Page 6 of Dead Air
“Bet you checked my ass out as soon as I turned around.”
“Are you here to study our salamanders or flirt with me?” Niall narrowed his eyes suspiciously, for a moment wondering if DeeDee and Kerry had hired Chance as a prank.
This time, Chance shrugged and held back a branch so it wouldn’t catch on Niall’s sleeve. “I’m capable of both. It’s rare that I’m surprised but you’re a lot cuter than I was expecting. The girls said you were dreamy and adorable and the sweetest boy in the world and I was sure they were exaggerating. But so far, they weren’t wrong.”
“Alright,” Niall stopped them and raised a suspicious brow at Chance. “Is this a prank?” he asked, squaring up to Chance and staring him down. “Did they pay you?”
Chance’s head tilted. “Do you want to see my diplomas or read my papers?” he offered, making Niall snort.
“They’d probably go right over my head.” He turned on his heel and waved for Chance to keep up.
“Somehow, I doubt that. You seem to have a sharp but filthy mind and you know how to spot a Shenandoah salamander. Most people don’t know a Shenandoah from a red-backed salamander.”
“They’re a pretty big deal, especially up here,” Niall said with a nod at the trail. “They’re endangered and endemic to the park’s three highest peaks. This is the highest peak and part of the reason I’m here is to make sure their habitat isn’t disturbed. But I’m a naturalist and I have nothing better to do than read and study. And I don’t have electricity or cable up at my cabin,” he added with a wink. “Some people spy on their neighbors and annoy the HOA. I spy on the mushrooms and pay attention to where all the mamas hide their baby critters in the spring.”
“That sounds far more fascinating than gossiping about your neighbors.”
“Oh, I gossip about them. Let me tell you about the raccoon who keeps sneaking into my cabin. She stole a whole box of raisins from me last week, the little fiend.”
“You should report her,” Chance suggested seriously. “Do you really think your coworkers make enough to hire me?” he asked, changing the subject, and Niall’s nose wrinkled as he considered.
“I guess it depends. Are you an actor who’s in desperate need of work, or are you a different kind of professional?” he teased but Chance groaned.
“You don’t want to know what I did to get this study funded,” he said, shivering.
“Who knew academia could be so seedy?” Niall mused and they both laughed.
“Biologists,” Chance replied with a wink. “I’ve heard that the morning’s are perfect for studying salamanders this time of year.The fog hangs around longer and it’s damp and cooler up here. The trick is finding where they like to hide.”
“Not if you’ve got me!” Niall beamed back at Chance, secretly nerding out at the opportunity to show off. It was rare to have company, let alone someone who got as excited about humidity and salamanders as Niall did. “There’s a wide ledge under a cliff up there that stays shady most of the day. Most people stop for the scenic view and have no idea they’re standing right on top of one of the park’s hidden treasures. They can’t even see the ledge some days because of the fog.”
“Nice! Bet there’s lots of cool moss and fungi there,” Chance predicted, making Niall’s heart flutter.
“You have no idea!” he said excitedly, then turned when they heard voices as a trio of hikers appeared on the trail ahead of them.
They must have heard Niall and Chance because the woman turned and waved. “We were told we might run into you,” she said cheerfully and yanked on one of the men’s arms. He waved as well, smiling as she dragged him with her to greet Niall and Chance. “I’m Amanda and this is my boyfriend, Kyle. That’s my brother, Roger.” She gestured at the man behind them, guarding a cooler. He didn’t appear interested or as keen to meet Niall and Chance, hanging back and casting impatient snarls at his sister.
“You’re headed to Blue Sky, right?” Niall asked her and she nodded. “You’re only about an hour away. You’re going to love the view up there and it’s supposed to be a clear night so you’ll see tons of stars.”
“I can’t wait! You must be the scientist they were talking about,” Kyle said to Chance, who nodded but seemed distracted, watching Roger.
“That’s me. I’m here to study the salamanders,” he said flatly, then smiled at Amanda and Kyle. “You’ll have to let me know if you see any.”
She snickered and flapped a hand. “I wouldn’t know a salamander from a gecko, I’m afraid. I am an astronomy major, though, and looking forward to all the stars tonight.”
They exchanged a few more pleasantries before the hikers said goodbye and continued their journey.
“More déjà vu?” Niall asked Chance as they resumed their trek to the cliff and his “secret” salamander spot.
Chance was frowning and let out a distant, “Hmm?”
“That guy, Roger. You seemed bothered.”
“Bothered?” Chance shook his head. “Not at all. I just remembered something and was woolgathering. There was nothing at all remarkable about that guy, Roger.”
Niall made a dubious sound. “He might have been a little…off.”
“Off?”
