“Crap, I’d almost forgotten about that.”
“By the time it gets here, you guys will all be ready,” said Michael with an infuriating amount of cheerfulness.
“Yeah yeah yeah,” said Becca, shaking her head. “Bottomless fries first; train later.”
She pulled the car into a burger place in the heart of the college town. Before Amanda could open her door, Michael was out of the car, gripping the door handle and confusing the hell out of her. For someone who was supposed to be interested in her sister, he was being awfully helpful. Maybe that’s just how he was. After their day on the rock, she’d gotten her own misguided opinion about his feelings. What made her think she could read him any better now?
Becca didn’t wait for either of them. She made a beeline for the entrance, leaving them no choice but to fall in step behind her. Michael held the door, and she could feel him behind her when he followed her into the dimly lit restaurant. It wasn’t that he touched her or anything. It was more that she could sense that he was back there. His presence was impossible to ignore, as if her nerves went on hyper alert when he was around. None of which was appropriate.
Becca blew past theSeat Yourselfsign and chose a booth tucked away in the corner. She sat down and plopped her huge purse on the seat next to her, leaving Michael and Amanda to share the opposite bench. If he minded, he didn’t let it show, and it wasn’t like she could complain about it without looking like an ass. If it meant he crowded in a little too close and she couldn’t help but breathe in the clean citrus scent of his aftershave, she’d just have to suck it up and get used to it. His thigh brushed hers as he settled deeper into the seat and she bit back the gasp that would have tipped him off to how much his nearness affected her.
Doing her best to ignore how much space he took up, she ordered a cheeseburger and fries. Becca followed suit, topping her order off with a chocolate shake.
“For fortification,” she said, grinning.
Michael was the only one who opted for the grilled chicken sandwich, but at least he went for the bottomless fries. She’d have to hate him a little if he hadn’t.
“So,” Becca said when their drinks arrived. “I figure if the three of us meet once or twice a week, I should be ready to make it through the high ropes challenge by the time the competition rolls around. In addition to our other training times, of course.”
She took a pull on her milkshake while Amanda tried to figure out a way to bow out of the plan that got her stuck two times a week with Michael.
“Works for me,” said the muscle-bound offender.
“How can it possibly?” asked Amanda, forgetting for a moment how close he was and shifting in the seat to stare at him. “Don’t you have a business to run?”
“Of course,” he said, shrugging his shoulders like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “But for the next six weeks, training you guys is my priority. I’ve got staff who can handle the day-to-day operations, and two or three nights a week will hardly kill me.”
He sounded so reasonable, and Amanda hated him for it. She was the one who’d roped her family into helping with this crazy competition. She couldn’t very well leave them hanging because being around Michael made her uncomfortable and having him and Ethan in the same room together made it a thousand times worse. She tried not to compare the men, but Ethan didn’t make it easy.
“Are you sure you need both of us? I didn’t do anything today, and you and Michael both said you did great. Maybe we could alternate.”
Becca stared at her over the rim of her milkshake glass. She didn’t say a word, but Amanda had no trouble figuring out what she was thinking.
“Fine. When do you want to do it?”
“I was thinking Wednesday. I’ll have to go back to work after we’re finished, but I could take a break to train at five o’clock. If that works for you guys,” she added as almost an afterthought.
“Works for me,” said Michael.
The server set their plates in front of them and Michael picked up a thick-cut steak fry and started munching contentedly.
Did nothing faze the guy?
“Fine, I guess I can make that work.” Amanda picked up a fry and had it almost to her mouth before her phone went off in her pocket. She glanced at the screen, saw Jason’s number and excused herself so she could take the call.
“Hey, Jason, what’s up?”
He was the other guide who worked out of Mr. Randolf’s store. They alternated jobs, dividing up the clients between each other. If he was calling, it was probably about a job.
“I shouldn’t have done it,” said the younger man, his tone almost frantic. “I knew I shouldn’t have said yes, but he kept working on me until I caved.”
“Shouldn’t have done what?” she asked, fairly certain she didn’t want to know.
“It’s Ethan,” he said and the bottom dropped out of her stomach.
“What about Ethan?” Whatever it was he’d gotten himself into, she already knew she wasn’t going to like it.
“He convinced me to take him up the Ladder. He and his boss—that Bransford guy. They said something about not letting the women show them up.” The longer he talked, the more sheepish he sounded. “I told him where the holds were and what he needed to do, but he just wouldn’t listen.”
