“But this is a 5.13? So it’s easier?” Brit was wearing a backpack that held Paddy and an assortment of clip-on toys. His T-shirt had a smear of orange squash across the front, and his normally well-groomed hair stood up from his forehead. Ross wondered, looking at him now, if it was possible that this was the same man who had once been dubbed “The Slayer” for his record of loving and leaving women.
“A little bit. Still basically impossible for anyone else.”
“And how exactly do you know this paragon?” Tori asked. “Because I’ve got to tell you, I don’t like her.”
Julia put her hands on her hips and frowned. “That’s not very nice, Aunt Tori. Kelsey was our babysitter. She showed Luke how to climb. And she went camping with us and taught us how to set up our tent. She’s our friend now, so you shouldn’t say mean things about her.”
Tori swung her gaze to Ross, instantly alert. Ross had the bad, bad feeling that color was rising in his cheeks under that steady regard. “You took the babysitter camping with you?” she asked. “As in, overnight?”
“It’s a long story,” he replied. “I was worried we would get lost and never be heard from again.”
“Kelsey, is it?” Brit mused, looking speculatively between her and Ross. “She went camping with you?” His searching gaze made Ross clench his teeth. “A wise choice, surely. She looks very knowledgeable.”
“Oh, she knows everything about the woods,” Julia said. “She’s going to Ne…Ne…where is she going again, Daddy?”
“Nepal,” Ross filled in. It was bad enough to have his sister-in-law dissecting him with her giant, doe-like eyes. The last thing he needed was his brother getting in on the act and connecting the dots from their earlier conversation.
“What’s she doing in Nepal?” Brit asked Julia, ignoring Ross’s glare.
“Climbing a really big mountain,” Matt said, matter-of-fact. “She’s famous. I think someday I’ll go to Nepal and climb Mount Everest. That’s the tallest mountain in the world. Did you know that, Dad?”
Ross nodded. Mount Everest was taller, yet considerably safer to climb, than Annapurna. He’d much rather Matt set his sights on it.
“Your babysitter climbs mountains in Nepal?” Tori repeated. “That sounds dangerous.”
Julia shook her head. “Kelsey can walk on her hands. It’s not dangerous for her.”
Luke started to interrupt but Ross cut him off before he could speak. “Look, she’s at the top.”
Kelsey stopped briefly to touch the upper edge of the particleboard wall before starting back down. The kids were waiting in a loose semicircle when she jumped lightly to the foam mats below.
“Hey kids,” she said, panting lightly. A damp V darkened the front of her bra top, which gave Ross a much better view of her cleavage than he wanted at precisely that moment. Her snug black pants were dusted on the hips and backside with chalk.
For just a moment, her gaze met his. Electricity surged between them. Ross could feel Tori and Brit watching and assessing the extra-long moment of awareness. “You all here to climb?” she asked, deliberately turning away and looking down at Luke.
“Yep,” Luke said. “My aunt and uncle are visiting. We thought they might want to see it.” He gestured vaguely in the direction of Brit and Tori, his attention already diverted to the walls in front of him.
“Hey, Kelsey,” Ross said casually. “Funny seeing you here.” He wondered if it was possible to convey No, I haven’t been sleeping with this woman simply by the tone of his voice. “This is my brother Brit and his wife, Tori. They’re visiting from New York.”
Kelsey waved a hand in their direction and gave a rueful laugh. “Don’t mean to be rude, but I’m covered with chalk.” Indeed, the skin on her fingers was almost entirely concealed by white dust.
“No problem,” Brit said, as if he encountered this problem all the time. “Nice to meet you.”
Tori smiled, though to Ross’s eyes, there was a hint of scheming in her gaze. “The kids told us you were their babysitter. Is that something you do full time?”
“I was filling in for a sick friend,” Kelsey said.
Ross cringed. Even though entirely true, her statement sounded completely fabricated. “It was a terrible situation,” he broke in. “Food poisoning, through the whole ranks of the nanny agency.”
Tori’s eyebrows rose. “Really? How unfortunate.” She linked her arm through her husband’s and gave a tug. “Lovely to meet you—we’ll let you and Ross catch up. Luke is desperate to show us his moves.”