Mountains Wanted Read Online Free PDF Page B

I’m
extraordinarily klutzy, yet I love rock climbing. I guess I have a
reckless streak. I have a lot of strong opinions. I’m probably not
somebody you’d enjoy arguing with unless you don’t mind losing.”
    James obviously took
that as a challenge, “I don’t have to win. .. all the time...” he
replied, emanating a suggestive flash from his blue eyes and leaning back
against his chair, his posture open and inviting. Sarah was pretty sure he
wasn’t talking about a verbal argument all the sudden.  
    “So, speaking of rock
climbing, you said you were from Colorado,” he redirected the conversation. “My
dad was stationed at Fort Carson for a little while when I was young so I lived
in the Springs for a while. I’ve done some rock climbing as well.”
    “Oh, that’s wonderful!”
Sarah exclaimed. “Colorado Springs is beautiful...Pikes Peak, Garden of the
Gods...what’s not to love?”
    “It’s easy to miss the
mountains when you’re out here on the East Coast.  I go up to PA sometimes
to ski, but it’s not the same as the Rockies,” he admitted. “So you ended
up out here for your job?”
    She nodded. “It’s pretty
typical for us academic types to search nationally for positions. You have to
find a college hiring in your specialty. I got lucky to land such a great
tenure-track position even after the economy tanked.”
    “Well, I’m sure it
speaks highly of your credentials...and abilities,” James noted.  He
looked at her so intensely that she could feel his eyes boring through her. “Smart
and beautiful,” he summed up his findings. “I’m sure you would be at the top of
the pack for any position you applied for.”  
    She couldn’t help but
smile at his flattering statement. Maybe
this is a date ? she oscillated again. His demeanor seemed to have
changed, relaxed.  Perhaps it was her strategic just-enough-cleavage
blouse. Maybe it was that sultry look she had a habit of casting from her dark
eyes. She suddenly felt flushed...her head was spinning with wild thoughts
...envisioning those fingers grazing her skin...those intense eyes caressing
her body in a more private setting.  It’s been too damn long . She
suddenly remembered her empty house, her empty bed, and all of her damn rules
she had just reviewed earlier that day…  Is James McAllister rule-break
worthy?
    It’s
like he read her mind: “So what are you doing tonight?”
    Her heart started racing
as her eyes met his again. Her responsible adult self kicked the wanton slut
she’d tried so hard to repress out of the way. “I’ve got a ton of papers to
grade,” she blurted out before she could change her mind. “In fact, I
should probably wrap this up and get home soon, as much as I’d like to stay and
get to know you better.”
    There was still more
conversation after that.  She finally got the answer to the age question:
he was 29. She learned James was the oldest of three, with two younger sisters.
She discovered he had a soft spot for country music and, surprisingly, classical.
But mostly he remained a bit on the mysterious side. As much as Sarah enjoyed
unraveling mysteries as quickly as possible, she sort of liked this murkiness. He
was a puzzle she wanted to take as much time as she could to solve; after all, the puzzle isn't quite as fun
after all the pieces have been put together.
    James walked her to her
car another hour past when she said she needed to go. Then there were twenty
more minutes that slipped away as she leaned against it and they continued to
talk, suppressing moderate concern her backside was getting filthy.  Then
there were the last few minutes when he leaned in so close that she could feel
his breath on her cheek, told her he hoped to see her again, and kissed
her...light as a feather, his lips barely brushing hers.  
    When he walked away, the
sun was starting to sink behind him.

 
    ***

Chapter Three
The First Time
                Sunday
evening Sarah was scrambling