Thanks, Taggert.”
    “So?” His tone turned seductive. “Tell me you’re not mad at me anymore.”
    “I’m not,” she said, licking her lips again, this time in preparation for the chemistry that was building between them. He was going to kiss her, and while it didn’t make sense, it also seemed inevitable, or at least she didn’t have the will to stop it.
    His hands settled on her hips, pulling her into him, just as his mouth covered hers, kissing her gently. Instinctively her hands slid behind his head, ready to urge him on.
    Then her eye socket began to throb, as if to warn her not to go any further, and another set of instincts took over, forcing her to pull away quickly. “Sorry,” she told him with a wry smile. “I’m so tempted, but—well, you know. Ten weeks is a long time.”
    “Right.”
    “Plus, I’m a mess, remember?”
    To her relief, he laughed. “Yeah, I remember.”
    “Go tell everyone I’m fine, okay? I’ll freshen up for dinner. It must almost be that time, right?”
    He seemed reluctant to leave, and for a second she thought he might even take another run at her. And she had a feeling she’d cave. Why else were her insides warming in anticipation again?
    Then he murmured for her to “take it slow,” turned away, and strode out of the tent.
    Sinking back onto her cot, she tried to clear her head, this time from confusion rather than pain.
    “You don’t even like the guy,” she reminded herself. “And even if you did, what are you thinking? Dig sex? It always goes south, right? Or at least that’s what they say.”
    She had heeded the advice of mentors—both male and female—on this subject and had carefully avoided on-site liaisons her entire career. Until today.
    First you flirt with Hannan, then you swoon for Taggert. Are you nuts?
    She could only hope Taggert was giving himself the same lecture, or a cold shower, or both. Assuming he respected the first rule of sexual politics where encampments were concerned. And she had a feeling he did. He was paranoid about things going wrong, and this was so, so wrong. Even though it had felt pretty right for a second or two.
    So keep your distance. Concentrate on digging up bones while he explores the hills. The perfect division of labor .
    She smiled, realizing that he had probably planned that division for just this reason. Hadn’t he tried to bring his best friend’s fiancée as his assistant, knowing there wouldn’t be any funny business? And now he was determined to vacate the premises every day, leaving Brietta alone with the grad students—
    Who are hopelessly violating the rules every chance they get , she remembered with a groan. What was Taggert thinking? It’s all fun and games now, but what if those two have a fight? Lovers’ quarrels, moping, taking sides — ugh. No wonder he put you in charge of them.
    Glad to have a new reason to be mad at him, she grabbed her shower kit and headed for the lavatory tent. If she ran into him there, she’d give him a piece of her mind—so much safer than