He made good time and pulled up in front of Unity’s house about fifteen minutes earlier than he’d expected. She must have been watching for him because she came out before he’d turned off the car engine.

She had on leggings and a T-shirt, with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She looked long, lean and sexy as hell, which meant he was in all kinds of trouble.

“Hi,” she said as she got in next to him. “I’ve never been rock climbing before. This is going to be fun.”

He pulled away from the curb. “How coordinated are you, anyway?”

She slapped his arm. “Hey, you. I’ll have you know I’m very athletic. I was a swimmer back in high school. I almost made it to the state championships.”

“What were your events?”

“Backstroke, freestyle and the individual and team medley.”

He glanced at her. “Swimming isn’t rock climbing.”

“Oh, like you rock climb all the time.”

“I’ve done it a time or two.”

“Don’t get all smug,” she told him. “For all you know, I’m a natural.”

They arrived at the athletic center and were directed to the rock climbing wall. Once Unity had put her bag in a locker, they walked into the tall, open room that held four different heights of rock climbing walls.

She stared up, then glanced around. “They really are walls.”

“What did you expect?”

“I don’t know. I thought maybe it was a metaphor.”

He grinned. “It’s a wall.”

“I can see that.”

He led her around the area. “There are different types of climbs. Easy to challenging. We’ll start with easy. You’re going to wear a harness and you’ll have a spotter. Don’t worry if you fall. He’ll catch you and lower you to the ground.”

She scoffed. “I’m not going to fall.”

“You’re very confident.”

“There is butt kicking in your future.” She turned and walked back to the beginner’s wall, her ponytail swaying with each step.

He waited while she stepped into her harness, then helped her adjust the leg and waist loops. He ignored the feel of her body as his fingers brushed against her.

When she was secure, he handed her a helmet then stepped back to watch.

“You’re not climbing with me?” she asked.

“I want to see how you do first.”

“Prepare to be amazed.”

Her belayer—the spotter—gave her a few basic safety instructions, then took hold of her rope. Unity reached for the first holds and started to climb.

She went slowly, carefully choosing her handholds, then moving her feet. She got about eight feet off the ground before stopping.

“The green one on your left,” Thaddeus called out helpfully.

“I don’t like that one.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to let go to grab it.”

“You’ll still be holding on with your other hand and your feet are secure.”

She eyed the green hold but didn’t reach for it.

“Is it the height or letting go?” he asked.