Page 74 of Like a Hurricane

“And he just let you do it?”

“He didn’tletme do anything. He knows I can handle it.”

“We’ll both be running forever, Rett,” her eyes glisten, “If I knew…”

“It’s going to work.” I say the words, forcing myself to believe them.

Uploading the photos to the database, I mark the job as complete. I could spend the next few hours watching the screen, could torture us both with anxiety but I don’t do that. I close the laptop and stare across the table towards my girl. She’s picking at a dent in the table, worry creasing her face.

“I want to take you somewhere.” I tell her, glancing towards the window where the sun still shines brilliantly. “Dress warm and wear your boots.”

Arryn holds my hand with her gloved one, her breath coming out in white puffs in front of her face. As we step out of the shelter of the trees, the wind suddenly whips at our bodies, sending her hair flying around her face. The edge of the cliff looms ahead and that prickle of fear sends my hair to standing.

But Arryn feels no such thing. Her hand slips out of mine as her awe carries her forward, toward that cliff edge and the view beyond.

My feet stay planted right where they are. I wanted her to see it but that did not mean I had to go anywhere near that damn edge and the sheer drop. I could hear the sea crashing against the sharp rocks at the very bottom, listened to the shrill call of the birds as they battled the coastal wind that made the ocean below turbulent and unforgiving. Arryn goes worryingly close to the brink of the cliff, her hair blowing with the wind. The lighthouse sits directly across from us, the light off since the day was clear and beyond that, the town appeared more like Lego than a real town, the colors of the buildings a stark contrast to the greenery that surrounds it.

Boats bob like tiny little ants atop the water near the docks and I could even see Torin’s house, the red blur outside, his truck. There was no way of making out if people were walking the streets or the docks, not this far up but it was serene. Peaceful. Just as long as I don’t look down.

Arryn whips her head around to me, looking back over her shoulder with a smile that rivaled even the sun. She beams at me, everything about her reflecting the beauty that surrounds her.

“Come and look!” She calls over, turning back, “The water looks so surreal this high.”

“I’m okay here, princess.”

She turns back to me, “What?”

“Don’t go too close to the edge.” I tell her.

She cocks her head curiously, eyes assessing. “You’re scared.” A grin spreads on her face, “You’re afraid of heights.”

“No, I’m not, princess,” I lie.

She turns to me fully then, her eyes alight with mischief and playfulness.

“Arryn,” I warn, not liking where I think her mind is going. She takes a careful step back, rocks shifting under her weight. There was still a good ten feet between her and the edge of the cliff but unease swirls in my stomach.

“You’re not scared, huh?” She teases, taking another step back. I take one forward.

“Princess, stop,” I warn.

“Or what?” She cocks a brow and licks her teeth, “What are you going to do, my big scary assassin?”

“Come here and find out,” I tell her, hoping to coax her to me.

“Or come here and tell me,” She takes another step back, six feet now separating her from the edge. “You’re afraid of heights, admit it.” She says.

“Little storm,” I practically beg.

Another step, and that gap between her and the edge was becoming precariously short, fraying my nerves. Fuck this.

I start towards her, and she takes two steps back, leaving her far too fucking close. A strong gust of wind will knock her right over that damn edge. I grip her and pull her back, putting space back between her and the edge.

She’s laughing when I pull us to a stop, “It is not funny, you would not survive that drop.”

“Oh, I am aware,” She kisses the edge of my mouth, “But I wouldn’t have fallen.”

“And how could you know that?” I growl, heart still pounding something furious inside my chest.

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