Read Online Unexpected Love (White Oak-Mafia #2) by Liza O'Connor - Free Book Online

the fish inside with some water and steam cook it until it’s fully done. My favorite part is half the fish doesn’t fall off into the fire.”
    He studied it a bit longer. “All metal, even the handle. If you had a bit of oil, you could even fry an egg.”
    “Or roast acorns.”
    He pulled out the water container, also stainless steel. “And sterilize river water.” After taking a deep drink, he opened his sandwich and stared at an inch of lean roast beef between two thick slices of fresh whole grain bread.
    To Tess’s amazement, he devoured the sandwich in five bites.
    She breathed out. Men were an entirely different species.
    He pushed himself up and walked to the bear mound. “These are much smaller, yet far better defined than the Effigy Mounds.”
    She nodded in agreement. “These two also seem to have an understructure of rock.”
    He climbed a tall rock and stared down at them from above. “You’re right. I can see smaller rocks curve like ribs…and leg bones.” His gaze centered on a large rock peeking through the shallow soil like the skull of the bear. “These are significantly different.”
    “Want to hear my recently revived theory?” she asked.
    “Absolutely.”
    “Since they cut half this hill away to make room for their village, the Indians didn’t have the room to make giant earth mounds. To please the Gods with the smaller mounds, they took the time to build a more lifelike bear and bird.”
    “Good theory. Certainly works with what I’m looking at.” He then sighed. “Another possibility is that these two are more recent mimics of the Effigy Mounds.”
    Tess’s mouth fell open. Did he really just accuse her and Grams of perpetuating archeological fraud?
    Upon noticing her anger, he defended his position. “As an archeologist, I have to consider the possibility these have been built in the last two hundred years, if for no other reason than to prove it wrong because anything different is immediately suspect.”
    She returned to staring out across the river. Logically, she knew his comments made sense, but emotionally, she burned from his unstated implication. “Grams found these mounds the first year she came here, and while you might not find her word reliable, I certainly do.”
    His hands settled on her arms, and she jumped from the unexpected contact. “I’m not saying either of you perpetuated this fraud. As you stated before, the existence of these mounds actually endangered your trees since it would have allowed the state to claim public domain of your land.”
    “Then what are you saying?”
    “Even though I don’t believe these were created in modern times, it remains the likely explanation until proven otherwise. I’m sorry to say, fraud is the first conclusion the archeological world will make.”
    “How do you even prove something like this?”
    “We’ll start by giving these guys a sonogram.”
    His reply worried her. “And how big is the equipment you need to do that?” Large equipment could do serious damage to the trails.
    “It’s a portable unit. Can be carried in by two strapping young men.”
    She glared at him. He still sees me as a useless woman?
    “What?” he demanded.
    “You don’t think I can do it?”
    “I’m sure you could, but I tend not to waste my best assets on jobs beneath them.”
    Bullshit! “Well, besides me, you don’t have any assets yet. In fact, you aren’t even hired yet. You’re still on your initial looksie.”
    His eyes darkened. “Tess, I’ve wanted this job since the sun rose this morning. And until a short while ago, I thought you were fine with me having it.”
    The hurt in his voice hit her hard. “I was… I still am.”
    “Well, that’s a relief. Now, is there any chance you can dump the grumpy Tess for the nice one because I much prefer to work with the latter.”
    “Sorry. I’m still mad at myself for telling you the story about Grams.”
    He turned her face to him so his stern gaze could meet hers.