Chapter Six
Brody looked up at the climbing tower. Today it was deemed finished, and he fully intended to be the first to climb it.
Tower was an apt term for this man-made edifice of steel and concrete. Fashioned to look like a natural structure, it rose two hundred feet into the air. The side facing the water had a slight crescent shape so that it curved outward.
It was going to be a hell of a fun climb and he was ready. Brody had waited until he was certain everyone was done for the day and busy with dinner or relaxing. Now he stood at the base, looking up and planning his route.
Certain he was alone, he never noticed the woman who ran along the shore toward him as he climbed.
She saw him begin his ascent and slowed to a walk. He wore no safety gear. There were no lines or pitons or anything. Just a muscular man in a pair of shorts and shoes, climbing upward.
Spiderman. She couldn’t stop the smile that rose at the thought. He was a bit like the fictional superhero the way he moved upward, all on his own power.
But he was far more than a fictional hero. He was beautiful, and she was mesmerized watching him, seeing his muscles lengthen or bunch, watching his body strain and stretch as he made impossible progress upward.
How high was that thing? It had to be more than ten stories. Fifteen? What if he fell?
That thought gave her a shock of concern. There was no one there to help. She broke into a run, determined to close the gap between her and the rock as quickly as possible.
Brody caught sight of movement on the ground and like an idiot let it distract him. In the fading light of day, he saw her. The woman with the red hair who ran the obstacle course. That moment of distraction was all it took to have him lose his grip.
He knew he was going to fall and so pushed away from the wall with all his might. The water was deep at the base of the tower. He could manage. Funny, how long a fall can seem at first, until suddenly the ground, or water, in this case, seems to rush toward you.
Feet first, he took the plunge.
She was already diving into the water by the time the man disappeared beneath the surface. She swam down, searching but saw nothing so rose for air.
At that moment the water exploded upward right in front of her and there he was. For a moment they were both frozen, staring at one another.
It literally took her breath. She found herself gasping, but not from holding her breath. It was him. He stole her breath and perhaps her heart in that moment. She’d never experienced anything like it. At least she didn’t think she had.
And surely, she’d remember if she’d ever felt something this big. It eclipsed everything, making her blind to the dome of twilight sky above her, the enveloping coolness of the surrounding water.
“Ah, Red, you took the plunge to save me?” His smile was seductive.
Not, however, nearly as seductive as the hand that reached up to wrap around her neck and pull her to him. It was as if she’d lost control of her body. She did nothing to stop him as he reeled her in and kissed her.
And that was when something broke loose inside her. She felt desire rise, clawing at her. He took with his kiss as if it was his right to claim whatever he wanted of her. Dear God. She gave and took in return until they were both breathless upon parting.
“Brody Judge, ma’am.”
“I’m Trin- Catherine Mermet.” She nearly screwed up and hoped he didn’t notice. “And I don’t think you required any assistance at all, Mr. Judge.”
“Ah, Red, you’re gonna go formal on me after that kiss?”
He had a point. And one for which she had no defense, so she took the coward’s way out, pushed away and swam as fast as she could. She didn’t stop until she reached shore and then she ran.
By the time she reached the yard of her house she was breathing hard and mentally beating herself up. She walked around and around the house until her breathing slowed and then headed for the door. It wasn’t until then she realized she’d not thought about her own problems since she saw Brody Judge fall from that tower.
He fell and all she could think was she had to help. Why? Was that normal for her? Was it natural for her to react to his kiss the way she had?
Without thinking her fingers rose to touch her lips. Brody Judge. Tears threatened, and she quickly brushed them away. She would have to stay away from that place to make sure she didn’t run into him again. His lure was too strong, and she couldn’t afford to allow herself to be attracted to him.
As much as she’d love to turn around and run back to find him, to tell him who she really was and have him kiss her again, she couldn’t. Until she could find a way to convince Sadie and Catherine to leave her alone, she couldn’t be with anyone. Not even a man who’d opened a door to things inside her she had either not ever known or had forgotten herself capable of feeling.
*****
Brody stood looking up at the tower. He’d been up since before dawn, waiting to see if she would show up. She hadn’t, and he was disappointed.
The kiss had affected him in an unexpected way. But then so had she. When she looked at him, she seemed so fragile and afraid and yet she dove in to save him. Then when they kissed he felt it, something that swept through his mind, tempering the lust with something almost magical.
Even as he thought it, he chastised himself for such fanciful notions. It wasn’t possible. Yet, he’d felt it. Felt her. It was like she’d reached inside him, searching for pain or injury.
He couldn’t explain how he knew, but he was certain she wanted to ease him of whatever pain he felt, and he found that remarkable. Not to mention he’d felt her passion break free. Literally felt it, like a jolt that had sizzled through the universe to unlock something and suddenly he was lost in desire that didn’t all belong to him.
Damn, he’d spent too much time around Etta and Deacon. Both were empathic, and he tried to keep things buttoned down when he was around them. Not that either one of them was the kind to stick their noses in where they didn’t belong. But he knew there were times when they picked up on strong emotions. Was it rubbing off on him?
“Ready to take it on?”
Brody looked over his shoulder as Deacon approached. Either he’d really been lost in thought, or he was losing his touch because he hadn’t heard Deacon until he spoke. “Morning, Commander.”
“Good morning, Brody. Are you ready for this?”
“I already gave it a go last evening, sir.”
“Without a spotter?”
Brody reached up with his left hand to tug at his earlobe. “Yes sir. Didn’t think I would need one.”
“That was foolish. What if you’d fallen?”
“I did, sir.”
“Pardon?”
“I fell, sir. Into the water.”
“Oh? So, it’s tougher than you imagined?”
“No, sir.”
“Then what made you fall?”
“A woman, sir.”
“You want to run that by me again, son?”
“The mystery woman, sir. The one who runs the obstacle course. I saw her running up the shoreline and it broke my concentration.”
“How far would you say you fell?”
“I was almost half-way so around a hundred feet, sir.”
“And the landing?”
“You treat it like cliff-jumping—feet first. I went deep, sir but didn’t touch bottom.”
“That’s good to know. What’s your recommendation for trainees?”
“Harness them at first, sir.”
“Very well. Thank you, Brody. Are you coming in for breakfast, or are you waiting for someone?”
“You mean Catherine?”
“Who is Catherine?”
“Catherine Mermet, sir. The mystery woman. That’s her name.”
“And the name of a tea rose.”
Brody grinned and Deacon gave him a hard look. “And that smirk is for?”
“Just didn’t realize you were a Renaissance man, sir. Knowing the name of tea roses and all.”
Deacon turned away. “Yes, I’m just full of surprises.”
“Yes, sir.” Brody fell into step with Deacon. “I never doubted that.”
“So, tell me about this Miss Mermet.”
“Not much to tell, sir. She dove in to rescue me and then when she realized I was okay, she swam to shore and ran away.”
“After telling you her name, of course.” Deacon pinned him with a look that said he wasn’t buying that version of the tale for a moment.
Brody grinned. “Well, naturally.”
“Why do I feel there’s far more to this than what you’re saying, Brody?”
“You’re just naturally suspicious by nature?”
Deacon chuckled. “I’ve missed you Brody. Glad you decided to stay for a while.”
“Me too, sir.” Brody could be honest in that reply. Now that he’d stolen a kiss from Catherine Mermet, he was eager to stay.
And a whole lot eager to claim another kiss.