Winona had already put Shota in his enclosure for the night. She got to her feet when she saw Chaska and stretched, even managing a yawn. “I’m heading to bed. We’re short a volunteer, so I’ll be spending a lot of the day tomorrow at the clinic.”
Right.
It was a good thing that Naomi didn’t know his sister as well as he did. She wasn’t a very good liar.
Winona grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen and headed down the hallway toward the stairs. “Good night.”
“Good night,” Naomi called after her.
Chaska walked into the kitchen. “Can I get you anything—water, soda, tea?”
“Do you have herbal tea?”
He heated water on the stove, let her choose the flavor, then set the mug on the end table beside her. “What did you think of Knockers?”
Are you nervous,kola?
Yeah, he was.
“It wasn’t what I was expecting.” She turned in her seat and put her feet on the floor so that he could sit on the sofa beside her. “Rain is a pro. She was on top of everything. The food was good, too, though I wasn’t very hungry. I think it’s cool that the place has a climbing wall. Joe really seems to understand the people in his community. That’s probably why Knockers is successful.”
He hadn’t been expecting a professional assessment, but then he remembered. “You waited tables for a long time.”
“It felt like an eternity.” Naomi picked up her tea, blew across it, took a sip. “None of the places I worked were as nice as Knockers. I doubt Joe lets his customers grope the wait staff.”
“It happens once in a while, usually during hunting season. Joe might not look tough, but under all that facial hair and plaid, he’s ripped. I’ve seen him throw big men—bikers, hunters, tough guys—out the front door like he was taking out the trash. Locals are pretty good about helping, too, and no one—and I meanno one—messes with Rain.”
Naomi took another sip, set her mug down. “I really liked watching you climb.”
“What did you like about it?”
Color rushed into her cheeks.
Thatwas interesting.
“I’ve never seen anyone move like that. You looked really graceful and powerful at the same time.”
Yeah, this wasn’t hard on his ego.
“Your hands must be so strong.” She reached over and slid her hand, fingers outstretched, beneath his, raising his hand his up as if she were examining it.
Heat arced between them, the shock of it bringing his entire body alive, from blood to bones. “It’s more about legs than arms.”
“What about that dyno thing?” She moved her hand slowly, making Chaska aware of how sensitive the skin of his fingers and palm truly was—and how small her hand was compared to his.
“Oh, well, yeah.” There was that. “Most of the time you try to hang from the skeleton of your upper body while using your legs for strength moves. Climbing is all about strength-to-weight ratio. That’s why women can climb as well as men.”
“How long, um… did it take you? To learn how to climb, I mean.” Her breathing had changed, her words coming slower, as if she couldn’t quite concentrate on what she was trying to say.
He laced his fingers through hers, stroked her thumb with his. “I made the Team in about a year, but, uh, I was climbing every day.”
Nowhewas having trouble thinking, her scent and the softness of her skin derailing his concentration.
“Why did you kiss me this morning?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper.
“Because then, like now, I wanted to.” He turned toward her, slid a hand into her hair, and lowered his mouth to hers.
God, she was sweet, her lips warm and ripe, but he needed better access.