Page 3 of Impossible Thrills

What on earth? She’d held hands with Johnny thousands of times. Maybe initially it had been exciting, but for the most part she’d always felt … a hand. This handholding was more than just newness or excitement. It was a bonding and warmth that she had lacked her entire life.

“I am honored to meet you,” Nick said, his deep voice and the interest in his dark eyes a communication all their own. “Mercedes shared your charity’s vision and accomplishments on the ride over here. I am in awe of what you’ve accomplished and grateful for your charitable heart.”

He seemed to mean his words. Deeply. And he still hadn’t released her hand. The more worrisome part was that she didn’t want him to release her hand—or to stop looking at her like that. She forgot anyone else in the world existed as they stared into each other’s eyes. He was the most incredible man she had ever met in her life.

And she had gone through a horrific divorce and promised herself to never fall for a handsome, charming man again.

She couldn’t keep letting down her guard with him. She yanked her hand away, turned to Mercedes and Bridger Hawk, and gushed, “You’re Bridger Hawk. You and Avalyn Shaman are my inspiration and heroes.”

Bridger laughed easily at that as Mercedes looked from Darcy to Nick and back again. Her blue gaze was far too perceptive. Did she know how deeply that touch of the hands and meeting of the eyes had affected Darcy? Nick had saved her. That was the reason his touch had affected her so deeply.

“Thank you.” Bridger was a thirty-something man with a handsome face and arresting blue eyes. “Avalyn would’ve loved to meet you, but she’s thirty-nine weeks with our second baby, and traveling anywhere but the hospital isn’t an option.”

“I understand.” Of course Darcy knew that. She followed them both and their organization Health for All on social media. “Please tell her she’s my idol.”

“I will.” He dipped his chin.

“Okay!” Mercedes cried out, clasping her hands together. “Who’s ready to hear why my dear friend Bridger Hawk is gracing us with his presence?”

Bridger smirked at that. Darcy didn’t let herself look at Nick, but she could feel him close by her side. His arm brushed hers, and heat and attraction and that sense of rightness filled her.

Darcy raised a hand and inched away from Nick. “Me, please. Well … maybe. Please say I’m not going on an extreme adventure like you do on social media.”

Bridger and Nick both chuckled at that.

“Hey,” Bridger protested, raising his hands. “I’ve calmed down since I became a husband and dad.”

“Your stunts are calm?” Nick whistled. “You’re the most impressive daredevil I’ve ever seen.”

Darcy let her eyes dart to Nick. She’d categorized him as a charming flirt like Johnny, but Johnny would never have complimented another man unless he wanted a business deal with him.

She shouldn’t have looked at him. He was breathtaking. They needed to get through introductions and into dry clothes. She couldn’t keep gaping at Nick all handsome and clingy-clothed like he was. She pushed her heavy, damp hair away from her face. Mercedes had said she was a mess and Mercedes was one of those full of sunshine people. Darcy must look a fright. How awkward. She prayed, straightened her shoulders, and remembered she was here for her little ones, so she didn’t have to find them unsuitable homes when they aged out of the space she had to offer currently or turn away new babies and toddlers who needed a safe home.

“Well, thank you.” Bridger had a devilish glint in his eyes. “I hope you’re both fans of extreme sports adventures, because this week you’ll get the chance to have several of your own.”

Darcy’s heart raced out of control, and this time it had nothing to do with the hunky hero standing next to her. “I’m actually not that fabulous at sports,” she admitted. She couldn’t even swim, for heaven’s sake.

“No worries,” Bridger said. “Most of the sports expertise is going to be required of Nick, and we all know this tough and talented guy can handle it.”

“What’s a challenge and where do I find it?” Nick quoted Bridger’s famous line.

Bridger threw back his head and laughed. Even Shawn smiled. “I love that attitude and I think you will love this week’s challenge.” He paused for effect. “Darcy and Nick. You are going to replicate the adventures—or maybe nightmares is a more accurate term—Avalyn and I experienced seven years ago. You may remember the highly publicized death-defying stunts I performed to rescue Avalyn from my insane but well-meaning friend Ramsey?”

“Pardon me?” Darcy couldn’t even concentrate on one of her personal heroes standing in front of her, or the ultra-handsome Nick Jacobs. She felt cold chills wash over her, made worse by the wet clothing. Even the warm humidity couldn’t override the fear tightening her throat. She had seen those insane challenges when the dying and crazy Ramsey had made the classy and revered Avalyn Shaman into a prize to be won. Ramsey and Bridger had to compete to rescue her each day. Darcy had thought the entire thing was horrifying, but admittedly terribly romantic as Bridger saved her and they fell in love.

“Avalyn agreed to this?” she asked.

“‘Only a friend as dear to me as Mercedes could talk me into using that unsettling experience for a television show. Thank heavens it’s for a brilliant cause,’” Bridger said in a higher-pitched voice. “That’s a direct quote.”

“Ah.” Mercedes made a heart with her hands. “Avalyn’s an angel.”

“She is.” Bridger looked at Darcy. “Truly, that week was a nightmare in a lot of ways for both of us.”

Darcy could see in his eyes that the stress over potentially losing Avalyn to death or to Ramsey had taken a toll on the devil-may-care athlete and former playboy. If only Johnny would’ve been a former playboy, not an un-loyal and too-wealthy philanderer.

“But Ramsey was right that we never would’ve gotten Avalyn to admit how much she loved me without such an extreme ploy.”

It was touching that the experienced and well-known man would share personal details with her, with all of them. The camera and show’s producers would love it.

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