Secret Gifts (Steamy Version) by Elena Aitken Read Free Book Online Page B

climb.”
    “Not at all,” Gage said. He gave her his trademark smile. The one that typically melted women, making them giggle like school girls. “And please, call me Gage.”
    But Morgan didn’t turn into a giggly, silly fan, she simply said, “Thanks. I think we’re going to have a blast today.” Megan knew she was going to like the other woman.
    “Bo,” Gage said as he helped grab some gear. “You’re buddies with Jeff Michaels, aren’t you?”
    Bo turned around and smiled a genuine grin. “I am. He works on your set,” Bo said. “I wasn’t sure if you’d know him, so I didn’t want to say.”
    “Of course I know him,” Gage said. “He’s a great guy. Talks about this place all the time. That’s why I didn’t protest too hard when I was exiled here.”
    Megan opened her mouth to retaliate, but a quick look at Gage and she knew he was kidding. She smacked his arm and walked past him to the Jeep.
    Bo drove them down a gravel road, up into the mountains and their destination. It was a perfect day for a drive in the open-topped Jeep and Bo was a great guide, pointing out a few sights as they drove, including a deer hiding in the trees, and a few minutes later, a brown bear—which thankfully turned to run into the woods when it heard the rumble of the Jeep.
    Megan snuck a glance over at Gage, who’d barely said a word since they’d left. He was hanging onto the roll bar of the Jeep with one hand, the other resting on the seat between them. His dark hair was blowing in the breeze and he had a huge smile on his face as he took in everything around him.
    The climbing itself was second nature for Megan, who spent most of her free time when she wasn’t working challenging the various walls at her climbing gym. She’d only been on an actual rock face a few times, but the principles were the same, except, of course, for the adrenaline flowing through her.
    “It’s just a starter climb,” Bo told them before they’d suited up. “I wasn’t sure of the level of experience, but if you two want to do something more challenging another day, let me know.”
    After some quick instructions from Bo, Gage picked it up quickly and with his raw strength, he had no trouble grappling his way along the rock face. With Morgan and Bo belaying their ropes for them, it was only Megan and Gage together on the mountain.
    After a few feet of climbing, Gage let out a whoop and called out to her, “This is awesome.”
    Megan couldn’t contain her own excitement either. “I know,” she yelled back at him. “It’s the best feeling on earth.”
    They used the spikes and picks that had been placed in the rocks and worked their way to the top.
    “Look,” Megan said. “Look around you.”
    Together, still clinging to the rock wall, they turned their heads and scanned the landscape around them. She’d been on mountains in Northern California before, but never before had she climbed something so impressive, surrounded by so much wilderness. She took in a sharp breath and blinked back unexpected tears.
    “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Gage said, his voice slightly more than a whisper. “It’s incredible.” He turned so he was looking her in the eyes. “Hey, are you okay?” He reached out and wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye.
    Megan smiled through the emotion. “I’m fine,” she said. “It’s just so unbelievable.”
    Gage nodded. He pulled his hand away and Megan immediately missed the heat of his fingers on her skin. “I could stare at it forever,” he said. “But I don’t suppose we can?”
    Right on cue, Bo hollered up at them. “Are you two ready to come down?”
    Megan laughed. “I think they want a turn.”
    “Well, that’s only fair,” Gage said. He tugged on the belay rope in the way Bo’d taught him, indicating they were ready to go down.
    Megan took another look around, committing the moment and the view to memory. When she’d finished, she turned back to see Gage