Best Dating Rules, Tamie Dearen [literature books to read txt] 📗

“But you’re really good, and you’ve had a lot of experience. Don’t you think you can beat him?”

“No. I don’t have the upper body strength to do the really hard climbs—the ones with overhangs, like Steven did last fall.”

“Maybe he’s out of shape,” Emily argued. “He’s been really busy with med school and now with the residency.”

“Are you blind Emily? You hiked with him for an entire day, and you didn’t notice his muscles?”

Emily tried to picture Josh on the trail at Devil’s Path. “No, not really. I think they were mostly covered up.”

“No, Sister. Believe me, they were quite visible.”

“Well then why did you agree to a climbing contest?”

“I don’t know... He’s so egotistical, and he made me so mad.”

“And what exactly did he do to make you so mad? What happened when y’all went in the living room?”

Charlie’s face turned pink. “Nothing happened. I yelled at him and told him to leave you and Spencer alone.”

Emily regarded her sister dubiously. “Well, I guess it worked. He left me alone and turned all his attention on you. Is that what you wanted?”

“No!” Her blush spread down her neck.

“Are you sure nothing else happened in the living room? Y’all were in there a while.”

“Well, I had a lot to say,” Charlie declared.

“So, is it possible you like him a little? I mean, I guess he’s cute. You said yourself he had muscles. And he’s a doc—”

“No! I don’t like him. Not even a little. He’s arrogant, egotistical, and controlling.”

“Okay. Don’t bite my head off. So what are you planning to do if he beats you tonight?”

“I’ve been thinking about it. As long as he beats me fair and square, I can handle it and a bit of teasing, too. He can brag about it, but there’ll be other guys there who are better than him. Whereas, I’ll probably be the best girl in the joint tonight. He’ll be impressed. Even if he doesn’t want to admit it, he’ll be impressed. And both of us will know it.” Charlie smirked a little. Emily wondered why her sister cared about impressing Josh. Usually, Charlie couldn’t care less whether a guy was impressed. She was self-confident to a fault, typically disregarding others’ opinions as unimportant. But something about Josh got under her skin and irritated her enough she couldn’t ignore him.

“I’m rooting for you, Sister.” She’d keep her speculations to herself.

Charlie fumed even while she was putting on her climbing harness. Josh was already geared up. He had a great build, and he knew it. He was probably almost six feet two. She noted with satisfaction Spencer was a little taller. Right now she was happy if anyone could best him in any way. He really needed to be cut down to size. He’d obviously climbed before, at least in a gym, and she knew she had little chance of beating him here. But with her extensive outdoor climbing experience, she’d probably leave him in the dust on an outdoor climb. Still, she wasn’t the type to make excuses when she was competing. She’d simply have to do her best.

For liability reasons, the gym didn’t allow anyone to belay unless they’d taken their class and passed a test. She was glad Josh couldn’t offer to belay her because he made her nervous for some reason. She tried not to think about what had happened with Josh in the Marshall’s living room. That kiss. She was furious with herself for kissing him back. Why had she done that? She should’ve slapped him before he kissed her, not after. He’d simply caught her off guard. But never again—she was prepared for him. She had her shields up and on high alert.

“Hey.” Charlie jumped at Josh’s voice in her ear. He’d come up behind her while she was concentrating on her gear. He grinned at her reaction. “So, what’s the bet going to be? What do I have to do to beat you, and what do I win?”

“Highest point reached on two out of three climbs, or best time if we both make it to the top.” She stated the conditions matter-of-factly, carefully hiding any emotions.

“And what do I win?”

“I’ll win the satisfaction of putting you in your place.”

“I think satisfaction would be a great prize when I win, but I’d rather achieve it some other way.” He leaned in close and whispered, “How about another kiss, without the punishing slap afterward?”

Charlie felt her face heat up, but she kept her voice cool and even. “That will never happen again.”

“Why not? Are you saying you didn’t enjoy it?”

“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“That’s what your lips are saying now, but it’s not what your body was saying last night.”

“Stop it. Shut up before someone hears you. Spencer’s coming.” She glared at him while she spoke between her clenched teeth.

He let out a belly laugh. “I’m not giving up just because someone might overhear me. I’ll be a little more discreet.” His eyes twinkled. “But only a little.”

Charlie sent him a glower that could have melted steel as Spencer joined them, seemingly unaware of their friction. “Who’s going first?”

“Josh is going first,” declared Charlie. “Go ahead. Pick your climb.”

He chose a vertical climb with a medium level difficulty. He climbed steadily, easily reaching the top, and Spencer declared the time. “Four minutes, twenty-two seconds.”

Josh rappelled down with a satisfied smile. Two blond girls approached him, and he seemed to be busy flirting while Charlie threaded the rope through her harness. She cast him a disparaging glance and started her climb. With experienced efficiency, she fairly flew up the climb.

“Three minutes, forty-four seconds. Charlie wins round one.” Spencer shouted her time and her sister cheered, along with Brad and Grace.

Josh whipped around to watch her descend. “Wait, I missed it.” He approached her as she touched the floor. “So it looks like I might have to try a little harder to beat you.”

Emily sat on the bench with Grace and Brad,