Page 72 of Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye

“She’s not much of a nature lover, mother dearest. She gets bored with the limited options for nightlife, and if there isn’t a Harvey Nichols within reach, she starts to hyperventilate.” A nippy gust of wind blew along the waterfront, bobbing the strings of twinkly lights.

“Well, I hope she visits for Ava’s sake,” said Leia. “Will you go climbing?”

“Maybe. Depends. Sometimes they get four seasons in one day and the winds can be harsh and relentless. That’s why you won’t find any trees there.”

“You serious? None at all?”

“Well, not none, but not many either. The salty gales and short growing season are to blame. The only trees you’ll see are sheltered near buildings or in gullies. Oh, but there’s the Big Tree, a 200-year-old Sycamore on the main street in Kirkwall. It’s withstood bad weather and several misguided attempts to chop it down. It’s pretty famous, and locals love it. Maybe one day you can visit and give ’er a big hug.”

“Sounds like it could use one!” said Leia. “I like how it’s survived despite the odds. No wonder it’s beloved.”

“Yeah, that’s just one of the cool things about Orkney. It really is like nowhere else. I’m lucky I spent my summers growing up there.”

“I bet you and your brothers ran wild!”

“You don’t know the half of it! My god. So many firsts happened up there, too: my first marathon, my first dive. I did my first climb at Rose Ness when I was nine.”

“I’d be so scared to try—even now—but at nine?” Leia pressed her lips together. “Forget it!”

“Yeah, but that kind of fear pushes you. It can be invigorating in an odd sort of way. Actually, I used to be scared of heights.”

“How’d you get over it?”

“My instructor. He said to think of the rock as a puzzle, and it’s your mission to figure it out as you go. He swore my mind would be too busy problem-solving to be scared because I’d constantly be searching for crevices for my fingers and toeholds for support. And he was right. I ended up hugging the rock and felt…part of it. You have to trust it and yourself—or face dire consequences. Not death—we’ve got safety harnesses—but you can dislocate shoulders, tear muscles…”

“Your well-being is literally in your own hands.”

Yeah, like my heart is in yours. Tarquin nodded. “And the sea birds and the ocean waves provide this soothing soundtrack. You can’t beat it.”

“It sounds beautiful. And you…you’re so brave…” Slowing to a stop in the shadows of Tower Bridge, Leia clutched his arm. “And incredibly sexy, too.” She swung around, facing him.

“Ooh, why?” Tarquin gently clasped her waist, drawing her in. “Tell me. Please.”

“Well”—she curled her arms around his shoulders—“your passion for climbing is a huge turn-on, plus your forearms are to die for.”

“You have a forearm fetish?” He contemplated her lips, soft…warm, her mouth irresistibly wet. A throb tingled inside his trousers. I like where this discussion is headed.

“It’s not a fetish! I just—you know, I like the muscles, veins…leading down to strong, capable hands.”

Tarquin leaned closer, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. “Capable of coaxing one…two…three orgasms from you.”

“They definitely give a whole new meaning to ‘He’s good with his hands.’” Leia smirked.

“And here I thought it was because I’m a builder.”

“Well, I’m glad you hire people to do the actual building for you because if anything were to happen to those hands, womankind would weep.” With a heated stare, Leia pressed against him. “Your hips are incredible, too. So flexible.”

“It’s all down to climbing. All that stretching, leg spreading, opening up.” His hands slipped down her lower back to her ass. “I knew you liked them.”

“You did?”

“Hell yeah. When we’re fucking, you grip my hips like it’s the end of the world.”

“For that moment, it is…right?” Leia rocked against him, feeling the growing ridge beneath his coat. Her eyes lit up and she bit her bottom lip, pulling it into her mouth.

Ah. She knows exactly how to tease me. “Touché!” He chuckled.

“You must’ve seen that book of sexual positions based on climbing.”