“Didn’t think we were going to do it at one point. One of the other climbers fell and snapped his tibia.” Jake sat down, his coat still on.
Lainey’s stare fixed onto him. The room was by no means cool. In fact, she’d shedded her coat and was glad of the window she was near that was cracked open slightly.
“Where were you?” She asked the question, feeling foolish – this was probably something she’d been expected to know.
“Ben Nevis.” His attention latched onto her. “Two climbers got lost and ended up in the Five Finger Gully when they got lost. They’d done all the right things.”
“How did they end up needing rescuing then?” Sorrell had sat down next to Keren, who was cradling her toddler daughter.
Jake’s eyes were still on Lainey. “Weather changed suddenly. They lost visibility and ended up in the bit you don’t want to be in. We used the helicopter to get so far, but visibility was too bad.”
“So, you climbed?” Jonny said.
Jake nodded. “Bloody freezing. Haven’t warmed up yet.”
“How did you end up in Scotland to do that?” Lainey knew he was part of the mountain rescue team in Severton.
It was Zack who answered. “We rely on each other and for some rescues, you need a certain skill set. For this one, you needed a screw lose and no sense of danger. Jake ticks those boxes.”
Jake’s grin was inspired by the devil herself.
“They were short and put out a call. There wasn’t any reason why I couldn’t help. Their people have done the same for us in the past.” He took a large sip of the whisky.
“What were the injuries like?” Scott’s voice was quiet. He’d taken Eden, his little girl, from Keren now. She was now cradling a large glass of red wine instead.
Jake shrugged. “Neither will be climbing any Munros for a while, but they’ll be able to eventually.” He sighed. “It’s good to be home.” He held up his glass to cheer, which ended the communal investigation, the conversations that had been on-going before he came in were returned to.
Lainey headed over to him, noticing that he had dark shadows under his eyes and a paleness to his skin that wasn’t normally there.
“When did you get back?”
He’d been watching her all the while she’d crossed the room, his expression humoured.
“About twenty minutes ago. Long drive down and it wasn’t comfy. Is everything alright at the farm?” His eyes seemed bluer than normal.
She nodded. “I’d have kept an eye out if you’d asked.” She was hurt, she realised. They might not have gotten off on the right foot, but she’d never not help out another farmer or neighbour. She’d not been brought up that way. “I hope you know I’d help.”
His smile changed to a smirk. “Depends on what you’re offering to help with.”
“You need to stop trying to goad me. I won’t rise to your bait.” She wished she was young enough to still stamp her foot.
Jake laughed. “It’s just too easy. Your cheeks go this really pinky colour when I suggest anything naughty.”
She could feel the warmth of thatpinky colourcreeping down from her cheeks to her neck and below.
“I’m not going to become one of your harem of women.”
There was another chuckle. “You’d be too much like hard work to add to my harem. But thank you for the offer.”
“I wasn’t offering to join your harem. Just to make that clear.”
She felt her muscles begin to tense. It was going to take a lot of wine to sort that tension out any time soon.
Jake shook his head. “Clear and understood. How’s Pip?”
Now that was a topic of conversation that they could have without blood being shed.
“She’s great. Learning quickly. Given how giddy she is, I’m surprised she’s okay with the horses.”
