Chapter 18
Chapter eighteen
Tabitha
Over the past hour, Zac had taken them to a couple popular spots along the Penstock Trail.
The Fin was Tabitha’s favorite so far. The interestingly shaped boulder went beyond a flat-faced straightforward route.
Shaped like an actual fin, she had to start beneath it, lying on her back, and work her way up the outer edge until she reached the top.
While more challenging than the warmup boulder and other routes throughout the morning, she managed to accomplish it after a couple of tries.
She’d left that boulder field feeling pumped and excited for the next climb.
What had Tabitha especially shocked was how well she and Zac were getting along and how well Zac was behaving.
She was mildly impressed. Despite a couple of playful comments—none of which bordered on offensive—and some lingering glances, he’d been playing the part of professional guide.
And it put her at ease. If the trip continued on this way, she’d have no problem keeping her job.
“Last climb before lunch,” Zac said as they turned off the trail and broke through a cluster of brush. “The Beach Arete. Well within your abilities, and this one is so much fun.”
Lark released a low whistle. “This is a great spot.”
She wasn’t wrong.
The hot noon sun sprinkled the surface of the river in flashes of light.
The mellow current made the wide section look almost like a lake.
Rocks lined the banks—small, large, some massive—creating little coves perfect for dogs or small children to play.
The mighty evergreens bordered the valley, their grand trunks and boughs working together to block out the sounds of passing cars on the highway on the other side of the bank.
One almost prism-shaped boulder relaxed on the beach while also jutting out over the calm waters.
Tabitha stopped at its base, eyeing the route line along the edge and out to the very tip. A fall would certainly be a watery one, which added complexity to the climb. Flashing the route would be preferred, but that cold water would sure feel miraculous on her sweaty, dust-caked skin.
“We won’t be needing these,” Zac said as he set the crash pads against a nearby log. He sidled up to Tabitha. She could feel the heat of his gaze on the side of her face, but she refused to look his way. “What do you think?”
“Looks fun,” she offered nonchalantly.
“Oh, tabby cat,” he rumbled low in his chest. His lips were entirely too close to her ear, and despite being overheated, goose bumps washed over her arms. “No need to be coy. Allow yourself the excitement.”
“It takes a lot to excite me these days.” She turned to face him, tilting her chin up to meet his deep brown eyes. A tiny scar split through his left eyebrow. She would have missed the mark if he hadn’t quirked his brow mischievously.
“Challenge accepted.”
Wait, what? He didn’t think she was hitting on him, did he? Had she been? Was she accidentally flirting with her ex? With Zac freaking Hartford?
“What are we conspiring about over here?” Lark cut in, pushing her way between them, and Tabitha was surprised to feel a twinge of disappointment.
“Just discussing strategy, blondie,” Zac appeased ruefully.
“Mm-hm.” Lark didn’t sound convinced. “Let me find the right vantage point before you get to the good stuff.” She scurried away, scoping out the nearby boulders to shoot from.
Tabitha tugged her shoes out of her pack and perched on a rock beside the start of the climb.
The ambient heat of the day warmed the rubber soles, allowing the footwear to mold to her feet perfectly.
The rigidity was supposed to provide necessary support, but she liked the malleable, flexible feel.
It gave her more control because she could feel every crack and ridge as she worked her way up.
In fact, if she thought she could handle it, she’d consider climbing barefoot.
But while her feet were well-calloused from the constricting shoes, she was certain her arch and more tender bits would suffer the consequences.
“All set over here,” Lark bellowed from a few yards downstream over the steady rush of the water.
“No more stalling, tab-tab,” Zac teased.
A roll of her eyes was the only response Tabitha could justify as she stood and approached the edge of the boulder.
“Want some beta or would you prefer to take a stab at it first?” her guide asked.
As her hands settled on the warm granite, she glanced over her shoulder.
“What makes you think I won’t make it the first time?
” She allowed a little teasing to play through her words.
Between the location, the warm sun on her skin, the soft trickle of the water around the river bank, and surprisingly enough, the company, Tabitha found herself in remarkably high spirits.
“Nothing.” Zac rubbed a hand on the back of his neck and shrugged. “I guess I like to hear myself talk a bit too much these days.” His teasing tone rose to match hers.
“Where exactly is the start?”
“So, some beta, then?”
Tabitha huffed out a breath and swatted a hand his way. “Forget it.”
“No, I got you,” Zac rushed, gliding up behind her. He laid a hand on the rock’s edge, one hand on either side of her to indicate her first holds. “Hands here. First foot here. Then work your way up and out.”
Tabitha should have moved out of the way when he’d approached. That would have been the responsible thing to do. The professional thing. But as his fitted gray T-shirt brushed against her bare shoulders and his sun-warmed scent invaded her nostrils, she was oh so glad she hadn’t.
There were those goose bumps again.
His breath played with the few hairs that had escaped her ponytail. She turned her head toward him, feeling the warm lips barely an inch away from her temple. It would have been so easy to lift her chin and make contact; smooch that cocky smirk right off his face.
“What’s the holdup, friends?” Lark’s gleeful voice bounced off the surface of the boulder and smacked into Tabitha like a bucket of ice water. “Not that I haven’t gotten some primo shots, but I’m starting to get a little hungry over here.”
“Right,” Zac mumbled and stepped away as though the rock had suddenly burst into flames. He cleared his throat and crossed those tattooed arms across his chest. “Go get it, tab-tab.”
Another eye roll, but following the ocular twirl, Tabitha settled her sights on the route in front of her.
Time to climb. She found the starting holds, took her weight off the ground, and steadily moved up and out over the water.
Her hands took turns crossing over each other, settling onto the spots with the best grips.
Her feet followed suit. Her heart rate picked up, but only just so.
The slow inhale and exhale she managed kept the rhythm at a steady pace. One she could focus on, tune into.
Tabitha hit the final move and hoisted herself up over the apex of the ledge. With feet firmly planted on the granite, she stood, taking in the soft breeze and even softer drift of the sparse clouds overhead. Elation bubbled up inside of her. The route was perfection.
Zac’s and Lark’s whoops of joy whipped around her.
“Way to go, babe!”
“Nice work, tab-tab.”
“That was a great route,” Tabitha breathed out, looking around her feet. “Where’s the best walk-off spot?”
But before Zac could direct her, her foot settled on a loose rock.
The slight wobble shot her balance. She flailed her arms out in panic, desperate to maintain her footing, but it was no use.
In an instant, Tabitha plummeted off the edge of the boulder.
Frigid water welcomed her—engulfed her—as she slapped, head first, into the river below.
The whole thing stole the breath from her lungs.
Her shoulders and neck met the pebbles of the riverbed before the rest of her.
Fear rushed over her in an instant as she scrambled to get her feet under herself.
But despite the attempts to find her footing, the shift of rock and debris kept her submerged.
Finally, she found traction and managed to stand. She greedily sucked in a lungful of air which was immediately knocked out of her as Zac plowed through the water and snatched her to his chest.