Page 16 of First Bride to Fall
“Not too big. Charlotte’s still Charlotte.”
“That’s a good name. Solid.”
Her lips twitched. “And Nell is…?”
“Musical,” he finished, surprising himself when he said it, because it rang true.
“Well, I like Grant. It’s rugged.” She swung a fist through the air, and he laughed.
“Thanks. I think.” He glanced at the rope, knowing he needed to retrieve it. “This will only take a sec.” He untied one of the end knots and tugged at a section of the rope until the rest of it fell free, tumbling off the overhang.
She blanched. “Just like that?”
He chuckled at her worried look. “Takes practice.”
“I guess you’ve practiced a lot.”
He coiled the rope in his hands before slinging it over his shoulder. “Yeah.”
Her eyes sparkled appreciatively, and he puffed out his chest. Totally without meaning to. Just happened. Wow. She was a beautiful woman. Mysterious in her own way. He didn’t know why he’d been bowled over by her toenail polish, but he had. She was full of little surprises.
He cleared his throat. “Why don’t you try standing?”
She did, but her legs buckled. “Oh!” She sank back down on the rock.
“Hang on.” He slid the daypack over his shoulders, then slipped his arm around her waist, helping her up. “Loop your arm around my neck.”
She looked up, but he was a good five inches taller than she was, just over six feet. Grant grinned at their predicament. “Okay, my back.”
She latched onto him, and even though his back was sore, his body warmed at her touch. Helikedbeing close to her, liked knowing he could protect her from anything else just waiting to happen. But they still weren’t moving very fast.
She loped forward in baby bunny hops, and each one caused a gasp of discomfort.
Winds roared through the trees, pelted by the heavy rain. They’d never make it back to the parking lot at this pace. “Tell you what,” he said. “I’ve got a better idea.”
She stared up at him with those pretty brown eyes, makeup running down her face, and for the love of him she looked just like a sweet baby racoon. “Yeah?”
In one swift move, he grabbed her behind her knees, the rain and wind swallowing her little shriek. The next instant, she was gathered in his arms like a dripping wet mermaid who’d just emerged from the sea. The image did nothing to douse the simmering heat inside him. She definitely had a siren’s appeal with that long curly hair and that sweet freckled face of hers. He could imagine her capturing some sailor’s attention and the hapless guy losing his bearings.
Not that he was going off course himself. He was taking this descent very carefully.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” she asked self-consciously. “I’m not too heavy?”
He chuckled. “Honey, you’re a lightweight to me.”
“Thanks.” She blushed liked he’d embarrassed her, or maybe she’d just been pleased by his hint at her tiny size. And she was a little-bitty thing compared to him.
One of his hiking boots slid on the slope, but he righted himself quickly, tightening his hold on Nell. She clung onto his shoulder with her other arm wrapped around his neck.
He grinned down at her. “Strangely, I could get used to this. Minus you being in pain, of course.”
She laughed. “Equally strangely, I agree,” she said. “I’ve always kind of liked you.” She bit her lip like maybe she regretted sounding flirty.
He didn’t mind her saying that, though. Nice to know they were on the same page. “Yeah? I’ve always liked you, too.”
Her eyebrows knitted together. “Really?”
“Well, I would have if I’d known you better. We never had any classes together.”
