“I’m terrified to jump, George,” she said, holding her patient’s stare. “But if it will get you down from there, I’ll do it.”
George scrutinized her, as if deciding whether he should believe her, before jumping to the ground in front of Caleb and Shay. “I’m ready,” he told Caleb, and started walking toward the door.
Shay’s gaze shifted to Caleb’s, trepidation in her expression. “I had to say yes.”
“I know,” he said. And he did know. That had been the entire point of asking her to jump. He’d wanted her to make a choice—in his case, not to save his life but to save their relationship. To be willing to step out of her comfort zone, a way to reach out to him that she’d not been willing to offer. Maybe it was wrong of him, probably it was wrong of him, but he needed to know. And, well, he would risk anything for her, but he wasn’t sure it would be enough anymore.
His lips thinned with the thought and he said, “George is waiting.”
Once they were in the parking lot, Caleb wasn’t about to let George out of their sight until he was certain he was stable. Nor was he leaving George alone with Shay. He’d seen a few suicidal guys in Iraq turn on people close to them. “Let’s take my truck,” Caleb suggested. “That’ll let you two talk, and neither of you will have the distraction of driving.”
Fortunately, George agreed, and was soon seated by the passenger’s door, pulling it shut, while Shay scooted to the middle. Caleb climbed into the driver’s seat beside Shay, but he didn’t look at her. He could feel her close, her body heat rushing over him, her scent teasing him, and that was enough. She was where he’d wanted her. Where he’d believed she belonged. Still did, but now…well, now he wasn’t so sure that was where she would end up.
The drive was short and Shay kept George talking. Caleb was impressed with how she framed her views, how she led him to see logic over emotion.
Once inside the Hotzone, Caleb led George and Shay to a private training room and set up the videos to allow George to complete the paperwork to jump alone.
“Shay’s jumping tandem with me,” Caleb said without asking Shay. “She doesn’t need all the paperwork you will need.” Shay was scared, and he wasn’t risking her getting hurt by forcing her to jump alone.
Shay’s gaze connected with his, the charge of awareness and tension between them damn near combustible. There was no way George didn’t notice.
George frowned. “But I can for sure jump on my own?” he confirmed, sitting down at the metal table.
“That’s right,” Caleb agreed. “But it’s going to be pretty late by the time you finish all the training. I need to go lock in a pilot for the plane.” His gaze flickered over Shay’s slim-cut skirt, with miles of gorgeous legs exposed from beneath, and added, “And I’ll need to find Shay something to wear. High heels and skydiving don’t mesh too well.”
Shay looked down at herself. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. Do I need to run home and change?”
“No,” George said. “You can’t leave me here.”
“Sabrina and Jennifer both have flight suits and boots here,” he said. “You’re are all close to the same size. I’m sure neither will mind if you wear theirs.” He tapped the table where George sat. “You study and before long, I’ll show you what jumping is really all about.”
He motioned to Shay to follow him, pulling the door shut behind him once they were in the hall. “I need to line up that pilot.” He didn’t give her time to respond. The rawness of her rejection of days before had worn on him, tormented him. He turned away.
She reached for him, the touch of her hand jolting him in a way no woman should ever be able to jolt a man.
“Caleb,” she said.
Unnerved by how much Shay got under his skin, he didn’t give her time to voice whatever she’d hoped to say. “You know where the storage room is, right?”
“I…” She hesitated, apparently changing her mind about what she’d been about to say. “Yes. I know where it is.”
“Grab something to change into while I line up what I need to for the jump.” He left, going in search of Ryan, who, in his usually easygoing way, had already agreed to join their jump—if they could get a pilot to hang around.
He found Ryan and Bobby in Bobby’s office, just back from a sunset jump. “We got a pilot?” he asked Ryan.
Ryan cast him a grim look. “No go,” he said. “Everyone has plans.”
Caleb eyed Bobby. “Can you fly us out for a jump, man?”
“If you can’t get someone else,” Bobby said, “I’ll do it. But tonight is Jennifer’s mom’s birthday, and her dad’s planned a surprise party.”
“Damn,” Caleb murmured.
“I can fly you out,” Ryan said. “I’m sure we can get one of the other instructors to help with George.”
“This guy was on a ledge about to jump a few hours ago,” he said. “If he decides not to pull his chute, someone has to pull it for him. Ryan’s the man for that job.”
Ryan grinned. “You know I do love a little extra action with my dirt dives.”
“What’s J.C.’s excuse for not staying?” he asked, referring to their most senior pilot, an old Army buddy of Bobby’s.
“Would you believe he has defensive driving?” Bobby asked. “I know. Not comforting that he needs it, considering he’s our lead pilot.”
“Damn it,” Caleb said, running his hand over his face and thought of their newest pilot. “What about Mark?”
“Sent him home early today, and he’s not answering his phone,” Ryan said.
“I might know someone,” Shay said from the doorway.
Caleb turned to find Shay still dressed in her skirt and heels. “Not you,” he said.
“Of course not,” she said. “I don’t have my license yet. But my instructor does, and she’s retired Air Force. Sabrina knows her.”
“Is that Lori Dew?” Ryan asked.
“Lori Day,” Shay corrected.
“Right,” Ryan said. “Sabrina talked to me about her, trying to convince me we should hire her and add flight lessons to the Hotzone offerings.”
“Lori is amazing, and I trust her completely, which says a lot considering she often has my life in her hands,” Shay said. “I can’t promise I can reach her, but it’s worth a try.”
“I say call her,” Ryan said. “Then I can tell Sabrina I officially met her and considered her idea of the flight school. Kills two birds with one stone.”
Caleb and Bobby eyed each other and came to a silent agreement. “Call her,” Caleb said.
Shay nodded and rushed to the phone in the front lobby. Caleb half listened to Bobby and Ryan debate the idea of adding a flight school, but was more interested in trying to make out Shay’s conversation.