He was staring at my chest and stomach, both covered in sweat and dirt. “Mmm.”
I might have flexed a little, just for show, as I took my shirt and wiped myself down again. He didn’t even try to hide the fact he was gawking at me. When he finally looked at my face, I was grinning. “So? Did you discover any non-existent butterflies in the southwest section?”
His eyes flashed with something like indignation and he tilted his head. I don’t think he liked my question. “No.”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Do you think I’m foolish for taking Professor Tillman at his word and spending my time searching the woodlands of Tasmania for a species that might not even exist?”
“What? No, I don’t think that at all.”
“Would you mind putting your shirt back on please?” He licked his lips again. “I can’t seem to concentrate.”
“Sorry,” I said, not really sorry at all. Seeing Lawson all flustered did great things for my ego. I pulled my shirt over my head.
“I’m not doing this for the glory of it,” he added. “Searching for this species.”
“I know that.” I looked him right in the eye so he would see my sincerity. “No. I think you’re passionate, and you love what you do so much that you want to believe Professor Tillman. Because what if he’s right? Because what if there is a species of butterfly never documented before! And what if you’re the one to find it? You’re not in this for the glory, even I can see that. You’re doing it because if this species does exist, there needs to be research and breeding programs and funding. Finding it is just the beginning.”
He didn’t speak for a moment, just looked at me like a cryptic riddle in his head finally made sense. “Well, yes.” He looked to his feet, then back to me. “No one’s ever understood that part of me. Not outside of my work, anyway.”
A warmth expanded in my chest at his words. “Then no one’s ever paid close enough attention.”
“No,” he answered quietly. “I guess they haven’t.”
Changing the subject, I dusted off my hands. “Want some lunch? I’m starving.”
We ate our lunch of pastries, bread, and fruits while Rosemary chomped through her doggie cookies, and Lawson started asking me questions about what I did every day. “What do you love about your job?”
“Being outdoors. Days like this: sitting in the shade out in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but peace and quiet and the sounds of birds, crickets.”
“What’s your least favourite thing?”
“Paperwork.”
“Really?”
“I hate it.”
“I find paperwork relaxing.”
“Relaxing?”
“Yes, it’s methodical and predictable. It calms my mind.”
“It turns my mind to sludge.”
Lawson let out a long breath and smiled serenely. “Well, if this is your office, your view isn’t half bad.”
“Tell me about your office.”
“It’s small. Half the size of that of my boss’s. I assume it reflects my pay and importance, by comparison also.” He smiled, I assumed to let me know he was either joking or he found the humour in the truth of it. “The laboratory is my favourite workspace. Well, not even workspace. Any space, really. But this here…” He looked around. “This isn’t too bad at all.”
I got to my feet and extended my hand to him. “Come on. Lunch is over.”
Lawson allowed me to pull him to his feet, but as I suggested we head to the next area we’d marked on the map, he frowned. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I was under the impression that along with lunch there was also making out?”
I laughed at how unashamed he was. “Oh, were you?”
He lifted his chin and fought a smile. His defiance and humour were cute as hell. “Yes. If I recall correctly, you said no one will know if you happen to sneak in a little make-out session during your lunch break.”
Now I laughed more genuinely. “Ah, that’s where you’re wrong.” I put my hand to his jaw and lifted his face a little. “I’m pretty sure I said ‘a make-out session with the sexy lepidopterist.’”
He rolled his eyes and I crushed my mouth to his. He was startled by the contact, but I held his face right where I wanted him. He melted against me, sighing into the kiss. I tilted my head just enough to deepen the kiss, and he slid his hands around my back.
God, he tasted so good. He fit against me perfectly, and his arms around me felt divine. His hands clawing at my back felt even better…
Rosemary huffed at our feet, making us break apart. She sat there smiling up at us.
I took a step back and let out a laugh, running my hand through my hair. I was a little embarrassed at how carried away I’d gotten. “I uh, I’m sorry. That got out of hand.”
“Don’t apologise.” Lawson thumbed his bottom lip, and Jesus help me, I almost groaned. He had no idea―absolutely no clue―how sexy he was. “I think Rosemary knew she’d better interrupt.” He licked his lip and cleared his throat. “Or it could have gotten very out of hand.”
I took a very large, very deliberate step back. “Agreed.” I turned and pointed to the Defender. “We really should get more work done.” I was grasping at my self-control, and if he hesitated in the slightest, even the smallest bit, I doubted I’d be able to stop myself. My dick was half-hard and at an odd angle, and I really needed to adjust…
His line of sight followed my hand, and he swallowed hard. “Work, yes.” Thankfully, he turned and started to collect our lunch leftovers, putting them back into the Esky. He gave Rosemary a pat and shot me a hesitant look, his eyes dark. “I think work is a very good idea.”
So we did work, all afternoon. We found the next area I’d shown him on his map last night. It was about a kilometre further up on the track we’d taken into the National Park. He did his grid-walk of the area we’d highlighted, and I took more soil samples, took photos of the vegetation, and of a tawny frogmouth’s nest. We didn’t track every kind of native animal or bird, but noting locations and activity when I could never hurt.
Lawson found nothing again, and even though he said he expected nothing less, I could tell he was a little disappointed. It was in his eyes, and as he drove us back toward town, it was in the way he fidgeted in his seat and the tic in his jaw.
“Tomorrow’s another day, huh?”
He brightened some. “Yes.”
Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Remmy. Call past home. I have something for your dinner date tonight.
I smiled. “You know, I’m pretty sure Remmy thinks I’m useless.” I held up my phone to show him the message.
“You told her about our date tonight?”
“Yes, of course. I called in to see her this morning to collect our lunch, remember?”
He nodded. “Oh, right.”
“Well, I didn’t actually have to tell her anything. She guessed as soon as I walked in.”
He glanced at me, then back to the road. “What do you mean?”
I pointed to my face. “The smile. Gave me away, apparently.”