Page 24 of Best Laid Plans
He was afraid of heights? No wonder he looked so distressed.
‘Didn’t you read up about this bit in your guidebook?’ she asked, wondering how the heck she was going to help him get out of here. It wasn’t as if she could toss him over her shoulder and carry him the rest of the way.
He let out a huff of breath. ‘What guidebook?’
‘You don’t have a guidebook with you? Or have even looked for a walking website to check?’
‘Non. I’m – what do you English say? – winging it. I wanted to experience this holiday without any expectations.’
She couldn’t help but laugh at the superior expression on his face. ‘You are the most mercurial man I’ve ever met,’ she said, unable to stop herself from teasing him. After the way he’d acted last night, it was somewhat satisfying to get one over on him.
He gave her a rueful grin. ‘I’m glad I amuse you.’
She could tell from the shake in his voice that he was genuinely rattled, though. It must be a terrifying thing, believing that you’re stuck alone on the side of a cliff face, not able to go either forwards or back the way you came.
That thought galvanised her.
‘Okay, this is what we’re going to do. You’re going to walk on the inside with one hand touching the wall or foliage, and I’ll walk next to you on the open side. You look ahead, but slightly inland so you’re not looking at the drop the whole way along. I’ll make sure we stay safely on the path. Okay?’
He stared at her for a moment, then blinked as if her words had taken a moment to sink in. ‘Are you sure you want to do that?’
Once again, she realised there was much more to his question than its face value. She knew what he was really asking.
Shaking her head, she put her hands on her hips. ‘You think just because we had a minor disagreement I’m going to walk away and leave you here?’
His mouth twitched at the corner and he shook his head. ‘No. That doesn’t seem like the sort of thing you’d do.’ He sighed, his exasperation with himself clear. ‘Okay. Let’s do it.’
‘Okay then. Now, give me your hand.’
He looked up at her and frowned. ‘What?’
‘Don’t worry, I’m not trying to seduce you,’ she said, laying on the sarcasm, ‘It’ll keep you grounded.’
‘I mean, what if I fall and pull you over with me? I don’t want to be responsible for tipping us both off a cliff.’
She let out a huff of breath at the doubt in his voice, but reined her irritation back in. ‘That’s not going to happen; I have fantastic balance. Now, give me your hand.’
Taking an audible breath, he let go of the rocks behind him and lifted his hand tentatively towards her.
She grasped it in one of hers. ‘Okay, good. Now stand up slowly.’
He did so, wobbling a little as he righted himself and faced the direction in which they needed to go.
‘Great, we’re set,’ she said, feeling the tension in his grip. ‘Just keep looking at the wall and I’ll guide us safely forwards.’
They set off slowly, Julien’s steps hesitant at first, but becoming more sure as they made their way slowly along the pathway. Their clasped hands grew sweaty in the heat, but she didn’t let go of him to wipe them on her shorts. She didn’t think he’d appreciate that.
‘Talk to me, take my mind off that thousand metre drop just inches away,’ he said when he wobbled a little at one point.
‘I think a thousand metres might be a slight exaggeration?—’
‘It doesn’t feel like it to me,’ he cut in gruffly.
She bit back a smile. ‘What do you want to talk about?’
‘Anything. I don’t care. Tell me about the people you’re teaching to cook.’
‘Oh, my goodness… Well, there are some real characters in my cooking group.’
