Falling for the Forest Ranger. Leigh Bale

      “Yes, eight inches long and in good health.” She didn’t look up as she measured the fish against the notches carved in the handle of the net.

      She let the fish go and it zipped away while she pulled out a small notebook and jotted down the information.

      “You’ve obviously handled a lot of fish, yet you’ve never gone fishing.”

      “That’s right.” She didn’t offer an explanation. She hadn’t thought about it until now, but she never seemed to have enough extra time for leisure activities. Until recently. Although their scheduled fishing trip was mostly about Jonah, she also looked forward to the experience. But she didn’t want to tell Tanner that. He might get the wrong idea.

      “Okay, that’s it. I’m done for now.” She stowed her notebook in the pocket of her shirt, then reached for a boulder to grasp so she could pull herself out of the stream. She found Tanner’s hand in front of her, his long fingers extended. Surprised by his offering, she gazed up at his stony face for several moments. As he pulled her up, she felt his great physical strength. She didn’t look at him as she rinsed the mud from her waders, dried them off, then folded them to carry back to the truck.

      Jonah sped ahead of them, hopping over clumps of grass, kicking at a rock and laughing. Having a great time.

      “I appreciate your getting those samples.” Tanner spoke beside her.

      An unexplainable irritation gnawed at her gut. “It’s my job.”

      “I know. But I didn’t even think about it, until I saw you doing it.”

      She faced him. “And why is that so surprising, Tanner?”

      “I, um... It’s not.” His face flushed with embarrassment, his hands in his pockets like a little kid who’d just been caught stealing a pack of gum.

      “It’s your strategy in dealing with the farmers I don’t agree with,” he said.

      “Is that right?” She bit back a harsher response.

      His shoulders relaxed somewhat and his gaze softened. “Look, I didn’t mean to offend you, Zoë. I don’t know many women who would tromp through a stream to gather mud samples,” he said.

      His confession left her speechless for several moments. “We definitely have different methods. I’d like to take these samples to my office now, if you don’t mind.”

      Turning, she kept walking, conscious of him following behind. Back in the truck, they didn’t speak much as Tanner drove them down the mountain and back to town. In the supervisor’s parking lot, Zoë gathered her bags and moved them over to her car.

      Before she took Jonah home, the boy looked up at Tanner with a charming smile. “Don’t forget our fishing trip next Saturday.”

      “I won’t.” Tanner spoke low.

      Zoë opened her mouth to tell Tanner that she’d changed her mind about them going, but she couldn’t stand to hurt her son that way. It wasn’t Jonah’s fault that she was having an altercation with Tanner over their methods.

      Tanner took a deep inhale of resignation. “I’ll pick you up at nine.”

      “Do you know where we live?” she asked.

      “I do. It’s a small town.”

      Right. She got it. But she still didn’t know if they should go.

      “Thanks for taking us out today.” She said the words mechanically.

      “You’re welcome. I’ve got another trip planned for us midweek, to visit one of the logging operations. I’ll call your office on Monday to give you the exact time. I’ll pick you up at your office.”

      Yeah, that would be fun. She couldn’t wait.

      She nodded, her gaze glancing off his. “Fine, I’ll let my assistant know.”

      And without another word, they parted company on that sour note.