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I shrug. “Actually, I’ve had dinner at his place. His chef issolid.”
“That’s not what I meant. If he wants to get to know your wives and girlfriends, and contrast you and Holt in a new atmosphere, there are much more engaging ways to doit.”
Curiosity has me leaning in. “If you have an alternative suggestion, I’m sure Xavier would be open toit.”
10
Holt gruntsas he straps himself into his harness. “Whose idea was rockclimbing?”
“Mine.” Daisy smiles innocently from a few feet away, tugging her shiny hair into aponytail.
Xavier was only too happy to change the venue from yet another dinner party when I suggested it, especially when I reminded him we’ve all been spending too much time in suits and could use the workout. So he rented out an entire climbing gym for the six of us at the end of theafternoon.
Wicked delight surges through me at Holt’s discomfort, but as I watch Daisy get ready, I appreciate that Holt may not be the not the only one at a disadvantage in this challenge. My gaze lingers on her legs, curvy under the tight, cropped black pants, and the strip of skin exposed as her tank ridesup.
She looks good in workoutgear.
She looks good ineverything.
“Who’s going first?” I ask, forcing my attention to thewall.
“Perhaps the ladies should start,” Xavier suggests, looking pleased by the prospect of trying somethingnew.
His wife, a fit woman a few years younger, looks equallyenthused.
“Good idea. Save the competition for after.” I cut a look atHolt.
“Oh, no,” Daisy intervenes. “The competition starts now. Because we”—she exchanges a look with the other women—“are going to crushyou.”
Daisy sets her phone in my hand, the timer appopen.
“I hope I can trust you not to cheat,” shemurmurs.
I stare in fascination, trying to figure out hergame.
My best friend is a lot of things, but uber-competitive isn’t one of them. That’s my domain. Most of the time, she’d rather make people feel comfortable than onedge.
“First one to that point—male or female—wins for their team.” She nods toward a marker forty feet up. “Deal?”
I exchange a look with the other two men. “Fine.”
She starts to turn and I catch her wrist, tugging her back. I can’t resist rubbing my thumb across her skin until her eyes darken. “What are thestakes?”
“Loser buys dinner. After we’ve had time to clean up.” She names one of the hottest new restaurants, and my eyebrowslift.
“We won’t get in there on shortnotice.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve already made thereservation.”
The staff at the facility take care of belaying duties since most of us haven’t climbedbefore.
Which means I get to watch herascend.
She’s always liked climbing as a stress-relief activity, but now I’m appreciating it as a workout. The cropped black stretchy pants hug the curve of her ass. The fitted white top with straps crossing at the back makes me want to trace the pattern with a finger, slip it underneath to see if she’s sweating or if this is just one more thing she handles as if it’snothing.
The women start off, Daisy moving easily at first, still finding time to cheer on the others. She holds back a moment when Xavier’s wife tries to find ahandhold.
“She’s quite the woman,” our senior partnercomments.
