He said, ‘Isn’t it supposed to be tough?’
‘It’s a hike, not a scramble, but there’s no climbing involved, so it’s not too bad, and the views are absolutely stunning.’
‘In that case, I’d better fuel up,’ he declared, tucking into another wrap.
Giselle wasn’t far behind him. She was starving, and by her reasoning the food was better being carried in her tummy than in her backpack.
With lunch finished and everything packed away, they were ready to go.
Rocco got to his feet first, slinging his rucksack over his shoulder, then stretching out a hand to help her up.
Remembering the effect their earlier hand-holding had had on her, Giselle hesitated before taking it and allowing Rocco to haul her to her feet. She stood up too quickly and, unbalanced, stumbled forward, falling against him.
His free arm snapped around her, steadying her, and she found herself pressed against his chest.
A burst of desire exploded in her stomach like a firework, fizzing along her veins, and she gasped.
‘Are you OK?’ His voice was full of concern.
‘Oops. I’m fine. Sorry, didn’t mean to launch myself at you,’ she stammered, stepping back out of his grasp. Embarrassed, she fiddled with the straps of her bag, keeping her head down and her eyes averted, then turning away, she set off for the car, but as she did so, she thought she heard him say, ‘That’s a pity.’
Chapter 14
Rocco gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles, praying they wouldn’t meet any vehicles coming the other way. There were plenty of passing places, but the thought of having to reverse down this single-track road with its soft verges didn’t appeal.
The landscape was wild and rugged, clothed in long-stemmed grass, spiky reeds and bracken, and dotted with the occasional sheep. Ahead lay vast outcrops of forbidding rock, towering into the sky.
Everywhere he looked, in every direction, was a photo opportunity begging to be taken. The only word he could think of was ‘breathtaking’, but in his opinion,everythinghere was breathtaking.
The road twisted and climbed ever higher, each hairpin bend revealing another jaw-dropping view, and just as they crested the top of a rise, to his relief, a car park appeared.
Once they’d parked up and settled their bags on their backs, Giselle pointed to a path on the opposite side of the road.
‘We’re going that way,’ she said.
Rocco blew out his cheeks. ‘Upthere?’
‘That’s right.’
Up therewas a huge cliff with stomach-churning drops, and he couldn’t take his eyes off it. He didn’tthinkhe was scared of heights, but he had a feeling he was about to be proved wrong.
The path was gentle at first but soon became rough underfoot, and then positively scrambly (you fibbed, Giselle) as a small stream had to be crossed, and further on they were faced with a section of loose scree. And they kept heading ever upwards, passing needles of rock, climbing over stiles, trying not to get too close to the cliff edges, and always,alwaysbeing humbled by the view.
The summit was five hundred metres above sea level, and Rocco was thankful by the time they reached it. And totally astounded, because below them was a spectacular tableau of flat emerald-green plateau which was surrounded by rock formations and staggering cliffs.
He’d never seen anything so awe inspiring in his life.
Shaking his head in wonder, he turned to look at Giselle, who was equally moved. Her eyes were wide, her full lips parted and she had a rosy glow in her usually pale cheeks. God, she was beautiful. So beautiful that he forgot to look at the view for several long seconds.
‘Well?’ she asked.
‘Huh?’ Damn. Had she noticed him watching her?
‘Was it worth the hike?’
‘Absolutely!’ Of that there was no doubt. ‘Thank you for bringing me.’
‘I’m sure you would have found this place on your own.’
