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“That’s it,” Colton encouraged from above. “You’re doing great.”
He helped her with each step. Every vote of confidence he expressed sent strength straight through her body, bringing her ever closer to the top. Her arms shook with the effort to pull herself each inch higher, but she ignored the strain and focused on Colton’s voice.
She didn’t look down once. Not even when a foothold gave out beneath her boot and she slid three terrifying feet before catching herself.
Colton’s sharp gasp and barked command to hug the wall revealed he wasn’t as calm as his voice implied. When she conquered the tingling adrenaline rush, she began to climb again. Only ten feet from the top, Colton knelt to pull her up. She extended her arm, trying in vain to stretch her fingers within his grasp.
“Don’t reach for me,” he snapped. “Focus on the rock.”
His tone frayed her nerves even more. “Don’t yell at me.”
He blew out a breath. “Sorry. You’re doing great. Just a little further, that’s it, one more and I’ll be able to grab you.”
And then his strong hands encircled her wrists and hauled her over the edge of the cliff in one swift motion. She found herself crushed against his chest.
“Thank God,” he murmured into her hair.
His heart hammered madly under her cheek, and his arms threatened to rob her of air.
She drew strength from the security of his embrace until it became necessary for her to obtain some oxygen. “Colton…I can’t breathe.”
His arms relaxed but didn’t release. She raised her face to his as they knelt together on the cool ground. His hand came up to cup her chin and he turned her head to peer at her cheek. Aware of a stinging sensation, she lifted her hand to test the scrape. His thumb beat her to it—brushing lightly over the tender skin and somehow managing to soothe the pain.
The anguish and guilt in his expression shocked her, but before she could wonder about the emotions, his head lowered and he kissed her, hard.
Immediately, his mouth gentled, sweeping her up in a rush of sensation. His hand pushed through her tangled curls. She tilted her head to a more accessible angle and lost herself in the life-affirming joy of his mouth on hers. After the courthouse, she’d never expected to experience the pure pleasure of kissing him again.
Unfortunately, that thought brought a reminder of Robert. She stiffened in Colton’s arms. He stilled, then swiveled his head to sweep his gaze over the area while bending to scoop up the gun near his knee. A firm grasp on her elbow assisted her to her feet as he was suddenly all business.
“Let’s go.”
He led her into the darkened forest, holding the gun ready in front of him. For the first time, Kendra noticed he was still dressed in the clothes he’d worn for their wedding, even his suit coat.
“I can’t believe you came.”
Colton’s step faltered and he felt Kendra bump up against his back. Had she really thought he wouldn’t? “Of course I came.”
“I—I just meant…I hoped, but…I wasn’t sure you’d figure out what happened. Or even be around…especially after…”
“You left great clues,” he said shortly.
Much as he longed to hold her tight and reassure her he’d always be there for her, he was acutely aware Robert still lurked amidst the trees; still armed and still dangerous. He hoped the coward hadn’t decided to circle around while injured, but couldn’t rule out the possibility. The man knew, at this point, he had nothing left to lose.
His heart still hadn’t settled down from when Kendra had slipped while climbing. Helplessness had left him weak in the knees until she’d reached the point where he could grab hold of her wrists and pull her up into his arms. Then the guilt had taken over.
The full moon was on the rise, but not much light filtered through the trees above just yet. She took his lead and stayed silent as they made their way through the dark shadows. Even though he understood the need to be as quiet as possible, Colton had to bite his tongue numerous times to keep from saying things he had no business saying. Things like, I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you and I love you.
But what did he have to offer her? He knew she planned to return to New York now that she had her millions, she’d never said anything to the contrary. He on the other hand was in debt up to his eyeballs and probably would be for life, especially since he had no plans to accept her million dollar marriage bribe.
So what if he loved her? He didn’t deserve her; didn’t deserve to be happy when his mother had no chance of ever being happy like that again. But it all made him angry, too.
“Colton?”
The fear vibrating in her quiet voice halted him in his tracks. “What’s wrong?”
“Do you think Robert will go back to the ranch?”
His chest tightened, and he cursed his selfish distraction while fuming inwardly that this brother of hers could do this to her. “He won’t hurt you again, Kendra, I promise.”
