Page 23 of Fall at Once

“Okay…” I looked down, then quickly shut my eyes, squeezing them tight as I tried to stay calm.

“Madi. Hey. Look at me, and don’t look down. It’s going to befine.”

A surge of courage steeled my spine. “You’re right,” I agreed. “I got up here with no problems, and now that I have help with Kenny, I can get down too.”

“That’s the spirit.”

I sucked it up and tried to find my sense of humor. Making jokes would be better than acting like a wuss about the situation.

“You’re rescuing me again, Sutter. We’re going to have to stop meeting like this,” I teased as I looked up to find him staring at me. The tenderness in his expression surprised me.

“You have freckles,” he blurted.

My eyes whipped to his. “Yeah, I usually cover them up.”

“Why would you do that? I mean—you’re so beautiful. I?—”

“Thank you,” I murmured as a surge of warmth turned my cheeks red.

“You’re welcome. Uh, pass me the backpack.”

“I don’t know what I was thinking by climbing up here like this,” I confessed once he had taken it from my outstretched hand.

His gorgeous blue eyes met mine, and I smiled back when they crinkled at the corners, and his lips tipped up in a grin. “It’s obvious to everyone who’s met you that you have a good heart. When you love something, you don’t think. You do whatever it takes to help them, and that includes cats. Right, Kenny?”

“I—don’t know what to say.” Tears stung at the back of my eyes. It was like he saw straight through me to my heart and liked what he saw.

“You don’t have to say anything.” He smiled softly. “Can you help me hold the backpack open? I think I can reach him.”

“Yeah, I think I can.” I let out the breath I’d been holding. “Give me a second.”

“Don’t let go of that branch.”

“Okay.”

He locked his thighs around his branch and wedged his feet on either side of the trunk. Gently, he took hold of the scruff of Kenny’s neck and shoved him into the backpack, zipping it up tight as I held on to it with my free hand.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Yup. Don’t let go, Madi. Grab it, Pace.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Pace leaning out the window, ready to take the wiggling backpack from Cole’s outstretched arm.

I looked down and saw Tate observing as if he really would catch me if I fell.

“Don’t worry. I got you, Madi, I swear,” he confirmed. “We’ll both most likely need medical attention if you fall, but I won’t let you hit the ground. I promise.”

“Thank you.” The words were almost inaudible, but he shot me a grin and a mock salute anyway.

“Look at me, Madi.” I met Cole’s eyes. He was calm. He was cool. I would be okay. “Do you think you can climb down with me? If not, Pace can help you get through the window.”

“I can climb down. Believe it or not, I used to be great at climbing trees as a kid, back when I wasn’t afraid to fall. Trying toback through the window feels more daunting. Plus, it’s a small window, and I have a booty on me. I doubt I’ll fit through it. How embarrassing would it be to require the jaws of life in addition to this impromptu rescue mission?”

“No way, you have a great ass. You’ll fit through just fine,” he earnestly protested before slamming his eyes shut with an apologetic grimace. “Ah, shit, never mind. That was inappropriate. I’m so sorry. Sometimes, stuff comes out of my mouth before my brain can filter it.”

“Hey, it’s okay. Never tell me you’re sorry for complimenting me,” I joked to cover the riptide of emotions that were about to pull me under. “Shit happens, right? It’s all good.” I was off my game. Okay, I had no game. I was going out of my mind for so many reasons I couldn’t seem to focus on one at a time. Cole overwhelmed me in all the best ways. Add my newfound fear of heights, and I had become an utter mess.

“Nice.” He nodded his approval at my use of his dad’s words. “I’ll start down first and spot you. Feel free to grab on to me if you need to.”

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