Page 29 of Impossible Thrills

“I am man enough to admit … ouch,” he groaned. “That stung.”

Jagger laughed loudly.

“Bully,” Darcy flung up at him.

“He’s fine. He’s a Marine and Captain Aiden Porter’s top security specialist.” Jagger’s voice was mocking, but Darcy knew his taunts were just part of who he was.

“That’s right.” Nick swam to the edge of the pool and climbed out. His left side was red, but he was smiling. She noticed some bruising on his abdomen and arms she hadn’t focused on before.

“I’m fine,” Nick told her. “I’m assuming my horrible entry pulled my perfect score down?”

“Still a ten.”

“No way!” Jagger and Hays both protested.

She reached out and traced a bruise on his abdomen. She’d noticed the scrapes and bruise on his face the first day, but he’d sidestepped the questions.

“What happened?”

He trembled slightly at her touch, but pulled back. “A little fight. No stress. Do you want to come up with me this time?”

“Sorry to be a wuss, but that is far too high.”

Why wouldn’t he tell her about the ‘fight’? Was it a top-secret op or something? That was intriguing. She wished he could trust her with the details.

She almost snapped her fingers as it hit her. That must be why she felt like he was hiding something. He had to keep his security jobs from everyone. That made sense and wasn’t something he could control with his line of work. She suddenly felt a lot better.

“I’ll find you a lower spot to jump,” he offered.

“Maybe in a minute. You go compete.” She wasn’t ready to take a plunge off the cliff, even at a lower spot, but could she take a plunge with Nick? If he was hiding information on dangerous jobs, that wasn’t his fault and didn’t mean she couldn’t trust him. It was something to think about for sure.

“I’m in trouble with these two.” But he grinned and scrambled over the boulders again.

The men each took turns diving or doing tricks. The most impressive was Hays doing a back flip with a twist. He was the only one who got a ten, besides Nick for flexing.

After four, or was it five rounds, Nick let the other two climb up without him. He stopped by her side, took her hand, and pulled her to her feet. He sparkled from the moisture on his skin and the sun sparkling off him.

“I found a spot about twenty feet up that would be safe for you to jump. Do you want to try it?”

Darcy’s stomach clenched. Did she want to try it? Not really. Maybe. Yes, she wanted to, especially if she was with Nick, but she was scared.

He studied her as she debated.

“I’m scared,” she admitted. “Will you hold my hand?”

“I’d be honored.”

She quivered from the depth of emotion in his deep-brown eyes. When he looked at her like that, she was certain he was genuine and could never ditch her. She was more terrified of trusting her heart to a man than she was of climbing and jumping. Could Nick keep her heart safe?

Darcy released his hand to unlace her shoes and slide out of them and her socks. She was not going to take any of her clothes off, even though she had a sports bra on underneath. The padded sports bra might slip up when she hit the water. That would be humiliating.

Straightening, she looked from Nick’s outstretched hand to his handsome face. She placed her hand in his and trusted he’d take care of her. Helping her over the boulders, Nick slowly guided her up the side of the waterfall. He told her where to put her hands or feet or helped her grab the right root or rock.

Jagger and Hays jumped from the top again and then waited at the bottom for them. When Nick assisted her to a small ledge and she looked down at the pool, her legs quivered.

“Backflip or dive?” Jagger called. “We get to judge you now.”

“Oh, please don’t. I’ll be lucky to jump and not lose my breakfast. You heard me screaming out of that airplane.”

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