Page 35 of Something Borrowed

Heights and her fear became yet another way for her to fail her parents and give her older brother, who climbed mountains in his spare time, an edge over her.

“There must be another way. Everything is worth one point, right? So, we do something else. Anything else.”

“Apparently, Caroline added point values to each item. This one is worth more than any of the others, putting us firmly in the lead, if we do it. If we do everything else, we can’t beat the points. Besides, do you really want to admit to weakness?”

His tone was teasing, but he had picked his words carefully, manipulating her competitive side, and she was irritated to realize she was actually considering it, just to win a freaking game that meant absolutely nothing in the overall scheme of the universe.

“Come on, Brigid. I won’t let you fall. And it might help you overcome the fear.”

She wanted to believe him, his words swaying her to his argument. God, what she wouldn’t give to beat the other girls and overcome this fear. She hated the feeling she got in the conference room on the top levels of the firm’s building, overlooking Houston’s skyline. The walls were floor to ceiling windows and, on blustery days, she swore she could feel the building moving with the wind. She hated that damn conference room, the sensation of falling she got looking out, and how it distracted her from her job. The fear wasn’t quite paralyzing, but it interfered often enough in her job. She tried to sit away from the outer wall, but often her team sat there to give a sense of power over their opponents, and she had no choice but to stuff the fear deep down and walk over there. Vertigo often swamped her, the room spinning and the sensation of falling so acute, she had trouble focusing on the meeting at hand.

Wouldn’t it be nice to not feel that way ever again, especially with the Cournoyer deal coming up? They would definitely have the final meeting up there, along with a social gathering after. With her promotion on the line, she needed her wits about her.

She stood and smoothed her clothes, a nervous habit. “Fine. I’ll go look at it, but I’m not promising anything.”

Grady stifled a smile and held out his arm for her. If she died, at least Caroline might feel some measure of guilt.

* * *

Brigid strode next to Grady, tension radiating off of her like waves of heat off the pavement in a city. Her hand clutched his arm, her short nails leaving marks on his skin, although he didn’t think she was aware of it. He was glad to see her clinging to him as a source of comfort, even though she would never admit to it. He’d known she didn’t like heights, never going to the top floors of any building he’d worked on, and never looking down from any height, not even a second floor. Judging by her stress level that seemed to rise with every step they made toward the looming rock wall, this wouldn’t be a simple task.

Maybe that was the point of the exercise. Caroline knew Brigid was competitive and hated to fail at anything. Putting this activity above all others pitted it against her desire to win. Which was stronger—her fear or drive to succeed?

If their relationship was any sign, her need for success would kick the fear to the curb, since she had so easily tossed them aside, her fear of intimacy and what her parents thought were no match for her own happiness. They came up to the base of the wall, and her hand clutched his arm, probably drawing blood this time.

Maybe the wall would defeat her.

There weren’t too many people around the wall. Most people were at the others rides, either not having made it this far back or, like Brigid, afraid of heights. They stood on the side, watching two young boys, as agile as monkeys, scramble up the wall and hit the bell at the top.

“Even little kids do this. They have harnesses and someone at the other end of the rope making sure you don’t fall. It’s called belaying and I’ll be there, holding the rope.”

“Kids have no fear. They don’t believe they can die. I know what happens when that rope fails.”

“You’re a lawyer. If it fails, you can sue them.”

She whacked him in the stomach, causing his breath to exhale quickly. “Not funny. Seriously. It’s too risky.” She whirled on her heel and walked away.

“That’s right, Brigid. Walk away, like you always do. Choose to be safe rather than live. Go back to your books, your office, never knowing what is out in the real world. Embrace your fear and live in it.”

She spun around so fast, he wouldn’t have been surprised if she got whiplash. She stalked back over to him and poked him in the chest, hard. “You think I’m afraid because I have a healthy respect for my life? Because I want success, security, and things I can trust? What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing, if you’re ninety years old. Hell, my grandma could climb that wall.”

“Your grandma is a freak of nature,” she grumbled.

He put his arm around her. “There are several paths. No one says you have to do the hard path. You can take that path up the right side. The footholds are closer together, and it will be like climbing stairs vertically.”

She bit her lip and watched another two people climb—adults this time, people more her size. He sensed she was on the cusp of a decision, considering the activity. He withdrew his arm, put his hands in his pockets and stood quietly, just waiting for her.

Finally, she murmured, not hiding the trepidation in her voice. “You’ll be holding the rope?”

He let out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Yep. And I’ve done this before, so I know what I’m doing.”

Her eyes widened as realization kicked in. “Wait, I’ve never done this, and I have to hold the rope for you? I might let you fall.”

He grasped her shoulders gently, turning her to face him. He leaned down so his face was at her eye level. “Would it help if I went first so you could see how safe it was?”

“I really don’t want to do this. But if you’re holding the other end, I could try it. We could stop if I want to, right?”

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