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Maggie

Maggie stopped ainst the exposed brick wall of the lighthouse She needed a ain her equilibriuo, 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 firress up the stairs

A few steps back, she haddown at the saht bealirow clammy, and her knees started to shake when she saw the narrow steps that forht corkscreard the bottoht coupled with the proximity to Reid made her heart thu 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 aiie didn’t want hi 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’o fear of heights to kick in She couldn’t reirlhood phobia rushed back when she realized that the tiny guardrail soldered onto the iron steps was all that kept her fro 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 aith accusing her of being unfit She’d run on the island every day since her arrival here and had the leg uess this would be a bad ti so ith heights”

“You’re afraid of heights? Really?” he mocked “And you didn’t think to ?”

She pressed against the ith 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’ie? Open your eyes”

Just one a breath and exhaled Her knees were still shaking, and now the ss and a hint of that intoxicating salty sea sain—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 ie felt hie 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 firo back down? We can cut bait on this plan I’ll et down safely”