One
Maggie
Maggie stopped mid-step on the winding journey to brace her left side against the exposed brick wall of the lighthouse. She needed a minute to regain her equilibrium. There were only about fifty steps to go, and she would reach the top of the 163-foot structure.
She couldn’t wait to see the view, but she had started to feel shaky. Reid was a step in front of her, shining a flashlight down so they could see the black iron spiraling stairs leading up to the observation balcony. She had an excellent view of his khaki-clad firm ass and sculpted thigh and calf muscles as they made progress up the stairs.
A few steps back, she had made the mistake of looking down at the same instant the flashlight beam illuminated a slat between the steps. She caught a glimpse of how far they had climbed. Maggie felt her palms grow clammy, and her knees started to shake when she saw the narrow steps that formed a tight corkscrew toward the bottom. The combination of the height coupled with the proximity to Reid made her heart thump in her chest until she was sure he could hear the pounding as well.
A moment, just a moment. Almost there, she told herself while Reid continued onward. Darkness surrounded her. She rested her head against the cool wall, inhaled deeply, and let out a slow exhale like she learned in yoga class.
“Maggie, you ok?” Reid asked. He turned and aimed the flashlight in her direction. Maggie didn’t want him to see her like this—grasping the wall as if her life depended on it.
“Need to take a breather?” he asked. Reid touched her shoulder. “It’s all right. These are a lot of steps. Especially if you’re not used to this much cardio.”
Great. He thinks I’m out of shape. Really unfortunate time for that long ago fear of heights to kick in. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt like this. Her girlhood phobia rushed back when she realized that the tiny guardrail soldered onto the iron steps was all that kept her from plunging to the concrete floor a hundred feet below.
“Hey, I work out,” she said. Even in her flustered state, he was not going to get away with accusing her of being unfit. She’d run on the island every day since her arrival here and had the leg muscles to prove it. “I guess this would be a bad time to mention that I haven’t always gotten along so well with heights.”
“You’re afraid of heights? Really?” he mocked. “And you didn’t think to mention this before we starting climbing?”
She pressed against the wall with her eyes closed. She felt Reid brush away a few curls that had fallen across her forehead and covered her eyes. He touched her cheek.
“Hey? I’m sorry,” he started. “Hey, Maggie? Open your eyes.”
Just one more minute with the wall. She took in another deep yoga breath and exhaled. Her knees were still shaking, and now the smell of Reid’s mint aftershave mingled with wood shavings and a hint of that intoxicating salty sea smell prompted her knees to go weak again—this time for an entirely different reason.
Reid’s hand caressed down to her neck, trailing past the tie of her halter top to her bare shoulder.
“Please,” he pleaded. “Let go of the wall. Just for a minute.”
He sounded as if he was going into full Coast Guard rescue mode now. Maggie felt him reach for her other shoulder, and edge her away from the wall and into his arms.
Immediately, she felt safe as she buried her head in his chest, drinking in his scent once again and clutching his shirt for support.
Maggie raised her head, and opened her left eye and then the right, registering the concerned look in his brown eyes.
“Good. Now focus,” he said firmly. “Do you want to go back down? We can cut bait on this plan. I’ll make sure you get down safely.”
“No!” she said, jolted back to her spirited self. “No! I’ll be fine once we get to the top. I’m always like this on roller coasters. I have a quick freak out moment and have to close my eyes, but then have so much fun. Please.”
“I’m not so sure,” he said, toying with the tie at the back of her neck. “You’re still shaking.”
“I promise, I’m ok,” she offered. To prove it, she let go of his shirt and looped her arms around his neck, looking into his eyes. “Let’s do this. I will die knowing I made it this far and didn’t go all the way to the top. I couldn’t admit that to Blair and Justyn.”
“Ok, but one more of those weird breathing things from you, and I’m hauling your cute ass down those steps and back to the boat.” Reid shook his head. “Here’s the plan,” he continued, removing her arms from around his neck and pinning them to her sides.
He stepped to the side and edged behind her. He wrapped his right arm around her and held the flashlight in his left hand. “I’m going to walk behind you. You take the first step, and take your time. Don’t look right and don’t look down. Just look ahead.”
“Ok,” Maggie said, steeling herself before taking the first step. “I can do this.”
“Eyes on the prize. The top is right around the corner. I’ve got you,” Reid said, wrapping his arm a little more tightly and brushing her hip with his hand.
Maggie nodded and trudged onward, focusing on the flashlight beam shining on the black steps. Reid’s steadying embrace felt secure.
In less than three minutes, they made it to a wooden landing, where Reid released her from the tight half-hug and fished in his pocket for the key.
Maggie giggled. “The double secret Coast Guard key again?” she asked as he reached behind her, inserting the old steel key into the lock and turning until they heard the releasing click.
Reid grabbed Maggie’s left hand and pushed the door open with his right.
“We’re here,” he announced, leading her to the balcony that wrapped around the lighthouse and was positioned one level below the central hub where the lens rotated, flashing its powerful beam into the sea every fifteen seconds.
The wind whipped Maggie’s hair away from her face. She was immediately hit with the salty air, and tiny droplets of the night’s humidity hit her face. T
he light shining above her coupled with the natural moonbeams allowed her to see the banks stretching out across the sound miles away.
“Look! You can see the point,” she said, motioning to the right. She tugged him behind her as she almost skipped toward the railing, straining to take in the sights. “And the bell buoy. I can see its green light out there.”
He chuckled. “Slow down there, tiger. I guess the height fright is gone, huh?”
“It’s beautiful. Everything I imagined sitting across the water over there on the Buttonses’ pier, looking up at this light,” she said. “Actually more. Where’s Beaufort? I feel like we can see clear to the mainland.”
“You can,” he said, guiding her to the left. He looped an arm around her waist again. “Just don’t spring over the side.”
Reid reached his left hand over her shoulder and pointed. “See that yellow light? That’s the water tower. And the next one? That’s Morehead City. But you’re missing the real sights looking over here.”