She reminded herself Nick was a friend and this weekend was about taking a safe trip on the wild side and putting caution in a time out, nothing more.
She opened the door. “Hi.”
“Hey. Sorry I’m a few minutes late. You ready to go?”
“Yep,” she said, staring up at him.
He hadn’t shaved. Dark stubble covered his angular jaw, chin, and upper lip. His cheeks were flushed, like maybe he’d gone for a run this morning. He also smelled shower fresh.
“Great.” A lock of hair fell across his forehead as he stepped into the entryway and leaned over to pick up her bag.
They walked to his car in silence, her mind stupidly on his hair and imagining her fingers running through it. He opened the passenger door for her, tossed her bag in the back, and off they went. She’d been worried about what to talk about on the four-hour drive, but he solved that dilemma by turning on the radio the second after she clicked her seatbelt into place.
Did she say four-hour drive? Nick got them to Jackson Hole in three and a half and took them straight to a small airport. “So skydiving is up first?” she asked.
“The weather is perfect this afternoon and my buddy Colin has time to take us up. You mentioned you were a little nervous, but excited. That still the case?”
“Yes. I’m actually more excited and less nervous now that we’re here. I watched the video on the company’s website so I know what to expect, which for me is key.”
Nick slid his sunglasses to the top of his head and glanced at her as he pulled up to a black iron gate. She quickly turned away to look out the passenger window since she hadn’t meant to reveal that particular detail. “I’m happy to run down how it’s going to go from start to finish before we head inside,” he said.
“I’m good, but thanks.”
He reached out his window to press several numbers on a keypad. The gate slid open. “Colin’s taken thousands of jumpers up. He was a Leap Frog before retiring from the navy.”
“I’m not sure what that is.”
“Navy parachute team.”
“So if he was in the air and you were on the sea, how did you two meet?”
“We met through his brother.” Nick parked near a small two-story building and hopped out of the car.
Cassidy met him around the back. “Was he in emergency, fire and rescue with you?”
Nick let out a regretful sigh. “Yeah. Alex was one of the friends I lost last month.” He slipped his shades back over his eyes. “Come on. Let’s get you in the sky.”
“Hey,” she said, putting her hand on his arm. “I’m really sorry about your friends. I’ve never lost someone close to me, but I imagine it takes time to get past the hurt.”
“It does,” he said, stepping away like he didn’t want to talk about it anymore.
She understood that, so veered the conversation to something easier. “How many times have you done this?”
“I’ve lost count, but enough to play instructor for today.”
“Wait. You mean I’m tandem jumping with you, not Colin?” She quickened her steps to keep up with Nick’s long strides around the building.
“Colin’s piloting. He owns the company. That’s his plane there.” Nick nodded to a small white airplane with a blue racing stripe down the side.
Cass had flown commercial airlines hundreds of times without a problem, but the sight of the three-wheeled propeller plane made her palms sweat. The thought of jumping out of a plane attached to Nick did, too, but for entirely different reasons.
He’s a cocky jerk who thinks you’re a problem.
“Colin sounds pretty awesome. Is he single?”
Nick stopped, turned to her. “You’re asking about another guy while on a weekend date with me?”
“This isn’t a date. It’s a business transaction.” She gave him her biggest, widest unaffected smile.
“He’s not your type.” Nick resumed walking.
“You have no idea what my type is.”
“I know it’s not a guy who can drink a rugby team under the table, jumps off cliffs and bridges like it’s nothing, and sleeps with women for sport.”
“You—”
“And it’s definitely not someone who doesn’t have a prudent bone in his body.” He glanced at her. “Except when he’s flying customers.”
Cassidy stopped walking. Nick noticed a second later that she wasn’t beside him and twisted around.
“You don’t know me, Nick. What might have been true twelve years ago isn’t anymore, and if I don’t want to move carefully, then I won’t. And not you or anyone else gets a say in it.”
They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. “Fine,” he finally said.
“Thank you.”
He mumbled something under his breath as he turned away and took the few steps to the building’s entrance. She gave him a small smile as he held the glass door open for her to enter first. The simple concrete-floored interior included racks filled with equipment and a seating area with couches and a coffee table. To her right was a reception desk with an office behind it.
A man who looked maybe five to ten years older than her strode out of the office, bypassing the secretary at the desk. “Nicky Palotay. It’s good to see you again.” The man extended his hand before pulling Nick in for a one-armed hug.
“You, too. How are…” Nick’s voice faltered. “How’s the family doing?”
The guy frowned. “Wipe that depressing look off your pretty-boy face right now or I’m going to kick your ass.”
“Yes, sir.”
Cass watched the exchange between the men, fascinated by the glimpse into Nick’s world outside of Marietta. She also noted Nick’s face relaxed some at the order his friend gave.
“That’s better. We’re doing fine. Every day gets easier.” The man turned his attention to Cass. “You must be Cassidy. Colin Andrews. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” Cass shook his hand. “I’m sorry about your brother.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.” Then to Nick he said, “She’s a hell of a lot prettier than your last jumping partner.”
“You can say that again.”
It pleased Cass to hear Nick say that way more than it should. He was just agreeing with Colin to be polite. But maybe he had noticed she wasn’t the same gawky kid from their youth. Not that it mattered if he looked at her differently. She wanted an adventure from him, his help to lift her wings so she could fly more freely in the future.
“You ready to get started?” Colin asked her.
“Super ready.” She filled out paperwork at the reception desk and dropped the pen back in the pencil holder at the same time Nick announced it was time to gear up.
“The harness should be snug and comfortable,” he said, pulling and tugging on the straps and metal fittings around her body. The back of his hands grazed her jean-clad thighs. His fingertips skimmed over her back and sides. Innocent touches that from any other man wouldn’t have registered a thing. But with Nick, her body responded with vibrations from the base of her spine to the back of her neck. She pressed a few fingers to her nape to stave off the warmth there.
He continued to stand close enough that his clean, masculine scent filled her senses while he gave instructions that included what to expect, where to put her hands, and where not to put her hands when she jumped out of the airplane. She listened carefully, knowing no matter what, she’d feel safe because she’d be harnessed to him.
“…And if you forget everything I just said, no worries. I’ve got you.” His eyes met hers for the first time since he’d started prepping her.
“Okay,” she said softly, staring into an electric blue sea she wouldn’t mind being stranded in for—she blinked, dropped her chin, and looked herself over. There was no getting marooned with Nick. Taking one of the straps in her hand she said, “Is this thing tight enough?”
“No. But I’m not finished yet.” Nick stepped into his harness and pulled i
t up. “We’ll tighten things up on the plane.”
They walked outside onto the tarmac and approached the plane from the back. Colin sat in the pilot’s seat, his attention on the control board. Nick climbed into the small empty cabin of the plane first, got situated with his back against the pilot’s seat, his legs straight out in front of him, then gave her his hand. She linked her fingers with his. He helped guide her into his lap, her back to his front.
Nick slid the door shut, the plane roared to life. With nothing to hold on to, Cass had no other option but to sink more intimately in between Nick’s legs and relax against his chest so she didn’t topple over as they sped down the runway and took to the sky. Pretty much every nerve in her body fired a feel-good sensation from their cozy position.
She looked out the window during the smooth lift off, excitement of a different kind growing inside her. She’d never pictured herself skydiving and gave herself a mental high five.
“Just passing five thousand feet,” Colin shouted over the loud staccato sound of the engine several minutes later.
“This is the altitude I’ll be opening our chute,” Nick said, voice raised. “Unless you want the honors.”
“I can pull the parachute?”
“If you ask nicely.”
She turned her head and almost bumped noses with him. When she discovered a playful gleam in his eyes, she fought the urge to share an Eskimo kiss and gave him the back of her head again. “I’d love to pull the parachute please,” she called out.
“You got it.”
“How high up are we going?”
“Ten thousand feet. Here,” he handed her the pair of goggles he’d mentioned earlier. “Put these on. We’re almost there. You’re going to feel me working behind you as I attach us together. Your harness will feel tighter now.”
“Okay.”
Cassidy admired the snow-covered mountains in the distance and a powder blue sky that stretched as far as she could see. Connectors locked into place, the sound of metal reassuring, but even if she couldn’t hear anything, she had the feeling she’d still be unafraid. She had nothing to worry about with Nick at her back.
“It’s time,” he said, reaching over to open the door. A cold wind whirled through the plane, hitting her cheeks as Nick maneuvered them so they could make their way to the opening. She stepped out onto the small aluminum platform the size of a shoebox, looked down at the land, miles below them. Time stood still and sped up at the same time. “Ready…set… Go!” he shouted.
She stepped into the air.
The rush and roar of the wind hit her full force, her stomach left her for a second. A feeling of euphoria flooded her. I’m flying. Being truly weightless and falling through the air with Nick’s broad chest and strong arms keeping her somewhat cocooned, she’d never been more at peace or so overwhelmed with sensations of exhilaration. He took her wrists and spread her arms wide as they continued their freefall. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, a gigantic smile took hold of her face.
“You’re doing fantastic,” Nick called out.
She couldn’t respond. Couldn’t stop grinning. She’d seen so much beauty and wonder from behind her camera lens, but getting a birds-eye view of earth like this, like she was this tiny little part of the universe in a moment in time that meant something to no one else but her, was breathtaking.
Nick took her right hand inside his and together they pulled the chute. The wind stopped. The straps around her thighs and under her arms pinched as she and Nick jerked up before slowing down considerably.
“That was incredible!” Cass closed her eyes for a moment to tuck the memory of free falling into the back of her mind for safekeeping.
“It was,” Nick agreed.
“I want to do it again.”
Hew chuckled. “How about for now, I let you steer?”
She slid her goggles off so they hung around her neck, let her head fall back against Nick’s chest. “I’d like that.” Lifting her arms and gripping the straps he guided her to, she tugged gently on the right one so they turned right. Then the left so they turned left.
She wished they could float in the sky for hours instead of minutes. Being under the canopy of their chute filled her with tranquility. She had a feeling Nick enjoyed the respite, too.
Being alone with him like this roused all sorts of emotions inside her, from gratitude to curiosity. What else could he show her? Share with her? How many other girls had he taken to new heights? These magical, special minutes were unique for her only, she knew, but maybe before the weekend ended, she’d find a way to gift him with something new, too.
*
With a minute left to go before they touched ground, Nick took over steering to guide them to a safe landing. They jogged to a stop while the parachute came to a rest on the wet, green grass behind them. He unhooked the four-point harness keeping them connected and immediately missed being close to Sid when she stepped away.
Even with equipment between their bodies, he’d enjoyed the feel of her curves, the warmth being in contact with her generated. And she smelled fantastic, sweet with a hint of something fruity, more feminine than anything he’d inhaled before.
She spun around. Rosy cheeks, pink lips pulled up in an infectious smile, emerald eyes sparkling. He didn’t take many pictures, but he had the urge to pull his cell phone out of his zippered pocket and capture the beauty in front of him.
“That was the best thing ever!” She lunged at him, almost knocking him off balance. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I loved every minute of it.”
He kept his arms at his side, unnerved by the way she made him think and feel things he didn’t want to.
She backed away quickly as if sensing his discomfort. “Sorry. There’s probably a no touching rule unless it’s required, right? I just feel so…so alive.” She bounced in place. “And I couldn’t help myself. It won’t happen again. Promise.”
Her vow depressed him when it should have made him damn happy.
“No worries,” he said.
“I can see how people get addicted to this. Oh, hello!” She turned her attention to their ride back to the airport, one of the local college kids Colin hired to gather the equipment and play shuttle driver. The guy introduced himself and moved to undo Sid’s harness.
“I’ve got that,” Nick said, elbowing the kid out of the way.
Five minutes later, he and Sid were in the backseat of a Jeep for the ten-mile return drive. Per usual after first jumps, the high Sid experienced came to a crashing low. She slouched against the passenger door, her eyes fluttered shut.
He allowed himself a few moments to stare at her wholesome, beautiful face before his head fell back against the seat, his gaze going out the passenger window.
Colin had done him a solid making this happen on short notice with a packed schedule. And with family obligations Nick couldn’t bring himself to even imagine. If anything ever happened to Rowan, he’d lose his shit and not be nearly as hospitable as Colin. As hard as it was to accept losing Jake and Alex on the sub fire last month, it was a thousand times worse for Colin. Alex had been his youngest brother, the baby among four siblings.
Baby.
Nick flexed his legs. Jesus, after twelve years, he should be over losing Sloane. Finished with the house fire that claimed her and her parents in the middle of the night. But he remembered the fierce intensity he’d loved her with like it was yesterday. Bored with the local girls, he’d fallen hard and fast for the beauty from Bozeman. They’d been high school sweethearts, madly in love, and planning their future together. Nothing mattered more to him than Sloane, not football, not anything, once he’d found out she was pregnant.
“I think I’m going to throw up,” Cassidy said, snapping him out of his thoughts. She pressed the button to roll down her window.
“It’s normal to feel queasy after skydiving for the first time. Should we pull over?”
She shook her hea
d. “Are we almost there?”
“Yes.”
“I am not going to ruin this perfect adventure by being sick.” She undid her seatbelt to lean forward with her elbows on her knees. “You could have warned me about this, you know.”
His gut clenched at her loss of a safety belt.
“Told me to expect the euphoria to settle in my stomach like bad chicken invaded my favorite burrito.”
“It will pass.”
“So do kidney stones.”
It wasn’t polite to find that funny, but he did, and barked out a laugh. He’d laughed more with Sid in the past week than he had in a hell of a long time. She gave him the stink-eye, which only made him laugh harder.
“I’m so glad you find my discomfort amusing.”
“It’s not that,” he managed to say. “I’m really sorry you feel sick.” He slid her loose ponytail over her shoulder and rubbed her back.
Confusion marred her face, whether from his words or his gentle kneading, he didn’t know. Truth be told, she had him stumped, too. He’d swear his hand had acted without a signal from his brain.
“You’ve grown a sense of humor,” he said.
She looked away. “Sometimes you have to.”
So it was a defense mechanism. What—or who—had she needed defending from? And why did it hurt that she’d used it on him? He’d made it clear where the two of them stood this weekend.
The sudden sense of being a total prick lodged an uncomfortable tightness in the back of his throat. She didn’t deserve to be lumped into the same category as Mandy, or any other woman, really. He’d known Sid her whole life and could handle a friendship with her. Why he hadn’t gone that route earlier he didn’t know.
“Hang in there a few more minutes and I’ll have a cure for you.”
“Is there anything you don’t know how to do?”
“Apparently, I’m not very good at giving a heads-up about motion sickness.” He dropped his hand.
“That was helping,” she said shyly.
He debated on whether to pretend he hadn’t heard that. He didn’t want to give her any wrong ideas, didn’t want to be too helpful. Shit. So much for the no touching rule, he resumed rubbing her back. “Colin sells this juice concoction that settles stomachs. He won’t tell anyone what’s in it, but it works like a charm every time.”
Falling for Her Bachelor (Bachelor Auction Returns Book 2) Page 4
