High Risk

by Vivian Arend

  So he took the easy out.

  “Round two?”

  She was gone without a word, and once again he faced the torment of staring at her ass the entire sprint up the hillside.

  * * *

  The gym had been renovated since the last time she was there. The mats were sparkling new, super-cushiony, and an incredible selection of auto-belayers lined the south wall. The entire face of the east wall was also covered from floor to ceiling in climbing holds, including a lovely overhang section that made her fingers itch to test them.

  She finished admiring the renovations from her relaxed position flat on her back. With one leg raised to the ceiling, she flexed her ankle, pulling the limb closer and groaning at how good it felt to stretch the tight muscles.

  Stony silence greeted her from her left.

  “Did I wear you out?” she asked, hiding her amusement. Marcus had been less talkative the second half of their run, and she didn’t think it was because he was exhausted.

  The mats squeaked as he rolled farther away from her, rising to face the wall as he stretched his hamstrings. “A little.”

  Liar. Every move he made screamed she was driving him crazy. She’d been the center of focused attention before, his and other men’s. She knew when someone was checking her out, and the tingle inside was no less inspiring than it had been years ago.

  “I’m impressed with what David has done to the place. You ever stop in and help with the classes anymore?”

  This time he turned to face her, and the heat in his eyes was enough to send a streak of fire through her core. Oh God, she was going to melt right there on the crash mat. She debated squeezing her legs together to ease a little of the throbbing in her clit, but that would be as obvious as rubbing a hand over herself.

  He cleared his throat and glanced away. “I’m usually too busy to come and deal with the students. I’ve got my team in place—don’t need anyone new right now.”

  The steam building between them was borderline tangible. Touchable, boiling-point hot, making her needy and aching all at the same time. The weariness in her limbs had been replaced by another sensation altogether, and if she wasn’t careful, she’d be jumping him right here and now.

  She took pity on him, and herself, and rocked to a sitting position. His stare remained locked on a spot a few feet from her body, and she had to assume it was so he’d stop stripping her in his mind.

  Too bad.

  Good lord, she was pathetic. This wasn’t the way to make an impression. Not to mention she would be working for his brother—this wasn’t the time to do anything stupid. She had to slow down, at least a little.

  She casually pulled on her jacket and switched positions to a less provocative stance, even as she continued stretching. “Tell me about your team. You said you have six on the squad?”

  Marcus nodded. “Pilot, winch man, paramedic, and the rest on ropes or whatever else it takes to get to the emergency. I work the call centre, or there’s a trained EMT who assists. Couple of them are water experts, with scuba skills and such, but we don’t get many of those calls—it’s mainly winter avalanche or rock disasters outside the Forestry and RCMP abilities.”

  She would have died to get onto a team like that out of school. “Incredible. Where were you when I was first looking for work?”

  He hesitated. “Probably getting in trouble overseas.”

  Shit. A wash of sympathy and dismay struck. How stupid of her to not have realized. “Oh, Marcus, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

  He gave her a wry grin. “Forget it. It was a joke, but obviously a poor one. You would have enjoyed the first team I assembled—you would have been the only woman.”

  She followed his lead and ignored her blunder, partly because she was shocked at his admission. “You don’t hire women? I’m surprised.”

  He shrugged. “I hire the best. That year, none of the successful candidates were female. There’s been a little turnover, and now I’ve got two ladies on the squad. You’ll like my lead rope hand—she’s as cocky on the wall as you were.”

  Their eyes locked again—and memories of how her brash attitude had brought them together for the brief fling surged up like some pornographic lust track.

  His dark head between her legs, tongue doing indescribably wonderful things. She buried her fingers in his hair and tugged until he was in the perfect position. Tension building, her limbs shaking . . .

  Becki tore her gaze away and contemplated upending her water bottle over her head. Sweet lord, it was hotter in the gym than she remembered. She scrambled for something to say. Anything, now desperate to switch her mental track to safer topics. What had they been talking about?

  The team. His team. Right.

  “Your squad is based here in Banff?—Hang on, I have heard of you.” There’d been a news article she’d read in the past couple of months. “Didn’t you recently win some kind of award?”

  A long, weary sigh escaped him.

  Not the reaction she’d expected. She lifted a brow.

  He nodded. “Sort of. Media attention’s been a pain in the ass.”

  Becki snorted. “Actually, I know a little about that. Getting lots of notice for doing my job? No thanks. Dodging newshounds got really old, really fast.”

  Evading the reporters who’d incessantly hounded her for information regarding her rescue of the girls had been bad enough. Worse were the horrid, unanswerable demands for more details of what happened to Dane. A shiver went over her skin, and suddenly she felt a little dirty for flirting with Marcus. It had been barely eight months since her lover died. Why was she acting like a groupie with a feverish crush?

  Because you’re not the one who died, her mind taunted.

  She scrambled to her feet and covered her unease with a long drink from her water bottle. She lowered it to find Marcus focused on her.

  “And that brings me back to you. David said you’re joining his teaching pool—starting the summer semester.”

  “June fourth is my first class.”

  He was still staring, but now there was a calculated twist to his expression. “I’m running my crew through boot camp for the next three weeks. Need a rope trainer. David says you’re the best. You interested in a temporary job?”

  Already? Teaching was what she’d come here to do, but she thought she’d have a couple of weeks to brace up her defenses before actually beginning. “David thinks I’m the best—that’s good to hear. What’s your opinion?”

  “I haven’t seen you climb in a long time, but you always had the potential.”

  “You want me to take a test? Submit a training program? Anything like that before you offer me a position?”

  Marcus smirked. “Nope. Rule three.”

  It was the last thing she’d expected him to toss her way. Instant heat flushed her. His words took her back to their weekend fling. To the rules that were burned into her flesh as deeply as they were etched into her brain. “Trust your team? How does that fit into this situation?”

  “My brother says you’re the best. He enticed you to join him, and if that picky son of a gun wants you, then I want you, too.”

  Oh, the places she could take that comment.

  She gathered her things together as she thought it through. “Full squad?”

  “Yes. Pilot for basic refresher only—she doesn’t need a full workup on ropes, but she needs to remember people are working like hell on the other end when she’s in the air swinging them.”

  Okay, that was impressive. “She? Your pilot is a woman?”

  He pushed open the gym door and held it for her, his grin firmly back in place. “Erin’s the best.”

  She blinked as she stepped into the sunshine. Deep breaths filled her lungs with more than the crisp mountain air. Filled her soul with a familiar peace she’d been missing ever since the accident.

  “Becki?”

  His tone had dropped a notch, and she turned to face him.

  “I didn’t mean to rush you.
I know it’s something you probably need to think about, but the offer is there.”

  “I wasn’t expecting work right away, but I’ll seriously consider it.”

  He nodded. “Great.”

  They were already halfway back to the dorms, her footsteps following the familiar path from so long ago. “You live right in town, then?”

  “Found a great place. Big backyard that’s nice and private. Wide-open deck with a hot tub . . .”

  His voice died away, and suddenly her sticky sweaty self was back on the sweating for a different reason track. Thoughts of hot tubs and Marcus were not on the current agenda.

  He cleared his throat again. “I’ve got an idea. Come out tonight and meet the team. No pressure in terms of the training, but since you’ve moved back to Banff, they’re a great group of people to spend some time with.”

  She snatched greedily at the change of topic. “That sounds fun. Anywhere in particular?”

  “You know our usual stomping grounds.” He chuckled. “I think you were the one who started the tradition.”

  No. Way. “Rose and Crown? The pub is still around?”

  “Yeah, and they continue to throw out David’s students on a regular basis, but if you promise to behave maybe you can get away without being arrested this time.”

  Drat, it seemed her school–days sins were far too well known. There was no use in wallowing in doubt, though. “I’d love to, only I’ll warn you, I’m not as big on the jalapeño-eating contests as I was back then.”

  “Oh God, no. We’ll stick to wings and chips.”

  She groaned, her mouth instantly watering like some damn Pavlovian dog. “We should have done ten hill repeats if we’re going to eat that crap.”

  He stepped back, full grin in place. “Meet you at six?”

  “Perfect.”

  Marcus was gone before she’d made it through the dormitory doors. Her body screamed for a shower and a rest, her mind filled with a morass of questions and scattered images of the time she’d spent in the school in her past.

  Including shockingly detailed memories of the most intense sexual experience she’d ever had in her life.

  Returning to Banff was turning out to be far more complicated, and far more interesting, than she ever expected.

  She was removing her bottle holder before she realized that other than when he’d attempted to joke about it, she’d never once thought of Marcus’s missing limb.

  CHAPTER 3

  The music volume as she pushed open the bar doors at the Rose and Crown was perfect—loud enough the intoxicating rhythm pulsed in her veins, low enough voices were clearly audible without shouting. Becki took the long staircase two steps at a time, pausing on the second-floor landing to look around, pleased to recognize familiar decor. The dartboard still hung in the same place, there were comfortable chairs gathered in groups, and the scent of smoky barbecue and dark ale filled the air.

  The sensation of coming home grew stronger.

  Across the room Marcus rose to his feet and waved, and another shot of high-test lust drilled through her. The faded blue cotton shirt that stretched over his broad chest looked soft. Dark hair that was longer than in her memories framed his strong features, while the slight wave still made her itch to drive her fingers into the thick mass and drag their mouths together.

  Oh boy.

  She reined in her libido and turned her attention to the group sprawled in the overstuffed chairs. She guessed their ages anywhere between twenty-five and forty. Two women and three men not counting Marcus. They looked so completely at ease with each other, they had to be part of his team.

  The young blond man taking up an entire loveseat by himself leapt to his feet and scrambled forward, thrusting out his hand. “I didn’t believe Marcus when he said the Rebecca James was in town. I am so fucking excited to meet you—”

  “Good grief, Devon. Can you not go ten seconds without putting your foot in your mouth?” The petite woman seated beside Marcus rolled her eyes. “Hi, Rebecca. I’m Alisha. Excuse the puppy, he’s not housebroken yet.”

  Becki grinned at the pretty blonde. “Hi, Alisha.” She wrapped her fingers around Devon’s and returned his sturdy handshake. “Devon, nice to meet you, too, only please, call me Becki.”

  He winked cheekily, then tugged her toward the loveseat, giving her room to join him. “That is the more familiar name. The one we’ve seen plastered all over the record boards at school. At least until they had to take them down to put up mine.”

  Across the table Alisha groaned loudly. “You did not just say that. Someone tell me he didn’t say that.”

  Devon shrugged. “It’s true. Well, only the swimming records. Your name is still listed for a few things.”

  He twisted to grin at Becki, one hundred percent cocky attitude and self-importance, and she had to fight from laughing out loud.

  She could see her younger self so clearly in the young man it was scary.

  “You’re such an ass, Devon.” Alisha leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.

  He tossed a snarky comment in her direction. Becki ignored their continuing banter to answer the touch on her arm on the other side.

  A muscular, dark-haired man offered his hand. “Welcome to the madhouse. Name’s Tripp.”

  “One of the Lifeline team?”

  “Since day one. Ropes and avalanche are my specialties. If you’re going to be in town for a while, I’d love to do a climb with you.” He pointed across the table. “In the meantime, I’ll introduce the rest of the motley crew. Erin Tate flies the bird. Anders there beside Marcus is our winch man.”

  Anders waved. Erin raised her glass in the air. “Let us know your poison. We already ordered wings, so they should be here shortly.”

  Becki was impressed all over again. The dark-skinned woman who’d greeted her seemed far too young to be the pilot. The woman had to be a rock star.

  A quick head count proved the numbers didn’t add up. “Is one of the team missing?” Becki asked.

  “Xavier. I’m sure you’ll meet him soon enough. He’s easily recognizable—picture Spider-Man on Red Bull. By the way, don’t mind Devon,” Tripp confided in a softer tone. “He’s been vibrating with excitement since he heard you were going to show up tonight. The bragging is just his nerves talking.”

  Becki couldn’t help but laugh this time. “I’m not offended. I’m surprised any of my records stand after this long.”

  Tripp pointed to the young woman across the table still in heated debate with Devon. “Alisha’s lead on ropes for Lifeline—she managed to beat your freestyle climbing time her final year in the school. She and Devon are the only ones who were trained here in Banff. The rest of us worked around the country before Marcus hired us.”

  The mention of his name made her glance up to discover Marcus staring intently at her with something dangerous and wild showing in the depths of his eyes. Her nipples tightened, and she was damn glad she was wearing both a dark shirt and a bra with enough material to it that her involuntary reaction wouldn’t be noticeable.

  She covered the rest of her response by putting in her drink order before turning to pull Devon from his teasing into a rational discussion.

  Over the next three hours she consumed more teriyaki and buffalo wings than were strictly necessary, laughter and conversation flowing around her. People changed position to chat with others, but it wasn’t until nine that she finally ended up with Marcus at her side.

  It wasn’t as if she’d been avoiding him—not really—but it was easier to sneak glances at him when he was directly across from her.

  He offered her another serving of wings. “You enjoying yourself?”

  “Yes, but, oh God, take that plate away. I’m going to explode if I eat any more.”

  He chuckled as he put the platter back on the table, where Tripp and Devon instantly claimed the remaining contents. “Just so you know, we don’t do this every day. More often we go for something moderately healthy, or do
a potluck at someone’s house.”

  “A little excess once in a while is fine.”

  “Agreed.” He leaned back, which put his body close enough that heat caressed her. “What do you think? Could you handle spending a few weeks helping work them over? Devon especially?”

  She laughed. “I like him. I like them all. You’ve got a good group here, Marcus. You should be proud.”

  He twisted and moved in closer until his mouth hovered over her ear. He lowered his volume, keeping the conversation private. “I am—but I also know they need a kick in the ass right now. Someone like you setting them on their toes will help them hit the spring and summer season in the right frame of mind. Sharp—ready for whatever gets thrown at them.”

  The words he shared were logical, but she was having the toughest time concentrating on anything but the warm caress of air escaping his lips and tickling along her neckline. A shiver rushed her, and it took everything in her to stay vertical. To resist pressing against his torso and allowing their innocent intimacy to become something far from chaste.

  “Becki?” Marcus dropped his hand onto her thigh and squeezed lightly. “You okay?”

  She lifted her chin to meet his gaze, tossing off the buzz of desire that was turning her mind to mush. “Sorry. I’m drifting. It’s been a long day, and while I’ll admit I’m extremely interested, I need some time to consider.”

  “No problem.” He nodded. Paused. “Can I give you a ride back to your room?”

  Oh God. There was that darkness in his gaze—nothing frightening except in how much it made her ache. Made her need. Whether he intended it to right now or not, because he didn’t seem to be trying to seduce her.

  He was simply a big old bag of catnip, and she a very fascinated cat.

  Becki made herself do the right thing. “Thanks, no ride needed. I’ve got my car just outside. Can you give me your contact information? I’ll call you in the morning.”

  They stood, and she gave her farewells to the group. Alisha rose as well, pulling on her jacket. “If you’re headed uphill, can I grab a lift?”

  “Of course.” Becki turned to Marcus, accepting his business card, ignoring the warmth of his fingers as they brushed together. “I’ll be in touch.”