Page 26 of Impossible Thrills

“Ah, come on,” Jagger groaned. “Don’t rub it in.”

Darcy laughed. It was only a little shaky. “You don’t know how to lose. We’re helping you with that.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” Jagger shot back. “I don’t like to learn new things.”

Nick smiled as Darcy laughed again, steadier this time. It was good she could tease with Jagger.

“Did you hate skydiving?” Hays asked.

She paused and then shook her head. “It was scary, but thrilling too.” She cast a quick glance at Nick. “I’d do it again if I could go tandem with Nick.”

His smile grew to a grin. “I like that plan.”

Could they plan something for after this week? He had no idea how, but a plan with Darcy sounded heavenly to him. He’d never focused on a long-term relationship with his busy life and career. Now he longed for one with the ex-wife of a target. A bad idea all the way around. Maybe when they finally apprehended Trattori. His stomach soured. That could take years.

Hays helped her out of her parachute as Nick shrugged out of his.

“Our instructions are to hike along the stream to a waterfall,” Jagger said. “Then I guess we just relax on the yacht for the rest of the day.” He pulled a face.

“Have you ever relaxed?” Darcy teased the SEAL.

“No way,” Hays answered for him. “Jagger hates downtime.”

“You could take a long nap when we get back to the boat,” Darcy suggested. “We could all play card games, you could each share your life stories with me, and we could all soak in the hot tub and watch the sunset.”

Jagger rolled his eyes. “Let’s hope it’s a really long hike and a very interesting waterfall.”

They all laughed.

Nick wanted to soak in the hot tub alone with her. He found it intriguing she wanted them to share their life stories but didn’t offer to return the favor. Red flag for certain, but she was most likely just teasing Jagger.

The problem was he kept overlooking all the red flags. It was easy to focus on the mission when the mission was to protect and help and win for this ideal woman. What red flags? Only a vicious, drug-dealing ex-husband, the top of Nick’s current special project list, and the worry Darcy knew about Trattori’s illegal activities and could be prosecuted herself.

Nick would hide her on a remote island before he’d let anyone prosecute her. He’d protect her with his own life if Trattori tried to come after her.

He was in way too deep. What a mess.

Chapter

Nine

The stream that emptied into the ocean wasn’t too far from where the men repacked the parachutes and left them on the beach to pick up after their hike. They walked along the stream and as the sand turned to harder ground covered with leaves and pine needles, Jagger stopped and retrieved a backpack waiting on the side of the trail.

“Drinks and snacks for our hike,” he explained. “Is anyone thirsty?”

“My mouth is a little dry from screaming,” Darcy admitted.

All of the men had been so kind to her, but she kept replaying over and over again in her mind how it had felt to have Nick rescue her in the air and then to be wrapped around his strong body with his warm hands and arms pressing her even closer. It had been torture to release him. She shouldn’t have admitted she’d sky dive again if he was with her. Would he want to? She doubted she’d see him again after this week and she was the one to tell him last night that her focus was her children.

Jagger handed out water bottles. They all took drinks, then held onto them as they walked. The hike was only a gradual incline. No one said much as they progressed through the lush jungle in single file. Darcy focused on the beauty of the thick trees, undergrowth, and wildflowers, birds twittering around.

A stream trickled past them on their right. Vines hung down around it from the huge trees. She’d been to a lot of tropical places and was always amazed at the lush vegetation and natural beauty.

Jagger led the way, with Darcy directly behind him. Darcy appreciated the opportunity to be in nature and move her legs. It helped calm her anxiety. She thought she could enjoy skydiving someday with Nick. Today hadn’t been fun. Too stressful, and the pressure and pounding had been unexpected and uncomfortable.

Nick walked behind her. She glanced over her shoulder, and he gave her a reassuring smile. Darcy smiled back.

How could he make her feel so special when she’d never been special to even her own husband?