by Vivian Arend
She looked so sincere Becki wanted to apologize all over again. Tearing down people’s idols was tough, but they couldn’t move forward until they’d discussed the situation.
“You’re okay working with me?” Becki asked softly.
Alisha’s head snapped up. “Don’t you want to? I mean, if you don’t feel comfortable, I don’t want to push you or anything, but if you’re worried about me worrying . . .” She laughed. “And now I’m blathering.”
“Seems to be a bit of that happening this afternoon,” Becki said. “I’d love to keep working with you. Just not sure what other surprises might come our way.”
“Doesn’t change anything for me,” Alisha insisted. “You’re still you.”
Becki forced a smile. “That I am.” All the confused, memory-missing, sexually frustrated parts of her.
The door opened behind them, and the other team members strolled in, conversation and laughter following them. Becki had read through the files Marcus had given her the previous day, and already the crew seemed more familiar, their individual quirks coming forward.
Anders stopped to tap his fingers on Alisha’s head. “Hey, you. You never showed up at the pool after this morning’s blood-and-guts session. Teacher’s pet, or what?”
Alisha scrambled to her feet, Becki following suit.
“I was checking ropes and organizing the staff room. You should thank me that you don’t have to deal with Devon’s stinky equipment anymore.”
Tripp snorted as he stepped into his climbing harness and secured it around his hips. “You were dealing with Devon’s tackle? Nice. How come I didn’t get offered the chance?”
“You wanted to deal with his junk?” Alisha raised a brow. “Now, Tripp, I didn’t know you swung that way.”
Anders snorted. “Devon swings any way he wants, from what I hear.”
“Notice I said nothing, and still they attack?” Devon tugged on Becki’s sleeve. “I’m a sweet, innocent boy. Really.”
“How did I get in the middle of this?” Becki asked.
“Impartial witness?” Devon’s baby-faced grin didn’t do anything for her, not with images of Marcus’s mature good looks filling her mind, but she saw why the young man was considered a bit of a heartbreaker.
She patted his cheek. “The only thing I want to witness is your skill on the wall. I don’t care how legendary you are anywhere else, Mr. Leblanc.”
The door opened again and Marcus strode in, and suddenly all the physical reactions she hadn’t had with Devon whipped right on through her. She nodded curtly, then turned to the team to hide from him the flush heating her skin.
Her memory might be gone, her climbing skills broken, but her libido was just fine, thank you.
Becki got their attention, putting the wisecracks to a stop. “Thanks for the opportunity to train you. Hope you get something out of it. I’ll work you hard, but the goal is to sharpen you in the areas you need it most. Any questions?”
Lots of foot shuffling, no comments, not even smart-ass ones. Becki was impressed—the team was on their best behavior, at least so far. She looked forward to seeing how they liked what she had in mind.
“We’re going to work on dynamics. When I watched you climb yesterday, I saw some good moves, but not consistently. We’ll do more rope work in the coming weeks, but getting into position takes climbing skills. And sometimes there’s nothing to be climbed. Then what do you do? Suggestions?”
“Hope like hell Erin can lower us in,” Anders offered.
Becki nodded.
“Go from the top. Descend to the rescue.” Devon snapped out the answer, all trace of teasing gone as he moved into position beside Alisha.
The young woman poked him. “That’s the point of the question, idiot. What if you can’t make a vertical approach?”
“You can always go from the top,” he insisted. “If you’ve got enough rope.”
“Not always,” Alisha rejoined. “You’re going to belay from the top of Mount Rundle to a rescue?”
“Children,” Becki snapped, stepping between the two of them. “Enough.”
“Same old, same old for us,” Tripp pointed out. “Keeps us awake on long missions, listening to these two.”
“Great. So I know just who to partner up, then.”
“Really?” Alisha groaned. “But Anders and I climb together.”
Becki shook her head and pointed across the gym. “Not today, you don’t. Alisha and Tripp, get in position for belaying. Everyone else is on the wall climbing. Marcus and I set up pitch four with your workout.”
Devon flashed Alisha a smile. She spun on her heel and ignored him.
Becki stifled her amusement. The lesson was going to hit harder than she’d expected.
“Holy shit, this is a route?” Anders stared upward. “Becki? Did someone remove a few of the holds?”
Marcus stepped beside her. “Told you they’d be pleased to meet your challenge.”
“No, you told me they’d freak out,” Becki corrected him. She turned to the group who were now all staring her direction. “Dynamics. Explosive moves from one position to another. You need a good starting point, a good target—”
“And a set of wings,” Anders broke in. “Again, holy shit that’s a reach.”
“Good thing you’ve got a spotter, then. Okay guys, figure out how to make the route and get awarded honorary wings.”
Marcus tipped his head. “You want me to belay Xavier? You can observe the entire team, then.”
She nodded her thanks, trying to focus harder on the task at hand and less on being aware of him.
Anders and Tripp were already working together well, trying to solve the puzzle she’d presented them. Marcus moved into position with Xavier. Becki turned her attention down the line, making sure all the pairs were working.
Devon and Alisha seemed involved in some strange dance. He moved forward, Alisha retreated. The ropes attached to them both hindered her from withdrawing too far.
“Alisha, you having any troubles?” Becki called.
The young woman shook her head, then poked Devon in the chest, pushing him toward the wall.
Suddenly Marcus was there, bent in close to whisper in Becki’s ear. “Glutton for punishment, pairing those two up. Oil and water.”
“They’re a team. Getting along is important. If they don’t trust each other, they’re a potential for disaster. I’m surprised you let them get away with being stupid.”
“Oh, they trust each other’s skills. They just constantly try to outdo each other as well. Keeps the entire team on their toes watching the battles.”
Becki nodded slowly. “A challenge isn’t always a bad thing.”
“That’s what I imagined you’d say.” He stepped away to rope up with Xavier, his body brushing Becki’s as he left.
She watched him go, figuring his words and actions were a direct challenge to her. Being ready to accept it was another matter entirely.
Instead, she concentrated on the team. Devon leapt across the wide expanse between the lower section and where she’d placed the next set.
He caught a hold on his first attempt, grinning in delight as he clung by one hand. “That wasn’t so bad.”
Becki folded her arms and moved beside Alisha, who held his still-slack safety rope. “You’re not at the roof yet, Mr. Leblanc. Clip in, please—I don’t want to scrape you off the floor more than necessary today.”
He rotated back, clinging by his fingertips. Devon passed the rope attached to his belt through the carabiner hooked to the wall, guaranteeing he would fall only a few feet if he slipped. He tipped his head back and looked for another hold. “Alisha? Suggestions?”
“Umm, can you swing to the left and grab that blue pincher? Okay, I see why Anders was swearing. Becki, that one hold is bombproof, but there’s nothing around it for miles.”
“Have fun, kids.” Becki glanced over the other team members. “Anders. More thrust with your legs. You can’t reach the hold
if you don’t use full force.”
“Got it.”
She stepped farther to the right. Marcus had his gaze firmly on the climber in front of him. She was the one who had troubles moving her gaze to the proper person.
Man, she had it bad.
“Xavier. Nicely done,” Becki complimented as he hung in the same position Devon had achieved. “Now what?”
“I use the jet pack we’re all going to be issued?” Even as they laughed, Xavier brought both hands together and jerked his torso upward, snatching for the next nearest hold. Marcus cheered loudly when Xavier managed to get a piece of it.
A second before he fell.
“Good effort. Try again.” Becki observed for another fifteen minutes, giving them plenty of time to attempt different variations. All the while she kicked her own butt for being far too interested in watching the one person in the room on whom she wasn’t supposed to be fixated.
* * *
Alisha was having a hell of a time. Becki had called for a changeover of climbers, much to Devon’s disgust, since no one had managed to complete the challenging move.
Marcus sent Xavier to work with the other pair before moving to Becki’s side to view Alisha and Devon more closely.
“More power, Alisha. You’re nearly—”
“Shut up, Devon. I’m powering all I can,” Alisha snapped.
Devon lifted his brows at Marcus as if to say, What can I do?
Becki shook her head as Alisha dropped to the floor and shook out her arms. “I get that you’re frustrated, but you can do this.”
“I’m six inches shorter than Tripp and Devon, more than that for the other two guys. My overall reach is smaller, and even with their height advantage they never succeeded before you had us switch.” Alisha dragged her hand through her hair and readjusted her ponytail holder, snapping it tight. “I’m not trying to be disagreeable, but it seems the point of this exercise is to prove there are some things we can’t climb. Is that it?”
Becki shook her head. “Success will take two things. First, you need to use more core body—you’re holding back from hitting your full extension. Come on, I’ll show you.” She stepped in behind Alisha. “Permission to touch you?”
“Of course. I want to do this.” The young woman’s frustration was clear.
Becki placed her hands on Alisha’s stomach. “Scrunch up a little. That’s it. Now when you press, you’re using your legs, arms all the way out, but you’re not elongating your abdominal muscles enough.” She curled herself over Alisha, holding on tight. “Slow motion, extend up, yeah, that’s it. Now finish the stretch, right here.” Becki slid her hands apart, stopping just shy of covering Alisha’s breasts and crotch.
Alisha finished in a vertical stance, still obviously confused. “Nope. I thought I was doing that.”
“Okay, try this.”
Becki peeled off her shirt, and Marcus swallowed hard at the instant rush of chemicals that shot through him. She wore a sports bra underneath, but damn . . .
“Put your hands on my stomach so you can feel it.” Becki pulled Alisha in behind her and placed the other woman’s hands on her flat abdomen. She bent over, and Alisha pressed against her back to keep her hands in position as Becki took her through the move a couple of times.
Devon shuffled his feet uneasily, and Marcus glanced at him.
“I’m getting a fucking boner watching this,” Devon confessed quietly.
Marcus, too, but he wasn’t about to admit it.
“Okay, maybe I felt something different. I’m still going to get stuck where the guys got hung up.” Alisha moved away from Becki to stare up the expanse of the wall. “Unless you have a magic pill for me?”
“I have something better.” Becki shook her head, turning to take in the team one by one. “You’ve all worked under Marcus for a while, and you still can’t figure out what I’m looking for in this exercise?”
They blinked at each other sheepishly.
“Or do I blame Marcus?” Becki inquired.
“Me?” Marcus stepped forward. “How did I get called into this mess?”
“Just double-checking something. You still as fond of lists these days as”—Becki paused for such a split second, he was probably the only one who caught it—“as before? You teach these guys your four rules for surviving and thriving?”
“Of course he taught us. They’re plastered on the staff room walls,” Xavier said. “Be patient, move decisively—”
“Oh, God . . .” Alisha dropped her head into her hands. “Rule Three. Trust your team? Is that all you were going for?”
“All?” Becki barked out the word. “Do you have any idea how quickly you could have gotten this task over and done with if all you’d done is worked as a team with your partner? And I don’t mean looking for pretty holds for him to grab. I mean brainstorming and thinking outside the box.”
Marcus’s admiration grew as Becki stepped forward and pointed at individuals in turn.
“Right off the bat Xavier attempted an innovative move. But because the distance was impossible for individual success, he gave up instead of sharing it with the rest of you. His idea could have triggered others.
“Tripp—you’ve got more sheer upper body strength than anyone else here. Devon, your agility set you into a starting position fast and easy. Alisha—you will be able to hit that hold, and once you’re there you’ve got the flexibility for moves these guys can only dream of. Since you’re the lightest, you also have other advantages.”
“So we can’t complete this challenge on our own?” Tripp asked.
Becki shrugged. “Maybe you could, but as a team maybe goes all the way up to yes. And if that’s the difference between saving someone’s life or not, which is more important? Getting to crow as an individual, or sharing the celebration among the team?”
She moved to face them all, her back toward the climbing wall. “I’m going to make some wild assumptions right now, but I doubt I’m wrong. When you heard that Marcus had asked me to come train you, I bet what instantly came to mind were things like Devon mentioned that night at the pub. Becki James’s reputation as a climber extraordinaire. My solo records here at the school, my famous single-handed rescue last year. Am I wrong?”
Tripp shook his head. “Can you blame us?”
“Not for it being the first thing you thought of, but I’ll be damned if it should have been the last thing you focused on.” Becki planted her fists on her hips. “This isn’t school boot camp. You’re not trying to win a job placement; you have one. You’re no longer six individuals, but a team. Every single training exercise should be done with that in mind, even if your instructors fail to emphasize the fact.
“Don’t try to be me. I got lucky. You guys are the ones who got attention for your joint skills, your teamwork. You’re all incredible individuals, but as Lifeline, you’re a whole lot more. Don’t forget that. You fought for that honor. You deserve that honor. Now don’t let yourselves slack off—don’t let your teammates take the easy way out—fight to keep making the team stronger.”
Alisha’s chin had lifted. Devon grinned. Someone clapped and the entire team joined in, the staccato sound echoing off the walls and ringing in his ears. Becki’s cheeks flushed red, but she smiled.
Marcus wanted to give her more than a standing ovation.
“Go on.” Becki waved them off. “You’re done, at least with me. Check your schedule for the rest of the day, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Marcus waited until the gym was empty, the gear put away as the crew left one by one. “I’m still applauding. That was damn impressive.”
Becki blew a sigh of relief. “That . . . is reassuring. I’m a little lost right now, feeling my way, and I don’t want to mess this up.”
“Training my team?”
“That, and the teaching gig in a month for David. Just—starting a new life in a way.” She laughed, bitterness in the sound. “A new life because there’s still so damn many holes in the
old one, I can’t walk forward without falling out the bottom.”
“Hey.” Marcus caught her by the arm. “You go on and listen to your own lecture. You don’t have to do this alone. I said I’d help you. The team will help you.”
She paused. Nodded. “You’re right. You’re right, and I said I was going to face the future and move on. Damn yo-yo emotions.”
“Girl stuff. Can’t help you there.”
Another laugh escaped her. “Don’t be an ass.”
“What?” He slapped her on the shoulder lightly, guiding her toward the offices. “In the interest of teamwork, I have a suggestion. We talked yesterday about the schedule for training Lifeline. How about we do the same for our training sessions, so you have that in place?”
Becki looked him over with a wide-eyed wonder, as if she were surprised he hadn’t also spouted off some sexual innuendo, as he’d done at every other opportunity up to now.
“If you’re serious, that would be wonderful. Occasionally doing things last minute is fun, but I like being organized. Thank you.”
He ignored the sexual side of the equation for a moment. Taking advantage of the attraction between them seemed a very . . . selfish . . . thing. After her sermon on the matter, perhaps focusing on the teamwork they needed was the right thing to do.
At least for now. He still planned on getting them back into bed. On trapping all her wild energy and excitement, and soaking in it. But not today.
Agendas didn’t have to be abandoned. Sometimes they could simply be delayed.
CHAPTER 10
The phone rang.
Marcus ignored it.
His cell phone rang, and he let it go to messages.
The curtains were drawn, the room was dark, and he wanted to crawl under something and hide.
The fact that he had heard the ring was probably a good sign. Only probably, because along with awareness of the pain came the realization that while it was dark in the room, there was light sneaking around the edges of the curtains. Daytime—no interior lights on—and together that could only mean one thing.
His ghosts had taken over. Now the question was, how long had he been gone this time?