6
| LOGAN |
Close to a week later, I arrive at the gym after dropping off Hannah and see that Nicole’s early again. She’s waiting for me this time. I have no idea why that pleases me so fucking much, but it does.
I texted her last night to confirm we’d be doing our little climbing contest today. After, of course, my on-site doctor gave her a full medical work-up to make sure she didn’t suffer any residual injuries from her fall.
“So, did you get the results of my bloodwork and invasive body cavity search from Dr. Sings-While-He-Probes?” she grouses by way of greeting.
For a woman in a related medical field, it’s funny to discover how difficult a patient she could be.
“Hello to you, too. And yes, you have the all-clear to climb today. Congrats.”
Lordy, the woman has a spectacular glare.
At the door, I punch my security code in and ask conversationally, “Ready to lose today, sweetheart?”
Swear to god, she looks ready to kick me in the balls.
When I see she’s got Becca’s keys this time—the neon pink pepper spray keychain is a dead giveaway—I motion for her to unlock the door and let us in. “Forgot your MP3 player in the car again?” I ask, wondering how early she got here this morning.
“No,” she says simply, offering no further explanation.
Once inside, she stomps off to go get limbered up and I stay where I am for a few seconds longer to watch her feline grace from the back.
Pity I won’t get that view when we’re up on the wall together. Seeing as how I don’t intend to fall behind her at any point during this climb.
She’s right about the fact that she’s been clocking in way more hours climbing than I have the last couple of years. And I know she’s become a hell of a climber; I’ve watched her get stronger and more skilled with no small amount of admiration.
But, I’ve got one significant edge over her in this little competition.
I really want that fucking kiss.
On the main floor, I see my normal morning crew gathered at the Red Rock wall, plus about a dozen others who aren’t scheduled.
That’s when I realize Nicole’s already in her rock climbing shoes. She was in here practicing.
Not only did my own workers let her in here early, but even now, they’re huddling around her feeding her different tips on how to beat me.
Traitors.
To be fair though, she probably used all her psychological witchery on them to get into their heads and on her side. Honestly, if the woman wasn’t already very happy and successful in her career of choice, I’d hire her as my corporate negotiator. She’s that good.
As we both stand before the wall, her studying the route she wants to take up, and me studying her, my workers start taking bets on who’s going to win. I know my people love me; most of them have been with me since I opened the gym. But be that as it may, the bets are friggin’ nine-to-one in her favor.
At the announcement of those odds, she quirks a brow at me and says with a simpering smile, “I’m really going to enjoy smacking you in the backside with my rappel ropes from the top.”
Christ, she’s just so damn cute.
“Let’s do this.” She reaches for a harness and pulls it on while I do the same. Her hands are quick and sure, but I’m still done before she is.
“One second,” I say before she can reach for the wall.
I drop to my knees in front her to tighten the straps around her thighs. The open form of the harness secures at the thigh and waist, but she left too much room on both like most people do.
“They don’t have to be that snug,” she protests and I glance up at her, realizing my face is practically buried between her legs.
She’s lucky I was too focused on getting her properly geared up to notice earlier or I would’ve been sorely tempted to kick all my workers out of the gym and make much better use of our current position.
“They do need to be this snug,” I inform her gruffly, as I stand up to tighten her waist straps the same way. “I’m not taking any chances with your safety.”
She gazes at me for a second before reaching over to my harness straps, worriedly tugging on them to test their tension the way I did hers.
“Just checking,” she says.
This damn woman and her bleeding heart.
“Ready?” calls out Derick.
We both nod.
“Go!”
She jumps at the wall, pulling herself up with quick, sure movements.
Shit, she’s pretty fast.
Still, I pull ahead of her in two long reaches, climbing on feel alone. I never got into painting by numbers as a kid, and I never got in the habit of climbing by color-coded handholds either.
Not even a minute in and I’m officially having a grand fucking time. I’ve missed this. I’m not sure when I stopped focusing on Nicole and switched my attention over to just enjoying the hell out of the climb, but before I know it, we’re at the halfway point.
I look over and do a double take, impressed that she’s keeping pace with me.
“You’re having fun,” she says between slightly labored breaths, her eyes lighting up with pleasure over that fact.
It’s like she’s taken a seminar on how to make herself insanely adorable to me.
And now I’m back to giving her all my attention.
She’s got her lower lip in her mouth and she’s chewing on it in her concentration. I can see her motions slowing down a bit. It’s the fatigue setting in. If I’m feeling it, she has to be also.
“You’re doing great,” I say. “But, you’re using your forearms and biceps to pull you up too much for some of these angles. Push off more with your legs. You’ll fatigue less that way.”
“You’re trying to help me win?” she asks, surprised.
“Nah, just trying to help you come in second.”
I see her frame shake with laughter. “Stop distracting me.”
Likewise. The woman’s very existence is a distraction. And the thought of kissing the living daylights out of her later is starting to make my harness uncomfortable.
Dammit, dumbass, think of something else.
We fall into silence as we make our way past the three-quarter mark. She’s a half a body length behind me now, and slowing down.
Nothing against her; she’s in good shape, but this wall is punishing. Up this high, the holds are fewer and farther apart. Handling the gaps requires pushing your body past the ache, past the exhaustion, and keeping your mind sharp for each successive move you decide to make.
Speaking of keeping our minds sharp…mine gets sidetracked big time when I glance back at her once more and somehow manage to see straight down her fucking shirt.
And just like that, my hand misses the handhold I was going for. I adjust my feet and take a second to regroup. But, it’s a second too long.
Nicole’s beautiful backside glides right past my line of sight an instant before I hear her slap the top of the wall.
“Yes!” she hollers before rappelling down the wall. I reach up and tap the top of the wall before following her down, the sound of applause for Nicole’s victory greeting my descent.
When my feet touch the ground, I immediately unbuckle my harness and clap her on the shoulder. “Good climb.”
“You too,” she says with a gracious smile.
I’m not sure whether to be insulted or entertained by the supreme relief I see in her eyes as I concede. But I know exactly how I feel about the way her gaze keeps dipping down to my mouth as if she just can’t help herself.
That’s when I call out for everyone to get back to opening up the gym, while none to subtly corralling her back to my office.
“Time to collect,” I say as soon as the door is securely shut. And locked. “So, what’s it going to be, Nicole? Do you want me to kiss you or not?”