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Aidan

Ah. Well, here’s the thing. Maw says she’ll only invest if you’re involved. She thinks we both need to work at this for it to really take off.

At this last message, I swear loudly. I can’t see how I’m ever going to find the time to start a new business, given the hotel keeps me busy seven days a week.

I take a deep breath and remind myself I’m about to go climbing with Emily. I’m excited about that, and I’m not going to let this pressure from Aidan ruin my fun.

Ally

I’ll think about it, all right? Speak to you later.

* * *

“Are you sure I won’t fall?”

I laugh. “Positive!”

Emily is at the bottom of a modest-sized rock face. The nervous tremble in her limbs gives away her fear.

“Remember what I told you? I’m the belayer. I’ll be keeping this rope nice and tight. If you come away from the cliff, you’ll be fine. You’ll just dangle. You can give it a shot, if you like. Let go!”

“Are you crazy? I’m not going to tempt fate!”

“You’re, like, a metre up. You know that, right?”

“Really?” She glances down. “Oh. That’s disappointing.” She looks up. “I’ve got such a long way to go!”

I chuckle, finding the slight panic in her voice adorable. I’m not worried about her. A big part of being an outdoor instructor is helping people to conquer their fears, encouraging them to push themselves to accomplish things they never thought they’d be able to do. Of course, you need to know where the boundary is—you have to gauge when they’re at their limit—but Emily can do this. I know she can.

“You’ve got this!” I assure her.

She nods, takes a deep breath, then reaches up the rock face, at the same time finding a new foothold. She moves slowly but steadily, making progress up the cliff. From down here, I’ve a fantastic view of her arse, all pert and perfectly accentuated by the harness. It’s a bonny sight—a potentially distracting one too. Nothing is going to stop me from keeping Emily safe, though, so I keep the rope tight while admiring the fine view overhead.

“Crap, I think I’m stuck,” she calls down after a while. Her legs are really shaking now.

“Just keep moving. You’re doing great!”

“Be constructive, Ally! ‘Just keep moving’ doesn’t help.”

“All right, go up onto your toes. That’ll give you extra reach. It should be all you need.”

She takes my advice and is able to reach a crimp, a small edge that’s only just big enough for the fingertips. This is the most difficult part of the climb.

She pulls herself up but then loses her footing, coming away from the rock face, falling . . . until she’s caught by the rope.

“Are you okay?”

She looks down at me, and even from here, I can see the surprise in her eyes—and the relief too.

“You’re fine!” I assure her. “Now, take a moment, calm your nerves, and then—when you’re ready—find your footing again and get up to the top. You’re over halfway now. You’re almost there!”

There is another option. I could lower her back down, and I’d happily do that if she asked, but I’m not going to be the one to suggest it.

Emily psyches herself up, saying words I don’t quite catch, then resumes the climb at a new, faster pace. She’s probably just desperate to get it over with, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is she’s doing it, and as I watch her, I experience an extraordinary sense of satisfaction. She’s resilient, this one.

Her determination is also something of a turn-on for me. I like a woman with spirit, and Emily certainly has spirit.

“That’s it!” I say. “Almost there!”