Part 7 (2/2)
Jake paused with his hand on the gym door. ”Ready?”
”Of course.” She entered, her emotions in a flurry. Man, she hated that. If only she could control them on the inside the way she did on the outside.
She took two steps in and . . .
”Kaybear.”
Jake swung his head in her direction with a grin. ”Kaybear?” he asked. But Brody's arms engulfing her cut off her need for a response.
”Hey, Brody.”
He released her, taking a small step back but still close enough to carefully appraise her.
Jake stiffened beside them.
”Man.” Brody swiped a hand across his head. ”Aren't you a sight for sore eyes.”
She brushed her hair behind her ear, a bit uneasy with the intensity of his stare. ”Good to see you too, Brody.”
”What's it been? A year or two?”
”Two. The Denali Champions.h.i.+p.”
”That's right. You put my bouldering team to shame.” He smiled. His hair was darker and shorter now, but his eyes were still every bit as blue. ”So, how you been? You look amazing, as always.”
Brody had always been a charmer, though she preferred Jake's lingering glances to Brody's verbose flirting.
”I've been good.”
”So glad you came in. It's been far too long. How's the fam?”
”Doing well. Cole's getting married the day after tomorrow and Piper in August.”
”No kidding. To anyone I know?”
”Cole's marrying Bailey Craig.”
”That's a name from the past. I remember them dating not long before you and me. But . . . she left town, didn't she?”
”Yeah, but she's back.” Kayden swallowed, feeling the weight of Jake's curious stare was.h.i.+ng over her. ”And Piper's marrying Landon Grainger,” she quickly added, hoping to s.h.i.+ft the attention off of her.
”Pipsqueak and Landon?” He laughed. ”Now, that's quite the pairing. Can't say I'm surprised, though.”
”No?”
”Nah. There always were sparks between those two-even if it mostly took the form of jabbing at one another. Irritation and annoyance are sure signs of hidden desire.”
Kayden forced herself not to look at Jake, praying he wouldn't see that truth about her-that beneath all the claims of distrust, the hope that he really was a good guy wrested feelings she never wanted to come to fruition. If Jake had been the man she'd accused him of being, when the truth of his character came out, the feelings would have dissipated eventually. But her plan had backfired. The truth of his character had come out and only made her care for him all the more.
”So you and your-” Brody looked Jake over for the first time-”friend ready to climb?”
”Oh, I'm sorry. Brody, this is Jake Westin . . . Cavanagh,” she added in a rush.
”Well, that's a mouthful.” Brody extended his hand.
”Jake works just fine.” He shook the man's hand.
”Nice to meet you, Jake. You a climber?”
”Just starting out.”
”He's being modest,” Kayden said. ”For a newbie, he's doing awesome.” He'd gone from short top-line climbs to a few bouldering climbs to a couple smaller free climbs over the past few months, which meant he was a natural. Focused. Determined. With incredible upper-body strength. The first time she saw his powerful arms gripping a handhold, her heart actually fluttered. It was like something long dead inside had sprung back to life. The fact that Jake was the cause still threw her.
”Cool. Let's get you guys on the wall,” Brody said.
Here came the fun part. ”Actually, Brody, we aren't here to climb.”
”Just stopped in for a visit?”
Kayden looked to Jake, and he graciously took the lead, flas.h.i.+ng his badge. ”We need to ask you some questions about Conrad Humphries.”
Brody looked at Kayden with a mixture of confusion and disappointment.
She shook it off. This was business. A man was dead. ”Is there someplace we can talk?”
”Let's go to my office.” He glanced back at a young man sorting harnesses. ”Shane, take the desk for a few.”
The young man, clearly eager to be done with his monotonous task, sprang for the counter, greeting a couple entering the gym. ”Hey, folks. How can I help you?”
Brody gestured toward the side hall. ”This way.”
”After you.” Jake gestured. For being such an outdoorsman, he sure knew his manners-must have been remnants of his upbringing in Boston's high society, which she still couldn't wrap her mind around. How did one go from high society to being nearly one with the outdoors? She would probably ask him someday, though she feared the more she learned about the man, the deeper her feelings for him would grow.
They moved along the outer edge of the main climbing area-four stories of tan walls with handholds in a vast array of colors. Neon-green tape labeled the difficulty level of each route.
A couple customers were climbing belay and one free-climbed, but the decent-sized bouldering area was empty.
She wondered where Conrad Humphries had spent the majority of his time.
Brody guided them down a short hallway to the door at the end. He opened it, ushering them inside. The office was approximately ten feet by twelve but was more cluttered than Piper's room-brochures and paperwork piled high on the desk, sample gear and products stacked on every other piece of furniture in the room, while boxes littered the floor.
”Sorry,” Brody said, clearing off a chair for Kayden. ”My office seconds as a storage room.” He dumped the pile of water bottles on top of a leaning tower of climbing magazines beside her. He turned, looking for another chair.
Jake held up his hand. ”I'm good, really. Don't go to the trouble.” He positioned himself behind Kayden's chair.
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