Hendry stepped around the tight turns, careful of the ladder slanted upward at a weird angle, his hand sliding up the railing toward me. Even several steps down, he stood at eye level since he was so tall. The heat had caused sweat to drench his curls, and it dripped off the ends down along the short scruff at his jaw.

"Can you...?" He pointed to the side.

"Right." But I didn't have a whole lot of options. I pressed myself sideways against the ladder so he could ...