Chapter 2

CHAPTER

TWO

"I'm thinking a frontside 720 out of the helo. Really grip them from the beginning, you know?"

Colton Harrison stood near the top of Grand Teton, the highest of one of the most majestic sets of mountains in the United States. Hell, the whole world. He looked around, turning slowly, taking it all in.

"You know, do the flip late, so it looks like you're about to crash headfirst straight into the mountain before the stunt even starts. We'll have both the A-camera and B-camera pointed on you at that point—do live cuts back and forth to make it more dramatic."

Colton was only vaguely listening to the head of his PR team, Tony Salaun, as the man continued to talk about how the snowboarding stunt on Sunday could be made as epic as possible.

They'd already gone over all these details before. Multiple times. With a stunt of this magnitude, they tried to prepare for every possible outcome. What Colton did for a living was dangerous—many of his stunts being life-threatening.

But he was never reckless.

Tony walked away, dictating points into his headset while jotting down more info in his paper notepad. Normally, he was surgically attached to his electronic notebook, but it was too cold up here for the computer tablet to work.

"That dude is a little intense."

Colton chuckled as his friend Thomas "Bear" Bollinger walked over to stand next to him.

"Tony and his public relations team are the best at what they do." That was why Colton had hired Tony around a year ago. The guy was young and hungry and determined to make a name for himself. Ten years ago, Colton had been in the exact same mind-set and had had the exact same hunger. So, he hadn't minded giving Tony a chance.

But yeah, the guy was intense. Wanted to make sure every shot was planned perfectly so Colton could get as much publicity mileage out of it as possible.

"You don't seem very enthused about your guy being a PR rock star."

Colton shrugged. Bear had been one of his best friends since the time they could walk. The two of them—along with Colton's twin, Tucker—had been getting into trouble together their whole lives.

Colton didn't keep secrets from Bear.

"I don't know, man. I'm just feeling a little off."

"About the stunt? Do we need to put a hold on it?"

Colton spun slowly to look at the stunning view available in three hundred and sixty degrees around him. A low fog had moved in, so they were actually above the clouds, giving the whole place a sort of surreal feel.

"No, it's not the stunt. Everything is shaping up perfect for Sunday. Weather is supposed to be clear and brisk. And I've got the best pilot in the country handling the most dangerous part."

Bear grinned. "Derek would be both stoked and mortified that you called him that."

"Regardless of whether your brother can take a compliment, it's still true." Colton pointed up to where he'd be starting the stunt on Sunday. "Hovering the helicopter near that ridge will be one of the most dangerous parts of the day. "

Bear's brother, Derek Bollinger, was an exceptionally accomplished airplane and helicopter pilot. He worked for Teton Helitack team, performing all sorts of insane maneuvers while fighting fires and rescuing lost or injured civilians.

There was no one Colton would trust more to get him to the top of this mountain, able to hold the helicopter steady so low to the ridge, while Colton jumped out on his snowboard.

"Sure," Bear chuckled. "You speeding down that mountain at Mach 1 isn't dangerous at all."

Colton cracked a grin. "Not even a little bit."

Despite the joke, Colton still felt off. Not because of this stunt. Or…not just this stunt.

He'd been feeling off for the past couple of months.

Bear cleared his throat. "Want to talk about it? Whatever it is."

Damn it. For being a mechanic, Bear Bollinger was way too damned observant.

Colton let out a huge sigh. "Well, Doctor, let me think. Really, all my problems started when I was a baby and my mother dropped me on my head. I don't think she ever really loved me. She?—"

Bear laughed and slapped him on the back, which he could hardly feel through their thick jackets. It was fucking cold up here. "All right, asshole, I get it. You don't want to talk about whatever is bugging you. Although I wouldn't be surprised if Aunt Girl had dropped you on your head on purpose."

Colton smiled at his mother's nickname like he always did. Since his parents both had the same first name, they'd been called Boy Riley and Girl Riley when they'd first gotten together. Then, once all the Linear Tactical gang had started having kids, they'd become Uncle Boy and Aunt Girl to all Colton's friends.

No matter what anyone wanted to call Girl Riley Harrison, Colton had the greatest mother in the world. The fact that she fought multiple sclerosis every day just made her more amazing.

Everyone assumed it was Colton's dad, a world-class extreme sport athlete himself, who had influenced Colton's career. But the truth was, it was watching his mother not take any day for granted that had influenced him just as much.

"I don't know, man. I'm just off," he told Bear quietly, knowing his friend was listening even though he wasn't looking. "I've felt that way for a while now."

"Yeah? What does it mean?"

Retirement .

Colton didn't want to say the word out loud, as if he was afraid speaking it into the universe might make it true or some such shit.

Because honestly, he wasn't sure how he felt about retirement.

He looked over at Tony, still jotting down notes and talking to himself at the same time. There was a whole team of people who'd have to find new jobs if Colton decided he didn't want to do stunts full time anymore. He was their business.

Plus, what perfectly healthy male retired at thirty-two years old?

"I can't seem to find the exhilaration anymore." He turned back to Bear. "I used to wake up thinking about all the things I could do, all the challenges I couldn't wait to conquer. But now, the thrill doesn't seem to be there anymore."

"Do you think it's gone permanently or temporarily?"

"Who knows?"

Tony chose that moment to turn toward them, giving them a huge grin and a thumbs-up. Colton managed a smile and waved in return.

Bear crouched down to touch a little of the snow at their feet. "Well, you've certainly got a lot of fans who are going to be disappointed if you decide to pack it in. Think of the ladies. They'd be devastated." He thumped his chest slowly. "Hell, think of your poor wingman."

Colton had to chuckle at Bear's theatrics. Yeah, they'd wingmanned for each other all over the world. Bear would come out to support a stunt or just hang out, and between the two of them, they rarely encountered a lady they couldn't convince to give one of them a chance. At this point, they practically had it down to a science .

"I think my poor wingman would do just fine on his own."

Hell, Bear Bollinger would never have a problem with the ladies whether Colton was with him or not. Colton might have some fame Bear didn't have, but Bear was 6'2" of muscle that came from real-life physical work, not hours in a gym.

The guy was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome.

Bear raised an eyebrow. "Ladies just not doing it for you anymore?"

Colton shrugged. "You know how it is… It's always fun in the moment."

"It's the after that feels like shit."

Colton shrugged again. "There doesn't seem to be any connection. And not just with women. I feel like I've got no connection with anyone or anywhere. I just bolt from place to place and pretty face."

Bear stood back up and nodded solemnly. "You should really think about getting that embroidered on a pillow. Especially since it rhymes."

Colton flipped his friend off, but he didn't take any actual offense. "I think I just want the chance to slow down. Not constantly be on the go. Connect to something."

"Why don't you come stay in Oak Creek for a while? You know I've been working on that camp for siblings of terminally ill kids coming up in a few weeks. I could use all the help I can get."

"How's that going?"

"Damned near perfectly. We're going to have our first set of campers this spring for ten days."

"Tell me more." Colton felt like shit. His schedule had been so hectic, he didn't even know much about Bear's passion project. "I don't think I'd be a good candidate for taking kids camping."

Bear chuckled. "It's not that type of camping. I mean, yeah, there will be a little bit of wilderness survival training that will include some camping, but it's more about giving these kids a chance to get out from the shadow of terminal illness."

He couldn't imagine that sort of toll. "It's an amazing idea. "

Bear shrugged. "They deserve a chance to just have fun and be kids, and I'm glad we can give it to them. I've got different people from around Oak Creek offering their unique expertise."

"Like you with mechanical stuff?"

"Yep. Then Lincoln is doing some basic computer skills. Ella is teaching cooking. Dr. Annie is doing a brief CPR class. Some of the guys are doing wilderness training."

He loved to hear the excitement in his friend's voice. "Sounds like a solid group. You know I'll help out any way I can."

"I'm sure we'll be fine. But if you need a break, whether you help out with the camp or not, Oak Creek is always an option. It is home, after all." Bear turned to him with a grin. "Plus, I know for a fact there are people who would be more than happy to show you how good life in the slower lane can be."

"Dude, are you hitting on me?"

"I'd have to get in line."

Colton's eyebrows squished together. "What does that mean? Are you talking about someone specific?"

Bear tilted his head to the side. "You really don't know?"

"Know what? I don't even know what the fuck we're talking about right now—I'm assuming it's not your teen camp. Please enlighten me."

His friend just grinned like the cat who'd eaten the canary. "Nah. You'll eventually figure it out. You always were pretty stupid."

"Don't make me pound you into the ground so that your own brother has to fly you straight to the hospital when he comes back here to pick us up in a few minutes."

Bear's grin didn't falter in the slightest. "All I'm saying is that you've got people who know you and love you in Oak Creek. Don't discount it as a possibility if you're looking for somewhere to lay low for a while."

Colton decided to let it go. Despite his easygoing manner, if Bear didn't want to share info, nobody could get it out of him.

"I would never discount Oak Creek. Like you said, it's home. So, when I get ready to pack it up in a few years, I'm sure that's where I'll be heading."

A few years. That sounded so goddamn long.

Further conversation was interrupted by the sound of the helicopter coming back in to pick them up. Without a word, Colton and Bear began making their way up to the flat horizontal ledge that would act as Derek's landing point. Tony was heading that way quickly too.

Derek made holding the helo steady look easy as they got in—a testament to his skill as a pilot.

"Everything looking the way you expected?" Derek eased the helicopter back into the air and away from the mountain. The fog was dissipating, giving them an absolutely breathtaking view of the Tetons.

"Yep, we're set. This stunt is going to be epic."

"Hell yeah, it is," Tony chimed in.

Colton was only halfway listening as his PR team leader launched into all the shots they'd plan to get. The live feed would be pretty basic, but Tony was also thinking about an edited version later that would draw in even more viewers.

And that summed it all up in a nutshell, didn't it?

More.

Always more.

Always faster . Higher . Farther .

He could hear the thrill in Tony's voice as he talked about it. Damn, Colton missed the excitement that used to permeate his mind at the thought of it all.

It seemed nowhere to be found anymore.

He glanced out the open door of the helicopter. In two days, he'd be speeding down this mountain in a way no one had ever managed to before.

The cold, the wind, the speed… It would chase out everything he was feeling now, only leaving room for the thrill .

Retirement would be nowhere near his mind then.