Summer Solace Read online

  Gabe heard the teasing in her voice. “Only fires that I can control, young lady. It’s time for you to get to bed, isn’t it? Or does your fire need more stoking?”

  Amber started to disagree about bedtime, but her glance fell on the paddle where it still lay on the picnic table. Just seeing the wooden implement squashed any desire to argue with him, well, at least until her bottom stopped burning.

  She dragged her eyes away from the paddle and nodded. Taking a deep breath, she chose the safest path and said, “Umm, okay, nice to meet you, Joanna. I hope we see each other again.”

  Joanna replied that she enjoyed meeting Amber as well, and realized that it was true. There was just something about the younger woman that made her feel comfortable though slightly off–balanced. They both watched as the girl walked to the tent and bent to step inside.

  Gabe saw her hand reach back to rub against her backside and grinned. She would definitely be sleeping on her stomach tonight. He saw Joanna watching as well. Her reaction to what she had obviously witnessed intrigued him immensely. She had not reacted as if the spanking had caused her discomfort. It was as if she not only wasn’t shocked by the paddling, she was comfortable enough that she didn’t feel it necessary to demand any sort of explanation. Gabe knew he had to remind Joanna that he had never been nor ever would be a threat to her. He found he desperately didn’t want her to disappear again.

  “Would you like one last cup of coffee before I douse the fire?” Gabe asked as he turned to pick up an old enamel coffee pot that had been placed at the edge of the fire. He grabbed two mugs out of the box on the picnic table bench and held them up. Joanna was about to decline when she felt the long day press down on her. Suddenly she realized she was very tired, and still trying to come to grips with seeing Gabe in the middle of her woods. She knew she wanted to know why he had disappeared from her life though wondered if she’d ever have the courage to ask.

  Gabe saw her hesitate and said, “Jo, it’s just coffee. I’m not going to bite you. I really would like to talk to you. I promise you can leave if you become uncomfortable.”

  His assurances weren’t doing much to assuage her uneasiness, however, his tone indicated that he was an adult – would she like to be one as well? She realized that no matter how much she had been hurt emotionally, this man had never once given her reason to fear him. She forced her eyes to his and took a deep breath.

  “Thank you, I’d love a cup.”

  Gabe poured both cups and pulled sugar and cream from another box. He handed her a spoon and watched as she scooped three spoons of sugar into her own cup, followed by a good dose of cream. She stirred the mixture until it was a light tan contrasting greatly with the deep black of his own beverage. He shook his head and teased her, “Still drinking a little coffee with your cream and sugar?”

  She flushed, but had to nod. “Yes, I suppose that won’t ever change.” She took her first sip and sighed. Coffee was one of her weaknesses. She adored it and could not imagine life without several cups a day. When Gabe reached back into the box and pulled out a bag of chocolate and marshmallow cookies, she smiled. “Still haven’t gotten over your cookie cravings?” she teased back.

  Gabe chuckled as he ripped the bag open. He didn’t bother with a plate. He just took two of the cookies for himself before offering the bag to her. Joanna pulled out one of the thick cookies and nibbled around its edge.

  “No, I haven’t been able to kick the habit,” he admitted. “Have a seat?”

  Joanna slid onto the bench and he took a seat opposite her. They were both quiet while they sipped the coffee and enjoyed the cookies. After a few moments, he said, “I was going to come down in the morning and inform the office that we’d switch sites. I didn’t figure anyone was there this late.”

  Joanna nodded. “No, the office closes at eight,” she confirmed. “Everyone is usually gone home by then, but with the wind warning, I wanted to check the sites one last time. We’ve had some problems before with campers who are either unaware of what the winds can do or too stup–” she paused, realizing it wasn’t professional to continue her sentence.

  “Stupid or too out of it to care?” Gabe finished for her.

  She grinned but nodded.

  “Why did you move all the way up here?” Joanna asked. “You are really far from the other campers and the office, not to mention the bathroom. You have to hike in this far up. Most people prefer sites where they can conveniently park their car right next to their camp.”

  Gabe placed his elbows on the table and then very calmly said, “I know we are down for site fourteen, but we’ve had some problems with some, shall we say, inconsiderate campers.”

  “Site twelve perhaps?” Joanna asked, her lips curving into a small smile.

  Gabe grinned back and nodded. “Let’s just say that a campsite full of hormonal frat boys is a bit much for my tastes. Amber tended to disagree.”

  Joanna nodded, as she’d had to spend quite a few minutes at the campsite to supervise the dousing of their fire. The six young men were indeed local college kids and had obviously been drinking a bit much. Their youth and enthusiasm for fun were understandable, but Joanna took her job seriously.

  “I admit they are a bit rowdy but they seem nice enough. They didn’t fight me on the fire issue, and I’m pretty sure they are all tucked in for the night,” she said. She flushed when Gabe chuckled.

  “Passed out is more likely,” he said. “They are just young, and believe it or not, I do remember how that feels. However, I won’t tolerate underage drinking, especially when it involves my sister.”

  Joanna’s eyes darkened and she felt as if he were questioning her abilities.

  “I take my job very seriously, Gabriel. I’ve worked very hard to remake my life when…never mind that. I’ve checked their ID’s,” Joanna informed him. “If they weren’t legal, I would have confiscated their liquor. They are all over twenty-one.” Gabe gave her a curt nod.

  “I wasn’t questioning your abilities or your job performance, Joanna,” Gabe said quietly. “It might be they are of age and that’s fine. However, Amber just turned nineteen and knows better than to sneak over to their camp and drink a beer.” Joanna understood now what the paddling had been all about. Gabe had never been one for being lenient when rules were bent. She couldn’t imagine how he felt when an actual law was broken.

  Gabe continued, “I felt we needed to move far enough away so that I could remove some of the temptation a group of fawning boys invites.” Joanna’s eyes fell to the paddle and she felt her face heat. Gabe saw where she was looking and said, “Yeah, that too. I figured Amber would perhaps argue against the need to remove temptation, but thought she might appreciate a lot more woods between our campsite and theirs while we discussed her behavior in relative privacy.” Joanna realized what he meant and took a few minutes to think about his words. She realized that he was not apologizing for paddling his sister. However, she did understand that he was also trying to make what had to have been a very embarrassing situation, at least for his sister, more tolerable. He didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed for his part of the scene she had inadvertently witnessed.

  “I see,” she said quietly as she attempted to keep the conversation on a professional level. “You know, if you are having problems, you can come to the office and report them. We try to run an orderly camp, but well, you know how it is. Sometimes campers can get a bit rowdy.” Gabe smiled and finished his coffee.

  “Believe me, I know,” he said and then smiled. “It is nothing I can’t deal with, and as Amber said, I’m old so maybe I’m just a bit stuck in my ways in more than just my cookie cravings.” Joanna looked up to see him staring at her intently. His eyes were so dark they almost looked black. His cheeks and chin were covered with stubble that only served to make him appear both sexy and rough. His black hair was wavy and full, his entire being appeared chiseled. His hand dwarfed the cup he was holding and the muscles bunched in the sleeve of his shirt appeared
hard as granite. She felt a shiver run through her and realized she was staring at him, remembering how it felt to try to answer to him when he had discovered she had done something of which he disapproved. She forced her eyes away and took another sip of the now cooling coffee. She needed to keep a grip on herself and not get lost in the quagmire that was her past.

  Chapter 2

  Joanna forced herself to think about Gabe’s sister. She said, “She’s lucky to have a brother that cares about her. I don’t remember her, but she seems like a great young woman. It’s amazing that as an adult, she’d agree to get a sp…well, you know. You must have a very special relationship.”

  He grinned seeing her face flush. Though he had never once imagined her in this scenario, she was just so cute in her ranger’s hat and uniform. He had watched as she looked him over. Her eyes were emerald green though she was having an extremely hard time keeping her eyes on his face. Her face looked devoid of makeup and even lovelier than before. She had freckles scattered all across her nose and cheeks. She had gained some much needed weight. Where she had been too thin, now there was a softness to her that made him want to hold her. What almost undid him were her lips. They were full and red, the type that just beckoned to be kissed. He felt himself stir as his thoughts led him down that path. He found his eyes dropping to the neckline of her uniform shirt. Her breasts were fuller and rounder and filled out the uniform very nicely.

  She looked up to see him watching her and their eyes met again. She felt she could drop into his eyes and stay forever in their depths, but knew the depth would consume all of her.

  “No, I don’t think you ever met,” Gabe conceded. “She would have been what, about thirteen or fourteen? As for our relationship, yeah, it’s pretty special to me. My family means the world to me and Amber is the baby, the surprise last child. With our folks finally fulfilling their lifelong dream of traveling around Europe for the summer, I’m taking my responsibility quite seriously.”

  Joanna had no doubt he meant every word. He certainly looked competent enough to bear the burden of heavy responsibility. She wondered if he was responsible for anyone else. Did he have a wife, girlfriend or even a steady playmate? She felt her face flush and knew her thoughts were a long way from her duties as a park ranger.

  Gabe’s eyes had never strayed from her. He watched as her face suffused with a lovely shade of pink. He remembered how he had adored watching her skin flush and change colors as he led her through different scenes. He had enough of this small talk.

  “Jo, I don’t mind talking about my family, but how about we discuss the huge elephant in the room?” Gabe suggested.

  Joanna immediately tried to pull her hand from where he had been covering it. Gabe only tightened his grip.

  “Let me go,” she said, her voice barely audible. When he didn’t, in fact he began to stroke the palm of her hand with the tip of one finger, she shuddered almost violently. She wasn’t aware that she was whimpering, the sound tearing at Gabe’s heart.

  “Jo, talk to me,” Gabe said softly. “Honey, what the hell happened that night? Why did you lie about…”

  Joanna tore her hand from his and practically fell over as she tried to get her legs out from under the stone table and stand up.

  She had taken two steps backwards before Gabe could also stand. She put her hands out in front of her, palms out. “Please…please, just let it go. I can’t…I won’t…” she started, but was interrupted by a sound coming from behind Gabe.

  “I need to go to the latrine, Gabe….can you….” Amber broke off seeing the two of them standing across from each other, Joanna looking terrified for some reason. “Gabe? Joanna, are you okay? What’s going on?” Concern was evident in her voice. It had been quiet for a while and she thought that the ranger had left. Gabe managed to pull himself together. He started to step towards her, but Joanna moved past him to Amber’s side.

  “I’ll be glad to walk you down,” Joanna volunteered, desperate to get away from both the situation and the man that was stirring up feelings she had suppressed for years. “I need to visit the ladies room myself and then I’ve got to get going.”

  Gabe started to protest but she continued, “Thanks again for the coffee. Please make sure the fire is out.”

  He understood her desperate need to get away from him even as he realized she had no desire to upset his sister. He cleared his throat to make sure he could actually speak. “I’ll take care of it now, Joanna. Take a flashlight, Amber.”

  Amber ducked back into her tent and quickly emerged with a big flashlight as well as a drawstring bag. It was all Joanna could do not to bolt instead of waiting for the girl.

  “I’d like to shower and change as well, if that’s okay, Gabe?” Amber asked. “I’d rather do it now then have to get up early before we go rafting.”

  Gabe looked at his watch and then nodded. “Okay, but don’t be too long. I’ll walk down to get you in thirty minutes.”

  “Gabe! I’m a big girl and don’t need…” Amber began.

  Gabe’s voice was firm, “Don’t push me. Half–an–hour, Amber. You are to wait right there for me, understand?”

  Both women shivered when they heard his tone. Joanna watched as Amber gave her brother a quick hug.

  “Thanks, that will be perfect,” Amber answered, not wanting to add to the tension that she felt surrounding them. Amber turned to join Joanna and then giggled as she reached out and picked the paddle up off the table. “Miss Ranger, ma’am…how do you feel about a little search and seizure?”

  Joanna gasped and then found herself relaxing from her earlier fight or flight response. “As much as I’d like to slap your brother into jail, I’m pretty sure it would be an illegal search as I have no probable cause,” Joanna said, looking towards Gabe. “It would be an unfair arrest unless they have concrete rules about paddles.”

  Gabe’s lips compressed as he wondered what the hell she was inferring. However, hearing his sister giggle at the thought, he held out his hand to his sister. Two could play this game. “Even if she seizes your paddle, young lady, don’t think for a moment that God hasn’t provided the necessary implements to take care of any naughty girl’s bottom.”

  Amber looked confused even as she handed him the paddle. She also realized that he wasn’t looking at her, his eyes were glued on Joanna’s.

  “There are thousands of trees around, and I’m sure plenty of switches are available to be cut.”

  His voice had lowered significantly. Joanna gasped as another memory seared through her even as Gabe’s eyes burned into her own. Amber seemed to be busy peering up at the towering trees.

  “Yes, big brother, but these are pine trees, so good luck finding switches,” she teased. Gabe reached out and gave her a quick swat with the paddle he had taken from her. She yelped and quickly rubbed her bottom.

  “Even if we were in the desert, little sister, don’t forget God gave man his own paddle, two of them in fact.” He completed his demonstration with a quick swat to her other cheek with the palm of his hand.

  Amber yelped again and then giggled as she darted away. “Okay, okay…stop swatting me,” Amber capitulated. “You are just a big old meanie. Come on, Joanna before he takes the skin right off my hide.”

  Joanna felt she should have been stunned, but found the entire situation confusing. It seemed to have layers of meaning that she couldn’t find her way through. She simply turned to follow Amber as she stepped onto the faint trail.

  Gabe watched as the two women stepped into the trees. He turned the paddle over in his hands as his gaze dropped to the round and full bottom of the ranger. Just as he figured, she filled out the uniform just as nicely from the back as well.

  The two women walked in silence through the trees. The bathrooms were scattered all over the camping area for convenience, but the further up the mountain one camped, the farther away even the simplest conveniences were. Amber’s flashlight led the way and the path was quickly found.

  “
Thanks for coming with me. It really is isolated up here,” Amber said as she stepped along the trail. “It always surprises me how dark it is without city lights.”

  Joanna looked up at the stars blazing across the night sky. It was absolutely breathtaking and one of the reasons she loved being a ranger. She knew that people rarely could see nature’s beauty much less took the time to simply allow the world to impress them. Turning her eyes to the heavens caused Joanna’s heart to stop its rapid beat and her pulse to calm. The outdoors had saved her and she would always be thankful for that gift. Amber turned her head and saw Joanna looking up. She followed her gaze, and with a gasp, shut off her flashlight. The darkness swallowed them but the view was magnificent.

  “They are gorgeous!” Amber exclaimed, seeing the stars sparkle like diamonds. Joanna grinned and raised her hand. She pointed out both the dippers and then Cassiopeia. Amber’s gaze settled across a large swath of stars that she had never truly seen before. “What are those?” she asked pointing to them.

  “That is the Milky Way. You can’t see them in the city, too much artificial light,” Joanna explained. “They are seldom this clear even out here, but, God, they are fantastic, aren’t they?” Amber agreed and they spent another moment just drinking it in.

  Amber remembered the time and flicked her light back on. She smiled brightly. “I will definitely spend more time star gazing, but if I don’t hurry, I won’t be ready when Gabe comes to get me, and my butt is already plenty sore.”

  They hurried down the trail and were soon in the rustic bathroom. Joanna was stepping out of the stall and came up sharply. Amber stood, her back to the murky mirror above the sinks, her head turned over her shoulder as she ran one hand over her bottom. Joanna flushed but said nothing as the young woman continued her inspection.