A Pairing to Die For by Kate Lansing

Author:Kate Lansing [Lansing, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2021-01-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Twelve

My preferred climbing gym features challenging climbing routes along each wall and a cavelike area devoted to bouldering. In an attached room, shallow grooves are etched at eye level to strengthen fingertips, and a low-oxygen chamber mimics even higher altitude than our mile-high city already boasts.

Murals of popular local mountainscapes line the walls—Garden of the Gods, Rocky Mountain National Park, Black Canyon. Some of which I’ve been to, many of which I hope to summit someday.

I bounce across the cushioned floor mat to the bouldering wall, strapping my chalk bag around my waist and figuring I’ll start with bouldering. My arms are tired from the evening round of punch downs, but the rest of my muscles are tense. After closing up shop, I donned leggings and a tank top and came here. To loosen up and seek clarity, the exercise being as much for my mind as my body.

I have the area to myself, so I select a purple route that starts with a move that stretches me to my full five-foot-three-inch height. There are no ropes, no harnesses, no spotters in bouldering. It’s about getting from one point to the next by strategically moving your limbs in different ways and leveraging every muscle. There’s no right way to make a move; there’s only getting there.

My brain churns through puzzle pieces that don’t quite fit—Nick’s jealousy, the old friend Oscar was supposedly going to meet, and the eyewitness testimony. Suffice it to say, clarity evades me.

I’m halfway down the wall when I sense someone join me in the bouldering cave. Dangling from one arm, I dip my free fingers into my chalk bag, peeking under my arm at the newcomer.

Dark hair slicked to the side, toned muscles, Led Zeppelin T-shirt. I immediately recognize the distinguished figure and brace myself for a charged interaction with the detective heading Oscar’s case.

When Eli notices me, his step falters. There’s a brief hesitation, a half step backward, like he might retreat.

Oh, I am not going to stand for that.

Instead of the graceful dismount I envisioned, I proceed to fall flat on my bum. My pride smarts as much as my backside. At least it did the trick.

Eli moves to my side and helps me up, his hand warm in mine. He lets go as soon as I gain my balance.

“Fancy seeing you here,” he says, throwing my line from the jail back at me.

I raise one eyebrow. “Especially since I thought you were too busy to go climbing.”

“An unexpected slot opened up in my calendar.” He has a smooth smile on his face, but there’s no warmth in his caramel eyes.

“I see.” I dig the toe of my climbing shoe into the floor mat. I love my climbing shoes, how they make my feet both dainty and powerful at the same time. “Care for a game? Add On, Take Away, Memory?” I prattle off all the climbing games I know.

He scratches the back of his head, maybe considering, or maybe trying to think of an excuse.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.