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like? However, she knows the hollowness of that statement. Of course, I care. If he wasn’t so goddam perfect looking, then it would make things a whole lot easier.
    She puffs out her cheeks, feigning nonchalance at his comment on her appearance. “Just scientists, here to do some research, that’s all.” She bites her lip, wishing that she’d managed to come up with a better excuse; but, after everything that he’s seen, there’s not much that he would buy.
    “What kind of research?” The beautiful man looks at her suspiciously out of the corner of his eye— never a good sign .
    “Nothing important.” Sofie keeps her gaze trained on the rain pelting down outside, wondering how much trouble she is going to be in with Darwin when she gets back to the motel. “So, there are wolves in Spring Canyon?” she asks, wanting to slice through the tension that has settled over the car after her evasive response.
    “Some,” he answers flatly, squashing any further comment.
    However, Sofie was never someone who would back down when she wanted an answer about something. It was one of the things that made her such a great geologist. “Well, if there are wolves in the canyon, then what were you doing out there? No gun, no protection.” She turns to look at him, trying to analyze his reaction to her words.
    “I don’t like guns.” He shrugs his big shoulders, like that’s the whole answer.
    “So, if a wolf attacked you, you wouldn’t defend yourself?” Sofie asks, wondering if this guy is all talk.
    “No wolf would attack me. That I can guarantee.” He smiles a knowing smile that makes her want to slap the smirk off of his face.
    That line probably works on the local girls, but I’m not buying it , she thinks . “Wow, it must be nice to think so much of yourself, especially going up against such an amazing creature.” Sofie snorts dismissively, grateful that although this guy was drop dead gorgeous, he was also kind of an asshole and probably a major player.
    “You think wolves are amazing?” he asks, as if he hadn’t heard her sarcasm.
    “Well, I’m no expert, but they’ve managed to survive despite all of man’s best efforts to get rid of them. So yeah, I think they’re pretty amazing. There’s something inherently impressive about them, beautiful even.” Sofie stops abruptly, wondering why she had decided to actually answer his question. She sneaks a look at her rescuer, and he’s staring at her like he’s seen her for the first time. “What?” she asks, squirming under the intensity of his gaze and silently hoping that she doesn’t have something on her face.
    “Nothing.” He shakes himself, as if to get rid of whatever thought was in his head. “You’re just not what I expected, running girl.”
    “Sofie. My name’s Sofie Braun, not running girl, not little lady, just Sofie.” She speaks quickly, knowing that she’s doing the defensive thing that used to drive Tyler crazy. She had never been a fan of his terms of endearment; but, although she didn’t want to admit it to herself, she didn’t feel that way about the way this mystery man spoke to her.
    “Nice to meet you, Sofie Braun.” He ducks his head, smiling at her as they drive past the bar, the first building on the outskirts of town. “Dutch?”
    “Half.” Her reply is short and cuts off any ideas that he may have had of asking any more questions along those lines. “And you are, birdwatcher?” she asks, teasing him and unable to keep her lips from twitching into a smile.
    “Ashton.”
    And there it is again, that deep voice that makes my knees wobble , she thinks.
    “Well, thanks Ashton...” Sofie pauses waiting for him to fill in his last name, but he remains silent. “I guess I owe you one. I don’t know how long I would have been out there before I found my way out.” Sofie feels the adrenaline of the afternoon leave her body. The possibilities of what could have happened to her, out in the middle of nowhere