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She raced across the floor and threw herself into his arms. The warmth of her torso hit like a thunderbolt, streaking through him and electrifying his entire system. He grabbed on to stop her from falling, bracing his legs to keep them both vertical. Her arms squeezed him tight and he was suddenly aware of the intimate contact between their bodies. Her breasts were compressed against him, his cock against her belly. She squirmed and he let her go, her cheeks flushed as she stared.
“Hey, monkey.”
He easily blocked her instant punch to his torso, grinning as he realized that even after all these years her response to his tease hadn’t changed.
“What are you doing here? I haven’t seen you in forever.” She motioned him to the side of the room to a safer place to talk out of the way of climbers and curious onlookers.
“I came to see you.”
Her eyes widened, panic-stricken. “Katy. She’s okay, isn’t she? You didn’t come to tell me?—”
“Whoa, hang on. There’s nothing wrong with my sister. She sent her love when I told her I was heading west to meet with you.” Nathan looked her up and down slowly, letting his admiration show. This might be partly a job, but that didn’t mean that was all it had to be. He was single, and she was all grown up. This could be a lot of fun for the short while he would be in town.
He was rather looking forward to it.
Her tension dissipated only to be replaced by a frown. “I’m glad she’s all right, but I don’t understand. Why are you looking for me?”
“Does that surprise you so much? That I’m interested in seeing you?” He couldn’t resist. With the back of one finger he stroked her cheek, enjoying how her body jerked in response to his touch, her face heating even more.
“Nate, I’m…” She backed up, flustered just like when she’d been a kid and he’d paid attention to her. Although he’d done his best back then to keep his attraction hidden.
“Can I buy you a coffee? So we can talk?” He knew he was staring, but he couldn’t seem to stop. Under her tight T-shirt, her nipples had hardened and now poked against the fabric. The facility had the air-conditioning on high enough it wasn’t sweltering hot in the place, but it wasn’t cold enough to make her body react.
She fumbled for words. “I’m not done with my workout.”
“I can wait.” Somehow his hand was on her arm, a gentle caress.
She crossed her arms, casually slipping away from him, and it was his turn to feel embarrassed. He hadn’t meant to make a move in public. Not after so many years apart. No matter that the chemistry between them seemed to be heating up in a hurry.
“Melanie. Is there a problem?”
The dark-haired man he’d seen behind the check-in counter stood beside her, glaring at Nathan with suspicion.
Mel blinked hard right before she leaned on the other man’s chest, slipping her arm behind his back and settling intimately against him. “Derrick, this is Nathan. He’s my best friend’s big brother.”
Ah, shit.Flirting without asking questions could be detrimental to his health.
Nathan held his hand out to Derrick, fully expecting the guy to crush his fingers in a display of macho strength.
Instead, Derrick gave a friendly grin. “Glad to meet you.”
Nathan noticed he didn’t do anything to move Melanie any farther from his side. Point made. She was taken.
Shit again.
“I was just asking Mel if she’d join me for a coffee. You’re welcome to come along.”
Derrick glanced at the clock. “I’m good to go anytime. Melanie? You done or did you want to climb for a little longer?”
She leaned up and kissed his cheek quickly before stepping away. “If I finish my workout now I don’t have to come back later.” She turned to Nathan. “Are you okay waiting for a bit? Tell me your timeline. If you’ve only got a few hours in town I can totally change my plans.”
“You can finish. I’m staying around for a while. Got a room at the hotel on the lake, so no rush.”
Melanie nodded, glancing between them before retreating to the wall she’d been traversing. Nathan watched in fascination as she shook out her hands then stepped onto a tiny foothold, her body close to the wall, arms extended overhead.
“Family friend? You know Melanie well?” Derrick moved closer and Nathan hid his smile. The third degree started now. That was fine. He had a few questions of his own, and this was as good a way as any to get information.
“I moved away for college and have only seen Mel a couple of times since then. I’m on the road a lot. What about you? You work here at the climbing center?”
