Chapter 2
Wyatt
The crisp mountain air nips at my exposed skin as I give my gear one final, meticulous once-over at Grizzly Meadows Basecamp. Every carabiner, rope, and cam gets my undivided scrutiny—even the slightest oversight could spell disaster on a monster like the Fang.
Satisfied, I shoulder my pack and turn to take in the imposing granite spire jutting defiantly skyward, its dagger-like peak stabbing the horizon. Just the sight alone has my blood thrumming with anticipation of the insane adrenaline rush to come.
A muffled thud and a muttered ”Shit!” behind me shatters my single-minded trance. I whirl around to find that same bold, curvy distraction from the outfitters shop standing there, decked out in full-on climbing attire.
Daisy Delgado, in the flesh. And damn if she doesn”t look surprisingly legit in that snug harness cinching her hips, an overstuffed pack on the ground at her feet.
”You made it.”
Those rich brown eyes flash with a hint of defiance as she slings her pack back over one shoulder. ”You sound shocked. Did you really think I”d flake on an opportunity like this?”
Truth is, I figured that bold invitation back at the shop would be enough to scare her off. But here she stands, all wild curls and tanned curves, bright-eyed and raring to go. Clearly, this woman isn”t just all talk.
”Can”t say I”m not impressed by your commitment, Delgado. Most sane people run in the opposite direction when they hear the words ”Fang” and ”weekend climb” in the same sentence.”
”Yeah, well, sanity was never really my strong suit,” she shoots back with a wry grin, not missing a beat.
An unexpected spark of intrigue flickers through me at her quick-witted retort. This woman is full of surprises, that”s for damn sure—a stark contrast to the stereotypical thirst traps and attention-seekers that usually come sniffing around for an interview.
Before I can dwell further on that curious dynamic, I arch a challenging brow. ”You know, there”s still time to back out. Once we hit that approach trail, you”re in for a hell of a brutal couple of days.”
Rather than looking intimidated at my thinly veiled attempt to scare her off, Daisy”s eyes only blaze hotter. In two strides, she”s directly in front of me.
”I didn”t come all this way just to tuck tail and run, Croft.” That delicious lower lip pulls between her teeth for the briefest moment as she holds my stare.
Christ, this woman”s audacity is making me rock hard.
I rake my eyes over her from head to toe in a blatant show of sizing her up. ”You”ve got a serious pair on you, Delgado. I”ll give you that.” Leaning in just a hair closer, I lower my voice to a gravelly murmur. ”But we”ll see how long that swagger of yours lasts out on the mountain with me. No cameras or hashtags to hide behind out there.”
A charged silence stretches between us, the air practically crackling with unspoken challenge. Then, finally, Daisy breaks into one of those devilish grins.
”Ooh, you really know how to sweet talk a girl, don”t you?” She takes a step back, giving me an exaggerated once-over right back. ”I can”t wait to spend some quality time together in the wild.”
With a wink and a toss of those wild curls over her shoulder, she turns and heads toward the nearby food truck without another word, leaving me standing there like an idiot as I try to process that loaded statement.
Shaking my head, I trail after her, still not sure whether to be impressed by her boldness or annoyed by her brashness. One thing”s for damn sure—this climb just got a hell of a lot more interesting.
The aroma of fresh coffee and greasy breakfast fare hangs thick in the air as we join the cluster of other climbers and day hikers fueling up at the basecamp”s food truck. Snagging a couple of stools at the counter, we settle in with our provisions.
I tear off a hunk of the dense protein bar, and my gaze drifts sideways to study Daisy, who”s shoveling down a breakfast burrito like there”s no tomorrow.
Shaking my head, I take a long pull from my canteen.
”So what”s a social media darling like you doing out here anyway?” I ask, genuinely curious. ”Seems like an awful lot of risk for internet fame.”
Daisy lets out a low chuckle, licking a stray smear of salsa from the corner of her mouth. ”Who says anything about internet fame?”
My brows furrow slightly at her cryptic response. ”Then why put yourself through this?”
For a beat, she”s quiet, seemingly weighing her words. When she does speak, there”s a newfound seriousness in her voice. ”Let”s just say... it”s for a good cause.”
A good cause?
Before I can press further, that playful spark returns to her gaze. ”But don”t worry, you”ll get the full story soon enough.” She leans in conspiratorially. ”Just like I will.”
Clearing my throat roughly, I tear my stare from those full, pouty lips and focus back on the matter at hand. ”We”ll see about that.” I shove the rest of the bar into my mouth, buying myself a few extra seconds to regain my composure. ”But first, you”ve gotta prove you can actually hang out there.”
She rises, grabbing her pack and slinging it over her shoulders with an effortless grace that makes me rethink my assumptions about her experience level. ”Then let”s quit jawing and get moving.”
With a cocky grin and a saucy wink, she spins on her heel and marches off down the trail.
I stand there like an idiot for a few beats, torn between annoyance at her brazen overconfidence and reluctant respect for her audacity. With a rugged chuckle, I hoist my own pack and set off after her.
The first couple miles pass in a steady, grueling rhythm as the trail gains elevation, switchbacking up through a dense tangle of spruce and pine with the occasional boulder field thrown in to keep us on our toes. I set a punishing pace, determined to push Daisy”s limits and see if she”s legit.
To my surprise, whenever I glance back, she”s only a few strides behind, with a look of determination etched across those delicate features. Not a single complaint or whimper of exertion, just a woman seemingly in her element despite the brutal slog.
As if reading my thoughts, she catches up until we”re walking side by side. ”Impressed yet?”
I shoot her a sidelong glance, unable to deny the spark of begrudging respect flickering through me. ”We”ll see how long that stamina lasts.”
Rather than looking discouraged, she only grins wider, dark eyes sparkling with challenge. ”I”m just getting warmed up.”
I focus on the trail ahead, trying to ignore the delicious way Daisy”s generous curves shift with every step, straining against that tight, moisture-wicking material.
Thankfully, the trail kicks up another series of gnarly switchbacks, providing a much-needed distraction from my spiraling thoughts. I pour on the gas, determined to wipe that cocky look off her face.
Except no matter how grueling the terrain, how punishing the pace, she doesn”t falter. Those toned legs keep devouring the rocky path with an almost preternatural grace, that wild mane of curls bouncing with every stride, beads of sweat glistening along her tan skin.
We crest the top of the saddle, the imposing silhouette of the Fang”s sheer granite face now looming before us in all its glory. I pause for just a beat, drinking in its merciless, unyielding aura as my blood thrums with the familiar thrill.
”Not bad for a morning stroll, eh?”
Daisy”s teasing words break my trance. I glance over to find her hands planted firmly on her hips, chest rising and falling with each ragged breath as she smirks at me. A feral, untamed glint in those dark eyes has me swallowing hard.
In that moment, I realize two things with crystal clarity:
One, this woman just proved she”s the real deal by matching my grueling pace without even flinching. She belongs out here, same as me.
And two... I”m well and truly fucked, because despite my best efforts, I can”t deny the lust simmering through my veins. I want this woman in a way that”s borderline primal.
Which means this little expedition up the Fang just went from challenging to downright hazardous.
Because one thing”s for damn sure—if I let myself get lost in those curves and that wild spirit, it”s gonna be one hell of a distraction when we need laser-sharp focus to survive this beast of a climb.
But as Daisy”s teeth tug at that full lower lip again, I can”t help but wonder... maybe a little distraction is exactly what I need.