Page 7

He grips the metal railing and looks over. It’s a long way down and all of that suave confidence just disappears like it already leapt off the bridge. His knuckles turn white as his grip tightens. He swallows hard, his face turning pale.

“Not so confident now, are we?” I say with a grin.

He shakes his head as he looks at me and I can’t help but laugh. I love a man who’s not only hot as hell, but cute and adorable when they’re being funny.

“Can I buy you dinner after this?” he asks in a shaky tone.

I laugh. “Are you serious? You look like you’re about to pass out.”

“I’m just trying to give you a reason to pull me back up.”

I check the safety line one last time. It’s secure.

“I’ll pull you back up regardless,” I say, stepping back and leaning on the railing with my arms crossed. “But as for dinner, let’s see.”

“See about what?”

“If you pee your pants on the way down.”

He takes a deep breath as he looks over the edge at the raging river down below. “Fair enough.”

“Whenever you’re ready, Casanova.”

He looks at me over his shoulder, gives me a cute wink, and then leaps over the edge.

“Iiiiivvvvvvvyyyyyyy,” he hollers on the way down.

I laugh as I hear my name echoing off the mountains as he plunges toward the river. The cord stretches to the limit and then springs him back up.

My heart squeezes and my arms erupt in goosebumps when I hear his deep joyful laugh ringing out.

I peek over the edge, watching him swinging and twirling until he comes to a stop. His shirt is up, revealing his flat stomach with the trail of hair leading down into his jeans. God, he’s hot.

Desire curls through me, slow and warm as he hollers again. I love that deep voice. It’s giving me goosebumps.

I wait until he’s slowed to a stop and then I hit the motorized line, pulling him back up.

A warm flutter rolls through my stomach, knowing I’m about to see him again. I know he’s going to ask me out again, and I know exactly what I’m going to say.

Absolutely.

A few minutes later, he appears upside down. I feel like a fisherman who just snagged a hot mountain man.

“And?” I ask when his red face comes into view. “Addicted yet?”

“Completely,” he says with a big handsome smile.

I can almost feel his rush of adrenaline. Everyone gets it after their first jump, but I don’t normally feel it as well.

I wait until he’s lifted over the retrieval platform and then I reach out and grab the handle attached to his harness, pulling him toward me. His eyes never leave mine as I hit the switch to rotate him, guiding him back to his feet.

“How was the view?” I ask as I unclip the safety line. “Beautiful down there?”

“Not as beautiful as up here,” he says, staring me down with those heated eyes.

A needy little pull twists low in my belly.

“Thank you for not killing me,” he says, running his hand through his hair.