Page 20 of Hero's Prize

He looked over at his friend. “Anybody ever tell you you’re pretty fucking smart?”

Bear blew a kiss at him. “Every damn day.”

Colton actually had already talked to Derek twice this morning and knew about the weather conditions. Yes, he was upset about what had happened with Ella, but he wasn’t so far up his own ass that he was willing to risk his life over it. He was still taking the stunt seriously. And it was now time to give it his undivided attention.

Disappointment that the first woman he’d felt a real connection with in a long time didn’t feel the same would have to wait. No more thoughts about her soft curves or those sexy-as-fuck sighs she’d made.

Now was time for the stunt only.

The weather was perfect. All equipment had already been double-checked. The team was ready and itching to get going.

All that was left to do now was to go out there and do what Colton Harrison did best:

Cheat death.

CHAPTER

EIGHT

“ETA ninety seconds.”

Derek’s voice filled Colton’s head through the comms unit inside his snowboarding helmet. He gave a brisk nod to the primary cameraman who would be shooting footage from inside the helicopter as Colton jumped. The other footage would be made up from the two cameras strapped to Colton’s body and various other camera crews strategically stationed down the mountain.

“You good, Colt?” Tony asked. He wasn’t with them in the helicopter, but only because he hadn’t figured out how to clone himself. He desperately wanted to be here but was needed in control central to be able to live edit the footage coming through.

“I’m ready.”

And he was. His mind was clear and focused. The talk with Bear had helped, then an even bigger source of support had shown up: his dad.

His parents came to a lot of his stunts, but he’d expected them to stay in Oak Creek this time, visiting their friends. When he’d gotten to the resort’s helo pad and found his dad there, he had felt nothing short of immense relief.

If there was anyone in the world who understood what wasgoing through Colton’s mind right now, it was Riley Harrison, a former extreme sport athlete himself.

“I checked with Derek about payload, and he said we were within acceptable limits with me on board, but I’m good either way,” Riley had said after hugging Colton. “Just wanted to be here for support and deliver the hug your mother sent.”

Colton had immediately dragged his dad onto the helicopter. As long as it didn’t put them over the weight limit—hell, even if he’d had to get rid of some of his crew or gear, he would’ve done it to have Riley on board with him.

He looked at his father now and found him staring back, doing a last-minute mental safety check all the way down Colton’s body for any noticeable concerns.

“I’m ready, Dad.”

Riley cracked a smile. “Never crossed my mind that you weren’t.”

“Thirty seconds,” Derek said. “Everybody prep.”

“Roger that.” Colton buckled his boots into the snowboard and tightened the strap of his helmet. He knew it would only be a second before?—

Yep, his dad reached over, gave the strap another tug before placing a hand on either side of Colton’s head and shaking them to make sure the helmet was situated as snugly as possible.

Riley had been doing that since he’d put Colton’s first helmet on him when he was two and taught him how to do a wheelie on a skateboard.

Colton put his gloved hands over Riley’s. “Thanks, Dad.”

Riley winked then thumped the top of his helmet—also a tradition. “Glad to be here. I’ll have the best vantage point.”

Once Colton was on his way down the mountain, the helicopter would be catching some of the most amazing aerial shots.

“I’m in place, Derek.”

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