“Fine. Just go climb the damned thing.”
Lark squealed and clapped her hands with glee. “What do you wear? Size eight? Eight and a half?”
Tabitha nodded. “Yes, but climbing shoes are meant to be tight.”
“Duh. I know that. I’ve been freelancing for your mag for years, remember?” She snatched up the aggressively downturned shoes and squeezed her neon-manicured toes inside. “Oof, you weren’t joking. I feel like one of the stepsisters trying on the glass slipper.”
“I’ll spot ya,” Zac offered as Lark approached the wall.
“Thanks. Here goes nothing.”
A twinge of pride ribboned through Tabitha as Lark began to climb. But soon that pride morphed into surprise, which quickly settled on irritated skepticism.
“Lark,” Tabitha barked as the photographer sauntered around from the back of the boulder.
“Yes?”
“I thought you said you’d never bouldered before.”
“Hold up. I never said anything of the sort,” she said with a grin. She pushed the escaped ringlets off her sweaty forehead then removed the borrowed shoes. “You assumed. Now I have carte blanche.”
“Dammit.”
“Well done, blondie.” Zac doled out a high five before gathering the crash pads. “Ready to move to the next location?”
Lark heaved her camera bag over her shoulder. “I think we’ve done everything we needed to here. What do you think, babe?”
She’d been played. She really thought Lark had never bouldered. She’d said she preferred to remain on the ground, but that didn’t mean she’d never tried it. And now, the duplicitous woman had a blank check to compel Tabitha to do whatever she wanted. Tabitha could only hope it wouldn’t have anything to do with Zac.
Chapter eighteen
Tabitha
Overthepasthour,Zac had taken them to a couple popular spots along the Penstock Trail. The Fin was Tabitha’s favorite so far. The interestingly shaped boulder went beyond a flat-faced straightforward route. Shaped like an actual fin, she had to start beneath it, lying on her back, and work her way up the outer edge until she reached the top. While more challenging than the warmup boulder and other routes throughout the morning, she managed to accomplish it after a couple of tries. She’d left that boulder field feeling pumped and excited for the next climb.
What had Tabitha especially shocked was how well she and Zac were getting along and how well Zac was behaving. She was mildly impressed. Despite a couple of playful comments—none of which bordered on offensive—and some lingering glances, he’d been playing the part of professional guide. And it put her at ease. If the trip continued on this way, she’d have no problem keeping her job.
“Last climb before lunch,” Zac said as they turned off the trail and broke through a cluster of brush. “The Beach Arete. Well within your abilities, and this one is so much fun.”
Lark released a low whistle. “This is a great spot.”
She wasn’t wrong.
The hot noon sun sprinkled the surface of the river in flashes of light. The mellow current made the wide section look almost like a lake. Rocks lined the banks—small, large, some massive—creating little coves perfect for dogs or small children to play. The mighty evergreens bordered the valley, their grand trunks and boughs working together to block out the sounds of passing cars on the highway on the other side of the bank. One almost prism-shaped boulder relaxed on the beach while also jutting out over the calm waters.
Tabitha stopped at its base, eyeing the route line along the edge and out to the very tip. A fall would certainly be a watery one, which added complexity to the climb. Flashing the route would be preferred, but that cold water would sure feel miraculous on her sweaty, dust-caked skin.
“We won’t be needing these,” Zac said as he set the crash pads against a nearby log. He sidled up to Tabitha. She could feel the heat of his gaze on the side of her face, but she refused to look his way. “What do you think?”
“Looks fun,” she offered nonchalantly.
“Oh, tabby cat,” he rumbled low in his chest. His lips were entirely too close to her ear, and despite being overheated, goose bumps washed over her arms. “No need to be coy. Allow yourself the excitement.”
“It takes a lot to excite me these days.” She turned to face him, tilting her chin up to meet his deep brown eyes. A tiny scar split through his left eyebrow. She would have missed the mark if he hadn’t quirked his brow mischievously.
“Challenge accepted.”
Wait, what? He didn’t think she was hitting on him, did he? Had she been? Was she accidentally flirting with her ex? With Zac freaking Hartford?
