Page 35 of Playing with Seduction

Bree scanned the forest, looking for the adorable little furry creature, hoping to snap a shot of it. It would look nice beside the photo of black squirrels she’d taken while visiting Toronto years earlier.

Wes handed her a bottle of water, and she accepted it gratefully. Bree finished nearly half the bottle as she surveyed the area around them. It was peaceful and beautiful, despite the time of year.

“I see why you love coming here.” Bree capped the bottle and stuffed it in her backpack.

“Not yet.” He finished his bottle. “But you will. C’mon, we’d better keep moving.”

Wes went ahead on the trail and she followed. Finally, they reached a helipad used to airlift injured climbers.

“Is this it?” She looked around. “There’s no view here.”

“Patience, grasshopper,” he called over his shoulder, continuing ahead on a slightly downhill trail. Suddenly, the brush opened onto a rocky platform that offered a view of the valley below. “This is the money shot.”

“It’s incredible.” She ventured forward carefully. There was no railing. Just a sheer rock cliff at the edge. “Is it safe?”

Wes tested the surface. “There’s no ice and it’s dry today, so it shouldn’t be slippery. Stay on the flatter area bordering the forest and don’t venture too close to the edge. It’s a long way down.”

Bree inched out farther, enjoying the gentle breeze and the sunshine, and she studied the remarkable view below.

“The view must be stunning when the trees are all green during summer, or in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.”

“It is.” There was a sadness behind Wes’s smile that made her heart ache. “Maybe we’ll get a chance to come back here when the tournament is over. Sort of a celebration climb.”

“I like that idea.” Bree returned her attention to the view, not wanting Wes to see how happy the thought made her. She snapped a few shots of the view with her phone, then pointed to a mountain in the distance. “What’s that?”

“Black Balsam Knob and that’s Pisgah Mountain.” Wes pointed to a ridge with a succession of peaks.

Bree moved forward, taking photos, then suddenly lost her footing. She dropped her phone, but Wes caught it and her before either hit the ground.

“I’ve got you. You’re okay.” His voice was calm and reassuring as he steadied her. “You just slipped on a patch of algae.”

“But if I’d… I mean, if you hadn’t…” Her heart raced as she imagined what could’ve happened if Wes hadn’t been there. She hugged him. “Thank you.”

“I’d love to take credit for being the hero, but if you’d fallen, you would’ve only sustained a few cuts and bruises. I doubt you’d have sailed off the cliff. It’s pretty flat here.” He held her in his arms. “I’d never put you in jeopardy.”

Bree leaned back and met his gaze. “Seriously, Wes, I appreciate what you did.”

“I’m letting you go now, so watch your step.” His smile reassured her. “Stand over there and I’ll get a few shots of you with the mountains in the background.”

He took a few photos with her phone, then handed it back to her, and she took a few of him in silly poses that made them both laugh and put her at ease.

“If you aren’t a science geek, how do you know so much about pluton monoliths and the kinds of trees up here?” Bree studied his face as a stormy cloud seemed to settle over him, making her regret the question.

“My dad.” Wes frowned as he sat down and removed his backpack. He rummaged inside and pulled out an apple. He handed it to her before getting another for himself.

Bree took off her backpack and sat on the ground beside Wes. She nibbled on the apple, hoping Wes would tell her more, but not wanting to push him. The subject of his father was obviously a sensitive one.

“My dad had been on the road traveling with his band for several months. When he finally came home, I’d asked him to stay with us rather than going back out on the road.” Wes chewed a bite of his apple.

“He didn’t answer, but a couple days later, he brought me up here and showed me this incredible view.” Wes looked around, staring off into the distance. “He said there was so much out there, and that he wanted to experience all of it. And he wanted the same for me, even if that took us on different paths.”

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