Page 48 of Lethal Danger

“Okay. I guess I’ll just have to make sure I’m around the next time you need to use that particular ‘accessory.’”

She walked back to the climbing wall and hooked up to the auto-belay in a neighboring section.

He followed and clipped in beside her. “So tell me more about Jazz Lamont. You said your dad taught you a lot of skills. Do you do martial arts?”

“Sure.” She started to climb.

He grabbed a handhold and hurried to catch up. “What kind?”

“A mix we learned in basic training in the Army. And some stuff I’ve picked up on my own along the way.”

“When did you enlist?”

“Went in at eighteen.”

“How many years did you serve?” Why did he sound more winded than she did? Too much time spent at the keyboard, apparently. Or maybe a sign he needed to add cardio to his weight-lifting routine.

“Eight and a quarter.”

“Unusual number.” He paused briefly to look for his next hold as she increased the distance between them.

“I’d just re-upped when my dad got sick. I got out to take care of him.”

Very noble. And sad. But Hawthorne was a little too taxed at the moment to properly respond.

She reached the top and glanced down at him. “Looks like I’m three for three.”

He looked up to see her grin as he strained to reach his last, difficult handhold.

“Or four if you count the Ferris wheel.”

“I never count.” He pushed out the joke as he paused at the top to catch his breath.

“Race you to the bottom.”

He was ready for her this time, and he leaned back to belay, hoping his heavier weight might get him there faster.

“Ha.” He pointed at her as he reached the ground a split-second before her.

“Tie.”

“What?” His teasing disbelief lifted the word.

“You leaned back farther so it looked like you hit first. But my foot touched first.”

He narrowed his eyes as she blinked innocently at him. “A little competitive, aren’t you?”

“But always a good winner.” She winked. “Need another water break?”

He didn’t miss the insinuation she’d only taken the earlier break for his sake. He chuckled. “Oh, probably.” He wouldn’t mind being able to ask her questions without having to race her up another wall at the same time.

He reached the bench first and grabbed his water bottle. “So what made you want to enlist?”

She glanced away as she picked up her thermos. “My dad.”

“He wanted you to?”

“Oh, yeah. He was career Army.” She returned her gaze to Hawthorne, the spark gone from her eyes. “Not having a son wasn’t going to stop him from getting what he wanted.”

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