Page 53 of Hot Knot Summer
A moment later, Levi appears from a hallway, and I have to consciously remember to keep my mouth closed. If Atlas is rugged, masculine beauty, Levi is his refined counterpart. Tall and muscular, with straight black hair falling across his forehead and cheekbones that could cut glass. His eyes, startlingly bright against his olive complexion, assess me with quiet curiosity.
“Emma,” he says with a nod, his voice softer than I expected. “How are you feeling this morning?”
“Less smoky, but currently in awe of this place,” Ireply, then mentally kick myself.Less smoky? Real witty, Emma.
But Levi’s mouth curves slightly. “That’s generally the preferred state of being around here.”
Atlas sets my backpack on the couch. “I was going to show Emma around before I head out to meet River. Is the guest room ready?”
“Almost,” Levi says. “Just putting fresh sheets on the bed.”
“I can help,” I offer quickly, not wanting to be more of a burden than I already am.
Levi shakes his head. “No need. Why don’t you show her the tower first? I’ll finish up.”
Atlas’s face brightens. “Good idea.” He turns to me. “You up for a climb?”
“Are there coffee and views at the top of this climb?” I ask.
“Views, definitely. Coffee, we can arrange.”
“Then lead on, Chief.”
Atlas guides me back outside to the base of the wooden stairs that spiral around the exterior of the tower. “Watch your step,” he warns as we begin to climb. “The wood can be slick in the morning dew.”
Naturally, my foot slips on the very next step, sending me lurching sideways with a startled yelp. Atlas’s hand shoots out, catching my elbow and steadying me with seemingly effortless strength.
“Sorry,” I mutter, heat rushing to my face. “I come with a warning label: Coordination not included.”
His hand lingers a beat longer than it should,warmth rushing up my arm, and suddenly, all I can think about is his touch, right there between us.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
We continue our ascent, and thankfully, it’s not one of those super lofty towers. But I’m painfully aware of how close Atlas stays behind me, as if expecting me to tumble backward at any moment. Given my track record, it’s not an unreasonable concern.
The stairs terminate at a wooden deck that wraps entirely around the glass-enclosed tower room. I step onto it and immediately freeze, momentarily dizzy with the sudden expanse of view.
Miles of forest stretch below us in every direction, a rippling sea of green broken only by the occasional rocky outcrop or clearing. To the east, Whispering Grove nestles in the valley, looking like a model village from this height. Beyond that, mountain ranges rise in hazy layers against the horizon.
“Oh,” I breathe, the syllable inadequate for the panorama before me.
“Worth the climb?” Atlas asks softly, coming to stand beside me. Too close, leaving me breathless.
“Worth burning down a cabin for,” I admit, then glance at him. “Not that I did that.”
“Good to know.” His smile is warm, his eyes reflecting the endless sky. “I was starting to wonder if you were some sort of chaos agent sent to keep firefightersemployed.”
“If I were, I’d be doing a terrible job. One cabin fire in over twenty-four hours? Amateur hour.”
He laughs, and the sound seems to expand in the open air around us. “Come inside. The view’s just as good indoors.”
The interior of the tower is a single square room with windows on all sides, making it feel like we’re suspended in the sky. A central fireplace with a copper hood provides the only interruption to the glass, with comfortable seating arranged to take advantage of every possible view. A telescope stands in one corner, and built-in bookshelves occupy the space below the windows.
“This is where I’d live if I were here,” I say, turning slowly to take it all in. “I’d never leave.”
“We spend a lot of evenings up here,” Atlas admits. “Especially during storms or meteor showers.”
I stroll over to the eastern windows, resting my fingertips against the cool glass. “I can’t imagine how beautiful it must be during a thunderstorm.”
