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Falling Free: The North Carolina Southerlands, #1
Автор: Evelyn Adams
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Рейтинг: 5 из 5 звезд5/5 (1 оценка)
Длина: 221 стр.3 ч
- Издатель:
- Evelyn Adams
- Издано:
- Nov 29, 2016
- ISBN:
- 9781944801106
- Формат:
- Книге
Описание
Amanda Southerland has a job she loves and a solid relationship with a man who looks great on paper. If it all feels a little hollow, so what? She's got nothing to complain about. Her life is running like clockwork. That is until she slides down the side of a mountain and crashes into the cocky gym rat who's exactly the kind of guy she avoids. He's all muscle, no finesse, and if she can't stop thinking about him, it's just because he irritates her. Nothing more.
Michael Dean's finally opened the gym of his dreams. He doesn't have time for a relationship and he's absolutely not looking for love - not until the beautiful rock climber practically falls into his lap. Meeting Amanda has reordered his priorities, even if she's stubbornly racing toward a future with the wrong guy. She may not know that he's her happily ever after, but he's determined to make her fall again – right into his arms.
Активность, связанная с книгой
Начать чтениеСведения о книге
Falling Free: The North Carolina Southerlands, #1
Автор: Evelyn Adams
Оценки:
Рейтинг: 5 из 5 звезд5/5 (1 оценка)
Длина: 221 стр.3 ч
Описание
Amanda Southerland has a job she loves and a solid relationship with a man who looks great on paper. If it all feels a little hollow, so what? She's got nothing to complain about. Her life is running like clockwork. That is until she slides down the side of a mountain and crashes into the cocky gym rat who's exactly the kind of guy she avoids. He's all muscle, no finesse, and if she can't stop thinking about him, it's just because he irritates her. Nothing more.
Michael Dean's finally opened the gym of his dreams. He doesn't have time for a relationship and he's absolutely not looking for love - not until the beautiful rock climber practically falls into his lap. Meeting Amanda has reordered his priorities, even if she's stubbornly racing toward a future with the wrong guy. She may not know that he's her happily ever after, but he's determined to make her fall again – right into his arms.
- Издатель:
- Evelyn Adams
- Издано:
- Nov 29, 2016
- ISBN:
- 9781944801106
- Формат:
- Книге
Об авторе
Связано с Falling Free
Отрывок книги
Falling Free - Evelyn Adams
EPILOGUE
MICHAEL DEAN GAZED UP AT the woman moving like a ballet dancer across the gentle curve of Stone Mountain and tried to puzzle out how he was supposed to climb the smooth rock face. She moved effortlessly over the surface—strong and graceful—her climbing so far out of his skill set he was going to have to come up with a new word for it.
The mountain looked nothing like the vertical pitches he’d climbed at the gym. His guide called the route Rainy Day Women, and she’d tried to warn him away. The 5.10 didn’t scare him. He’d had no trouble muscling his way up higher rated pitches at the gym. He’d been training, and he never backed down from a challenge. It was his thing. Not backing down. His sisters used to tease him about being like one of those dogs that would grab a Frisbee on a rope and swing from it by his teeth because he was too tenacious to let go. They said stupid, but he heard tenacious.
He had the upper body strength to hang from the rock until he found a toehold, but there just didn’t appear to be any hand or toeholds on the rock in front of him. The mountain had a deceptively shallow slope, which should be easy, until he scanned the face and realized there was nothing to hold onto. Aside from a few gentle divots that looked like the indents of giant raindrops, the sheet of granite was smooth.
Making sure to keep his grip on the rope running through the carabiner clipped to his harness, Michael focused on the guide and tried to concentrate on where she put her hands and not on the way her butt looked as she worked her way up the rock face. He should have gotten a guy to guide him. It would have been much less distracting than the brown-haired beauty who’d asked him more than once if he was sure he wanted to attempt the climb. He was a grown man. He needed to do better. His sisters would beat the crap out of him for even thinking about switching guides because she was a woman. He wasn’t all that happy with himself.
Amanda Southerland was one of the highest rated guides in the area, and in a few minutes, she was going to reach the top of the pitch and expect him to follow her. He had no idea how he was going to do that. He couldn’t see what she was using as holds. Keeping her body off the face of the rock, she curled her fingertips around an imaginary grip and smeared her foot against the rock. She’d told him about that before she started up the pitch, but he hadn’t understood what she meant until he saw her do it. Stretching her leg in a move that reminded him of a dancer, she pressed her toes against the granite.
He’d never be able to do that. In a million years, he’d never be flexible enough to stretch his leg like that. He might be a whole lot stronger than her, but it wouldn’t give him any advantage at all. An image of him sliding down the surface of the mountain like a bad cartoon character jumped to the front of his mind, and he fought the shudder. There was no way he was getting out of this situation with his pride intact. He ran through every excuse he could come up with to get out of making his own attempt, but there wasn’t anything that didn’t make him sound like a quitter. And he needed to beef up his climbing skills. He’d just gotten a contract to coach a new corporate client and rock climbing was part of the course.
Amanda dipped her fingers into the bag of chalk clipped to her belt and grabbed an invisible hold. Extending her leg over the surface of the rock, she reached with her toe for something he couldn’t see. It was beautiful, graceful, and completely beyond his ability. He was having serious regrets at ever insisting she take him up this climb when she swung her body up the rock, reaching for the edge of one of the shallow divots. Her fingertips skimmed the surface, fighting for purchase as the pebble-sized knot she’d been standing on broke free.
Falling!
she shouted.
He had just enough time to tighten his grip on the rope linking them together before watching helplessly as she slid down the rock face. Even the way she fell was graceful. He hadn’t understood why she’d made him tape his palms until he watched her skim the surface of the rock, using the taped heels of her hands and the toes of her climbing shoes to keep from getting brush burned as she fell. She looked like one of those water bugs that somehow managed to stay afloat on the surface of the water.
It was more like magic than gravity, and he was so mesmerized, it caught him momentarily off guard when the rope caught and gave a gentle tug. Instead of the hard jerk he expected, it felt like holding a rubber band with a slight bounce as the slack played out of the system, and she came to rest against the granite. For a moment, he thought she managed to escape without even bruising her pride.
Are you okay?
he asked, holding tight to the rope.
I think so. Thanks,
she said, flashing him a smile. A shakier one than the one that had already managed to work its way into his thoughts.
Repositioning her hands on the rock, she pressed her foot against the granite and froze. She gasped, and the line went tight.
I’m sorry,
she said, peering over her shoulder at him. It’s my ankle. I need to rappel down.
If she cried or even looked like she was in pain, he’d feel like a complete ass. As it was, all he could do was hold the rope as she pulled her protection and descended. He schooled his face so he wouldn’t show how grateful he was that he wouldn’t have to make the climb himself. In a few moments, she touched down, landing gently on the ledge beside him. She favored her left leg, and he hurried to offer her a hand, which she refused.
I’ve got it,
she said, step-hopping over to the pack she’d left off to the side at the bottom of the climb.
Feeling less than useless, he watched as she lowered herself to the ground and untied her laces. She winced as she slid her foot out of the shoe, and he took a step closer, not sure what he intended to do but unable to just stand by and watch when she was in pain. Digging around in the pack, she pulled out an ACE bandage and started to wrap her ankle. He finally managed to unstick himself and dropped to his knees in front of her.
Here—let me help.
Not waiting for her answer, he gently lifted her injured ankle and rested her heel on his thigh so he could wrap it.
Tighter, please,
she said.
She sucked in her breath as he pulled the bandage tight, but she didn’t make a noise. He concentrated on getting her ankle supported, making sure the bandage was tight enough to help keep the swelling down until he could get her off the mountain. He glanced around the four-foot deep ledge, wondering how he was going to do that. She was small. He could easily take her piggyback if there was some way to hike down. He didn’t have any illusions about trying to climb with her. If she’d shown him anything, it was his limits as a climber. He had the strength but he lacked the finesse. Hauling himself up the bolted-in handholds at the climbing gym hadn’t prepared him for Stone Mountain. Or the woman sitting in front of him.
He turned back to face her and found her carefully working her injured foot into her hiking boot. He reached for the laces to help but she held her hand up to stop him.
I got it,
she said, shifting out of his reach.
With the same grace she’d used on the rock face, she stood without putting weight on her injured foot. If he tried that, he’d be hopping around like a fool and probably end up on the ground again. She simply took two hops to the base of the climb and started pulling the rope down to them, winding it over her arm as she went. Slipping the rope from the clip in his harness, he scrambled up to help but by the time he reached her, she had the rope in a neat coil by her feet.
I’m sorry. I can’t climb anymore today. I’ll make sure you get your money back for the day when we get to the shop.
He had a moment’s regret. He liked watching Amanda climb. Beyond the obvious reasons, the ones his sisters would smack him for, he recognized she could teach him things he didn’t know. Then he heard her instructions and gave his head a quick shake to clear it, sure she’d misspoken or he’d misheard.
Wait, repeat that?
I’ll help you rappel down and follow after,
she said, looking at him like she worried he might not understand the words.
No,
he said, the crease in his brow threatening to set up permanent residence. What was with the woman and not wanting to accept help?
What do you mean, no? I’ve done it dozens of times. That’s how this works.
You’re hurt. I’m not going to leave you up here alone.
Oh please.
She’d started to look exasperated.
He recognized the look from his childhood. It usually preceded one of his older sisters pounding him for doing something stupid.
Listen, I appreciate the chivalry,
she said, sounding like she didn’t. But it’s not necessary. Trust me. It’s safer for both of us this way.
Not waiting for him to agree, she hobbled over to one of the trees that grew near the rock face and wrapped the rope around it.
Clip in,
she said, tossing one end of the line to him and keeping the other for herself.
He had a choice to make. He could ignore her and try to come up with his own plan or he could do what she said. He remembered the way she’d tried to talk him out of the climb in the first place and bit back a groan. He didn’t like it, but he honestly couldn’t make the case that he knew more than she did. It was stupid to hire a guide and then refuse to listen to them.
You’re sure?
he asked, making one last attempt.
Positive.
Bracing herself against the rock, she gripped the rope and motioned toward the edge. Just sit back and use your feet to walk to the bottom.
I’ve rappelled before.
He sounded defensive and wasn’t surprised when she rolled her eyes.
I’m sure you have,
she said with infinite patience. Go ahead and do it again.
Feeling ridiculous, he gripped the rope running through the carabiner clipped to his harness and backed up to the ledge. The first step was always the hardest, kind of a leap of faith, but he felt the rope hold him fast and concentrated on getting down so she could follow. Her hazel eyes met and held his gaze as he disappeared over the edge. In a few moments, he was safely on the ground. She followed in half the time it had taken him, working the double rope like a pro. The hiking boot and the fact that she only touched the rock with one foot were the only clues that she was injured. She landed softly beside him, balancing her weight on her right leg.
Told you,
she said, pulling the rope and winding it neatly before tucking it into the pack. Let’s get to the car and then I’ll call about getting you a refund.
Shouldn’t we get your ankle looked at?
He couldn’t help but feel like he ought to do more. She was hurt. He needed to fix it.
I don’t think so. It’s just a sprain. It doesn’t hurt much, but it’s not safe to climb with it like this.
She must have seen the concern on his face. If it’s not better tomorrow, I’ll have it looked at,
she said, clearly intending to appease him.
I don’t want a refund.
He blurted the words out before he had a chance to consider them.
Why not?
She looked as shocked as he felt.
I still need to learn how to climb this. I want to reschedule another day.
No problem. I can recommend a couple of good guides.
I want you,
he said, not sure what made him say the words but more sure than ever they were true. He wanted to see her again.
It’ll probably be a week or so before I can climb again,
she said, the confusion clear in her expression.
Her face flushed and he decided to be optimistic and think maybe she might want to see him again too. Or not. It could be the pain.
I’ll wait.
––––––––
AMANDA SOUTHERLAND GLANCED at her phone and grimaced. She’d left extra time to get to the gym, but between traffic and her still stiff ankle, it looked like she was still going to be late, which meant the inevitable lecture from Ethan on punctuality. He was right. She was a grown woman; she should be able to make it to an appointment on time and she would have if Mrs. Edison, their next-door neighbor, hadn’t caught her as she was headed to the car. The older woman lived by herself and some days Amanda and her sister Becca were the older woman’s only company. She couldn’t bring herself to cut her off when she wanted to visit.
It was just a few minutes. Maybe she wouldn’t be the last to arrive.
Her ankle barely protested as she crossed the street. The sprain had healed quickly. She’d had a much harder time getting her client out of her mind. His piercing dark eyes and the intent way he’d watched every move she made found a way to wiggle into her thoughts when she wasn’t paying attention. His I’ll wait comment hadn’t made it any easier to push him out of her mind. Neither had the handful of messages he’d left checking up on her and trying to reschedule.
She shook her head to clear it. Getting hit by a car because she was daydreaming would really make her late, she thought, stepping onto the sidewalk in front of Lift. The gym had only been open for a few months, and she’d been curious about it. She still went to the Y when she wanted to lift. The convenience balanced its age and lack of new equipment, and the regulars knew her by name.
Opening the door, she breathed in the clean citrus scent and surprising lack of sweat and disinfectant. Maybe there were advantages to using a newer gym beyond up-to-date equipment. She could see why Ethan picked the place. Rows of ellipticals lined one wall, each with its own flat-screen TV hanging in front of it. Treadmills and another row of televisions filled the other wall and a variety of weight machines, some she barely recognized, were placed at even intervals across the floor. A young woman in a crisp white polo printed with the gym’s logo waited behind the counter to greet her.
Welcome to Lift,
said the woman with a smile almost as white as her shirt. With her can-do expression and the super healthy glow of her skin, she could have stepped out of an ad for one of those glossy fitness magazines.
The gym was perfect. Everything looked exactly like it should. Amanda usually hated places like that—the ones with no soul, where how it looked carried more weight than how it worked. But this was different. Despite the bright lights and equipment that looked like it had barely been used, the place managed to still feel warm. Welcoming almost.
You’re late.
Ethan hurried across the gym to meet her, pausing long enough to brush a perfunctory kiss across her lips.
I know. I’m sorry. I—
Never mind. You’re here now,
he said, cutting her off before she could explain.
He took her by the hand and started across the gym, moving so fast she had to struggle to keep up on her still tender ankle. They approached a small group of people gathered around a weight machine. She recognized Ethan’s boss. The woman wearing perfectly coordinated workout gear and clinging to his arm must be his new wife. Second or third, Amanda couldn’t remember. A man and a woman—definitely not together—she thought she recognized from the company Christmas party stood on opposite sides of the group. If body language were any indication, the two of them couldn’t stand each other.
That dynamic was sure to make for a fun team-building competition. Ethan’s boss decided entering a company team in the Extreme Beast Eco Challenge was a great way to generate some buzz for his financial firm. He’d put Ethan in charge of the logistics and like everything Ethan did, he’d thrown himself completely into it, seeking out the best and not settling until he got it. It was the reason for meeting at the hottest new gym in town.
Amanda plastered a smile on her face and exhaled gratefully. There were four couples competing in the challenge and only three present, which meant she wasn’t the last to arrive. Hopefully that would be enough to save her from Ethan’s lecture later.
"Amanda, you remember
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