“No way. I’ve got this.”
“And I’ve got you …the whole way down.” Her cheeks flush, matching the heat circulating through my blood. “One step at a time until we reach the bottom.”
“Oh, but you’ll have the perfect view of my torn skirt and underwear.”
“Guess that’s one way to break the ice.”
“Are you always this funny mid-rescue?” she asks
“I prefer to think of it as charm.”
She snorts.
When I keep her joking and laughing, the panic fades. That’s at least the excuse I give myself for all the unnecessary flirting.
Her knuckles go white on the rung, then slowly relax. It’s stupid, but the fact she believes me when I say she’s safe hits me harder than it should.
As we descend, she asks, “So, if you hate celebrity and all of that, then why are you participating in the bachelor auction tonight?”
“To raise money for Three Nations Animal Rescue. They do amazing work, and I want to support it.”
“So, you care about rescue animals? Like Dumpling?”
“Absolutely. I’ve raised lots of money over the years to help organizations like that. It’s my passion.”
“Mine, too!”
“After everything I saw in L.A., helping animals feels pure. No cameras. No bullshit.”
“Understandable, I guess.” Suddenly, her eyes dart to the ground, and she inhales sharply. “I really need to quit looking down.”
“That’s right. Concentrate on one step at a time. I’m right behind you and won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Thank you,” she whimpers. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
My pulse races, my body wanting to believe her on multiple levels.What in the hell is this woman doing to me?
To diffuse the tension, I say, “I don’t believe that for a minute. All you needed were your glasses and a second wind.”
“And laughter. It helps make me feel less freaked out.”
I reach the bottom, and Catalina follows, visage radiating triumph as she turns around, facing me. Our bodies are withininches of each other. Heat and relief pour off her in waves. So does soul-deep attraction.
I need to let go of the ladder. Instead of steadying the metal frame, I cage her between my arms.
“Are you going tonight?”
“Tonight?” she repeats, starry-eyed.
“To the auction?”
“Oh, yes, I’m helping out.”
“Really?”
She nods. “Roxy, who runs the rescue, is a friend of mine.”
“Ahh, okay. In that case, maybe I’ll see you there.” All of a sudden, the auction I’ve been dreading is filled with newfound possibility.
