Quinn
Hamilton is a park ranger, newly assigned to a national park in
Florida. It's her first day working solo and she's sent out on a
call. What she doesn't realize, is that she's in for quite a shock.
Seeing
nothing untoward when I got there, I walked to the stout metal pipe
barring the way. It was locked in place and I realized I had no key.
I stood there trying to figure out what to do when someone spoke. It
was then I noticed I wasn't alone. A man about my age stood partially
hidden in the bushes, shirtless. He was the best built man I'd ever
seen up close. He had the physique of a male model.
"Hi,"
he said, shuffling his feet shyly.
"Hi.
I'm...." For a moment I forgot my own name.
I've
seen shirtless men before. This shouldn't have taken me so much by
surprise, but I was shocked speechless.
"Quinn—Hamilton....
Park Ranger...."
"I
thought all the rangers were men?" He shifted uneasily, ducking
his head shyly as he combed his fingers through his walnut brown
hair.
"I'm
new, just started Monday. How can I help you?" I stepped forward
expectantly.
The
young man retreated further into the brush, wincing. "Uh....
could you get one of the men?"
"I
assure you, I'm fully trained to handle any situation." I made
to duck under the barricade.
"No!
Don't!" he bellowed.
I
stopped halfway under, puzzled. "Why not? Oh, I guess I should
wait for you to unlock this." I stepped back, but he didn't
move. "Well?"
"I'm
naked," he blurted.
"What?"
I shrieked. "Naked? Oh, my God!"
"This
is a nudist colony. Didn't they tell you?"
I
backed rapidly away, tripping over something behind me. Screaming, I
fell in a heap, landing on my ass.
The
young man leaped over the barricade and I saw he was indeed naked.
And how! His entire body was a golden brown, his blond body hair
catching the sun like burnished bronze. He landed beside me, strong
hands checking to make sure I wasn't injured. Suddenly, he stopped,
one hand on my left breast, the other on my ass.
"Oh,
shit," he muttered. "Oh, shit!"
He
scurried away, ducking under the barricade. The last I saw of him, he
was a blur running through the brush in the opposite direction.
*
* *
When
we got back to the mule, the young man was waiting there, fully
clothed in T-shirt, board shorts and flipflops. Paul hopped in and
took the raccoon back to the station. I lingered, feeling I needed to
apologize. He spoke first.
"Sorry
about all that." He made vague gestures toward the gate.
I
know I blushed. I could still feel the touch of his hands on my body.
It tingled invitingly.
"The
guys set us up," I explained. "Don't know which of us it
embarrassed more."
He
closed one eye, biting his lower lip, hands shoved in the pockets of
his jeans. "Well, I was naked...."
"Good
point. I'm Quinn Hamilton." I stepped forward, hand extended.
"Nice
to meet you, now that I'm dressed. Dmitri Kolchesky-Bazan."
"That's
quite a mouthful." I nearly choked on my words. The innuendoes
and double entendres that conjured up didn't bear thinking about. My
turn to be horribly embarrassed.
Dmitri
laughed. "Yes, well. I usually use only Bazan. Does that help?"
"Could
have said that ten seconds ago."
"I
could have," he admitted with a smirk. "I'd better get
back. I just wanted you to know I'm not some kind of pervert and I do
own clothing."
"I
knew you weren't," I admitted. "You were even more upset by
that episode than I was. It was mean of the guys to do that."
He
shrugged. "On some level, I probably deserved it. I've done my
share of practical jokes."
"Cool!
Then you can help me plot my revenge."
"Over
dinner? In a restaurant—fully clothed." He held out a hand,
invitingly gesturing between us.
"I'd
like that."
"Tonight?"
"Where
and when?"
"How
about the Cantina. Seven? I can meet you there."
"Sure.
See you."
"No
surprises, right? I mean, you've all ready seen me naked."
Laughing, he vaulted over the gate leaving me alone once more.
©
2017 Dellani Oakes
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