Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Kir
Avril had run out the door like she’d hated me.
I reached for the next rock ledge, looking for a place to hold and tug myself up higher.
I needed to climb and focus. When I thought about that moment, I cringed.
Every inch up the rocks, as I tugged my body higher and higher, looked like a good place to jump.
I needed to forget how I felt because we clearly weren’t on the same page.
My fingers dug through the edge between the rocks.
I was reaching for the next one when I thought I heard Avril’s voice saying, “Kir.”
I ignored it and went higher. My leg needed to go where my hand had been.
As I stepped, I heard, “Kir!” I clung to the rock and secured my footing and then gazed down. Following behind me on the climb was Avril, and her gaze was laser focused on me as she shouted. “Kiiirrr!” She continued her climb with a rope around her waist.
I moved my foot back to where it was and started on my way down. “What…? Avril, don’t come up here.”
She moved up. “I need to talk to you.”
“I’ll come down.” I held on as I found the spots in the rocks I’d used before that.
She rocked and then held on. “How can you do this? I can’t look down.”
My heart surged, and I moved faster. “Don’t freeze.” I methodically made my way to her and, when I was beside her, hooked her to me so that we supported each other. “Come.”
“What if we fall?”
I moved a hand lower, and she copied me. “You look equipped.”
“The driver set me up and then left.” She had tears in her eyes. “What if the ropes break?”
“Trust me.” I tightened her gear. I saw no guide, but someone must have helped her.
She moved her hand down as I directed. “I do. I came up here to tell you not to do this anymore.”
As we continued to crawl our way back down, I asked, “Why?”
“Because I love you, too, and I hope you still love me.”
My heart pounded. I wasn’t sure I’d heard right, but if she loved me, maybe we’d be happy. I lowered myself again and pointed toward her leg. “Let’s get you down.”
She clung and grew tense. “I don’t want to die.”
“I’m with you.” I needed to hold her, but I motioned for her to stay with me. “Put your foot here, and no, you’re not going to die.”
She placed her foot where I directed her. “I’m not?”
I moved and then told her, “Other foot here, and lower your hand.”
“How do you do this for fun?”
We continued down, and I said, “It helps me breathe.”
She followed my directions, and we lowered ourselves, though she said, “It helps you not to think because if you do think, you might die.”
“One more step.”
She kept moving, but tears flowed down her face. A second later, we were at the bottom. She hugged me hard. “Oh, thank God.”
I held her and replayed her words. Now my heart was beating hard, and it had nothing to do with the climb. “I’m glad you’re here.”
She untangled herself from the equipment. “Me too. Why did you take off like that? I was gone for two hours, and you hopped on a plane.”
I gazed at her. “Did you come home?”
The last thing I did was unhook her from me as we needed to gather the ropes. I gazed around and wondered how she’d climbed without help. Whoever had left her had done the unimaginable. She was an amateur.
She took a deep breath. “No, Hope told me where you were.”
So, my brothers were involved. They’d wanted us to be alone. We finished with the gear, and I said, “Remind me to thank her.”
We wrapped the ropes, and I texted my team that everything was there for them to pick up. She made sure everything was neat and then took my hand. I was still tense.
She stared at me. “Now that I’ve caught my breath… I’ve been in love with you since the beach in Hawaii when we talked, but I was so blind and stupid. I’m hoping I didn’t push you away.”
I kissed her forehead. “Absolutely not. I love you too.” As I gazed into her eyes, an idea hit me. I never wanted to be without her again.
She tilted her head. “Why aren’t we kissing?”
I brushed her cheek and wondered if she’d agree. “Because I want us to do something reckless together.”
She squared her shoulders. “I don’t think I can climb this rock again, but if that’s what it takes…”
I laughed. The sun was bright, and there was no shade around us. “No, but I was thinking we’re close to Vegas, and no one in my family ever eloped in Vegas.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
I pressed her hands together. “I don’t want to lose you, and I promise I’ll be a good husband.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Who doesn’t jump out of planes?”
I raised my eyebrow and smiled. “So I’ll have to plan something else to do to celebrate?”
She blushed, or she was getting a sunburn—or both. “You’re clearly half-crazy.”
I motioned for her to walk with me back to my motorcycle. “Only for you. So, what do you say?”
For a second, I was sure she’d leave. I had no idea why I’d moved so fast with her. But as she neared my motorcycle, she said, “Okay. Let’s elope.”
My body felt like a light that had turned on. I kissed her, and she melted into me. Everything about Avril was wonderful. I sighed and held her closer until we needed air.
Then I let her go and handed her a helmet. “Let’s get you to the hotel and get a dress.”
She trembled as she tried to put the helmet on. “And a shower.”
I fixed her chin strap and then drove her back to the city. The bright lights and tall buildings were a stark reminder that we were back in the land of people. I drove her into the Bellagio, and once we took off her helmet, she said, “I think I have dirt in my hair.”
I walked inside with her. “Let’s rest and do it first thing in the morning.”
She put her hand on her hip as we headed to the counter. “Already changing your mind?”
I stopped and took her hands. “Absolutely not. I just thought we both needed to rest in the room.”
I paid for a penthouse so we’d have time alone. Once we had the key fobs and were walking to the elevator, she said, “Oh, and if you still want help analyzing financial documents, I’d love the job.”
I nodded as the doors opened. “I’ll speak to Charlie and Hope when we get back, but you’re perfect for the team.”
As the doors closed, she said, “You’re only saying that because I’m marrying you.”
“I’m saying it because you’re the most qualified person I know, and you can stand being around me.”
She pressed her hand to my chest. “Of course I can. I love you.”
I would never get tired of hearing that. Once we were in the room, I asked, “Any theme you want for a wedding? It is Vegas.”
She lounged on the couch. “I’m not into some Elvis thing, and while the wizards were fun to read about… not my wedding. No to the red wedding or anything gamey. Is there anything classy?” Then she picked up the hotel brochure.
I sat beside her. “Paris?”
“Paris…” She sounded like she was in a dream for a second, and then she sighed. “Now, that sounds better, and it would be a great place for a honeymoon, but this hotel has a small chapel.”
I glanced at the picture she held in her hand. “We’ll do it all, then.”
She’d made it easy. All I needed to do was to call downstairs. I winked, and she laughed and said, “You drive a hard bargain.”
Avril made me feel better about everything. She sat up with more color in her cheeks as I said, “And we’ll check on your sister in Switzerland.”
She scooted closer to me. “You have yourself a deal.” She offered me a handshake, but I tugged her hips closer. I needed her, and if she was here and this was all real, then it was time to taste every part of her again and again.