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The climbevery month had been a token to her former life; a grim clutch on what had made her happy and who she’d used to be. It wasn’t that Severton was synonymous with a cloud of depression – there had been a lot of times where she’d been happy. Working in the bar with Scott, as grumpy as he could be, was fun most of the time and Sorrell had become a real friend since she’d opened the hotel. Abby wasn’t sure if that friendship would continue once Sorrell knew that she’d lied.
It was a hot afternoon by English standard. The drive to Windgather was a busy one, considering the peaks were generally fairly quiet they passed several cars and caravans being towed. The sky was a brilliant blue and cloudless. The still air was starting to hold the promise of a storm, but it was unlikely to be any time soon.
“How confident are you with this?”
Alex’s voice broke the quiet that had been between them for the last forty minutes.
“I first climbed Windgather when I was ten, so…” she shrugged.
“I meant to ask you, why did you start climbing?”
“Grandfather. My mum’s dad. He did a few of the big climbs and started taking me as soon as he figured I was old enough. I’d spend summers with him in Scotland, where he lived, and we’d walk and climb up the Trossachs. Did my first rock face with equipment when I was nine.”
“That’s young.”
“I bet you were younger.”
He laughed. “We couldn’t avoid it. Both my dad and Jake’s were on the search and rescue team so weekends and evenings were meant for hiking and climbing. I remember Scott and Zack being taken to the climbing wall in Buxton and being left behind because I was too young. I wasn’t happy. Think I was about four. You should sign up as volunteer for the team, Abby.”
“If I stay here, I will.” She had no idea what was going to happen.
“I’ll hold you to it.”
The conversation stopped as Alex parked up, managing to find a shaded spot. The walk and climb would only take them two or three hours max, but they were hitting the hottest part of the day.
“Lotion.” She tapped him on the shoulder. “And don’t say you don’t need it.”
“I don’t need it. Dark skin. Not like some milky female standing there.”
She shook her head. “You should still use it.” She held the bottle out.
He shook his head but accepted it anyway, squirting some into his hand and roughly applying it onto his neck.
“Alex, if you’re going to end up losing the T-shirt, put some on your back too. That sun’s strong but you won’t feel it because of the breeze.” Windgather has its name for a reason. It was an easy climb, popular with people who were learning what to do, but it was an easy place to get burned on a day like this and she’d seen Alex in the sun before and then the day after where he tried to hide the fact it hurt to move.
“Rats.” He glared at her and she laughed.
Then he lost the T-shirt and she stopped laughing.
She’s seen him naked just that morning, but outside, with the sun beating down onto golden skin her crush was growing.
“Maybe you should put the T-shirt back on.”
He chuckled. “No. You’re right, I’d get too hot. Want to make sure I’m not going to get burned on my back.”
“Oh my Lord.” There was no point hiding it. He knew she liked him, knew she found him attractive. She had no idea what he thought of her as most men would do what they’d done this morning, given the opportunity, just maybe not as well.
The sunscreen was cold and she didn’t bother to warm it up on her hands, instead gloating at the jump Alex gave when it hit his warm skin. He was broad and his muscles were hard and honed. She’d done this before with her ex, but he hadn’t felt like this under her hands and her response hadn’t been quite the same either.
“Is this,” she dug a knuckle into his muscle, “due to climbing?”
“And woodwork. Plus helping Jake on the farm. I have weights knocking around as well, but I don’t use them as much as I used to. Not if the weather’s okay to climb.”
She felt him wince as she dug a little more, finding a knot.
“You climb in most weathers though.”
