Drenched by the Desert Ranger

When hydrologist Yuji Takeda nearly dies chasing his grandfather's vanished springs through Death Valley, ranger Dale Stroud pulls him back from the edge—then a set of erased coordinates draws them toward a secret buried deeper in the desert, and into an attraction neither man can keep ignoring.

Yuji came to Death Valley to finish the survey his grandfather left behind. Stroud has spent fifteen years learning every road, wash, and canyon—and even longer convincing himself he doesn’t need anyone. When he insists on joining Yuji in the backcountry, days of brutal heat and close quarters make it harder to pretend the pull between them is only gratitude.

What begins as a search for disappearing water turns into a hunt for the one place Yuji's meticulous grandfather tried to erase. The coordinates lead beyond the marked trails, where the desert turns dangerous fast and every answer raises another question. To find what Hideo hid, Yuji and Stroud will have to trust each other with more than their lives.