Free Chase Me by Tamara Hogan Page B

chest, and then only with an assist from the dandelion-fluff white-blond ponytail perched on top of her head.
    “Ewww, you’re all sweaty,” Paige complained. “Have you been running?”
    Gabe caught the annoyed look Lorin shot his way before she answered. “Chopping wood for the sauna.”
    Lorin had shed the soft fleece jacket she’d been wearing earlier and was stripped down to a duo of tank tops. Although it was barely sixty degrees outside, her skin glistened with perspiration.
    When did sweaty women start turning him on?
    “Gabe,” Lorin called. “You might as well come over and meet Paige.”
    Gabe approached the two women. This was his ace geology and metallurgy grad? Her tiny hands didn’t look capable of picking up a pickax, much less wielding one.
    “Gabe, this is Paige Scott, here for her third season. Paige, this is Gabe Lupinsky, who’ll be… working with us this summer.”
    “Hello,” he said, extending his hand to the smaller woman. They hadn’t talked about a cover story yet, but Lorin’s vague introduction would probably work well enough for now. When Paige lifted her gaze to his, his smile froze, just for a second. Her irises, snapping with intelligence and bravado, were a distinct pinkish-red. “Ms. Scott, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
    “Please call me Paige,” she said, squeezing the hell out of his hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Dr. Lupinsky. I’m familiar with your work.”
    “And I’m familiar with yours,” he replied, retrieving his hand. The faerie’s pink canvas high tops were adorned with tiny black skulls. Gabe was relieved to see some outward sign of edge, even if it was cosmetic. Standing next to Lorin, Paige Scott looked like she’d float away with a puff of the breeze. “Nice job on the assays and maps.”
    “Thank you. Topography’s not my specialty, but I did what I could.” Paige stepped back, encompassing Gabe and Lorin with a single look. “So.”
    “Hmm?”
    Gabe sighed. The faux-innocent expression on Lorin’s face wouldn’t fool a toddler, much less a curve-breaker like Paige Scott.
    Paige snagged a piece of her fluffy hair, twirling the lock around her forefinger as she considered them. “The assays are unremarkable. Our most significant find last season was a fire pit and some deer and rabbit bones. So, what’s up? What is Dr. Gabriel Lupinsky from Sebastiani Labs doing here?”
    A look of panic chased across Lorin’s face. “Well, you know my mother is on sabbatical—”
    “Lorin.” Gabe rested his hand on her forearm. Lorin stiffened but didn’t move away.
    Paige’s gaze ping-ponged between them. “Ah.”
    “What?” Lorin nearly squeaked, yanking her arm back.
    “You’re lovers,” Paige said.
    It could work, Gabe thought. It could work very well. A relationship between them was a perfectly logical conclusion for someone to draw. Why not use the obvious sexual tension between them for a useful purpose?
    You want to touch her, his libido taunted.
    What the hell are you doing? his common sense warned.
    Gabe disregarded common sense and slid his arm around Lorin’s waist, resting his hand familiarly on her hip. “Busted,” he said with a smile, digging his fingers into her resilient flesh as she tried to tug away. “It’s new yet,” he explained to Paige as he wrapped his other arm around Lorin, dropping a kiss onto the tip of her nose for good measure. “I wanted to learn more about where Lorin worked. It’s been ages since I worked a dig, so I volunteered.”
    Lorin’s right thigh visibly twitched. Probably fighting the urge to knee him in the crotch. She yanked out of his arms with a growl.
    Paige rolled her eyes at her reaction. “Lorin, chill. What’s the biggie? It’s not like you’ll be the only people knocking boots here this summer.”
    The sound of tires against gravel got their attention, when a faded black Explorer emerged from the tunnel of trees.
    “Crap,” Paige muttered.
    “He’s seen you,”