Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

Nick waitedoutside Darcy's door for half a minute. He brushed his hair away from his forehead. He hadn't really admitted to anything but wanting to hot tub with her, but somehow Darcy had seen right through him and knew how deeply invested he was in her already.

He groaned. He couldn't pursue a target's ex-wife. It could cause huge issues with the op, but more importantly, it could hurt Darcy. He didn't know the extent of her knowledge of her ex-husband's illegal activities, but he couldn't believe that she was an accomplice. She was probably a victim, threatened by Johnny Trattori to stay quiet.

How could he protect her and be there for her? He couldn't. He could assign other ops to protect her like Aiden had done for Chalisa, but Nick couldn't be there for Darcy, or be with her.

This stunk.

"No!" she suddenly yelled on the other side of the door. He straightened. No to him? Hadn't she already said no?

Her refusal was for the best. He wasn't in any position to pursue her. It still hurt.

Her footsteps retreated. Nick slowly walked through the hall, up the stairs, and prepared to eat crow for dinner.

Jagger and Hays didn't disappoint.

When he walked into the dining room alone, Jagger said, "Crash and burn, bro?"

"Unfortunately," he admitted.

Hays's eyes lit up, and Nick realized he shouldn't have admitted to anything.

"She's tired. We'll see her in the morning." He poked out his chest, forcing a bravado he didn't feel. "And I'll get a kiss before we jump out of the plane and after I beat you to her and we float down to the ground."

Darcy had been smart to refuse him. If she ever found out everything he was hiding from her, she'd hate him. It was better to keep some distance. No matter how it stunk. He hadn't chosen to get matched with Johnny Trattori's gorgeous and seemingly innocent ex for this show, but now he had to keep his head on straight.

"Um-hmm." Jagger twirled a bite of pasta on his fork and jabbed it at him. "You've got it bad. What's her hold up?"

"Heck if I know." Nick brushed his hair back and yanked the closest food container toward him, revealing lasagna. "How's dinner? Italian night?"

"Yes, sir. Delicious. Mexican for lunch and Italian for dinner. I could get used to this," Hays said.

Jagger and Hays seemed to sense he wasn't in a good place.

"Tell me more about your boss, Aiden. What is he really planning with all this ‘take over Sutton Smith's top spot' stuff?" Hays asked.

Nick was grateful Hays had asked. As he talked about Aiden and how smart, hard-working, and talented his boss was, the memory of the sweet beauty Chalisa Anderson in Aiden's arms came to mind. Would that lady change Aiden's future? He doubted Aiden would ever let down his guard and fall in love.

Would Nick?

He went to bed early and woke early, grateful there was a fitness facility on board. He found Jagger and Hays in there and they had a good workout. He didn't push himself hard enough to get sore. It wasn't worth messing up on any of the events, especially the sparring match on day four.

Breakfast was good. Jagger taunted Nick, Hays was kind and patient, and Darcy looked sweet and irresistible. He groaned inside. This week should be a great break from work and nothing more. Instead, he felt like he was ‘working' more than ever trying to tamp down his attraction to Darcy, hoping she would reveal something that would help the case against Johnny Trattori, at the same time hoping she wouldn't because he wanted her to be as innocent and perfect as she seemed.

How could he get answers to his questions without betraying her trust?

He didn't know that he could.

The ship slowed to a stop and Captain Hendry directed them to the top deck. They were each given a head cam and loaded up in the helicopter. The captain lifted off, and they flew over the ocean and high above a beautiful island. The captain was now playing host and helicopter pilot.

"We're at twenty-two thousand feet," Captain Hendry said through the headsets, calmly hovering with the helicopter. "Miss Saint's chute will need to be deployed before two-thousand feet. The two of you will have almost two minutes to fight it out and reach her."

Jagger tilted up his chin.

Nick looked at Darcy. Her face was pale. He pushed aside all the issues between them, undid his seatbelt, and dropped to his knees next to her. Taking her hands in his, he rubbed her cold fingers gently. "You all right?" he asked.

She shook her head.

Nick felt all the feels with her. He wanted to protect her, strengthen her, love her. Why did this perfect-for-him woman have to be associated with that filth Johnny Trattori?

"You've got this," he told her, smiling gently as he continued to rub some warmth back into her fingers. "Hays will stay right with you, get you out the door and into the air. He'll keep you safe until I can get to you. Then we'll pull our chutes and just glide down nice and easy. It's a beautiful sensation and an incredible view." He winked at her as if neither of them had a care in the world.

"Okay," she managed.

He started to release her hands and straighten. She clasped onto him. "Will you pray like you did yesterday?"

"Of course." He was happy to pray. He wished he could kiss her like he did yesterday, but despite bragging to Jagger and Hays last night, he couldn't react impulsively like that again. He held her hands and bowed his head. The rotors were loud, but there was radio silence on the headset.

"Thank you Father above for Your light and love. Thank you for Darcy and her bravery and willingness to do hard things to help the babies and children in her care. Please bless her little ones while she is away. Please bless Darcy as she jumps out of the airplane. Help her to feel calm and happy and love the experience. Please bless I can reach her quickly. Bless all of us with safety and with Your love and joy. In Jesus's name. Amen."

"Amen," everyone echoed. Well, everyone except Jagger, but he didn't even taunt this time.

They all took their headsets off. Darcy put her hair in a ponytail and readjusted her head cam. Nick helped her get her parachute on, checking the straps and reassuring her that all was safe with a smile and a thumbs up. Then he shrugged into his own chute. Hays and Jagger were already ready to jump.

Hays took Darcy's elbow and led her over to the door. She looked back at Nick. Was there longing in her eyes or just fear? He hoped his smile reassured her.

Jagger opened the helicopter door. There was a rush of wind, but nothing like a plane door opening at this altitude. Captain Hendry was holding the bird steady. Multi-talented guy. Great pilot and yacht captain.

Hays stood behind Darcy and wrapped his arms tight around her midsection. She clung to his arms with her hands. Nick appreciated Hays jumping in tandem with her, even if they weren't tied together. It would help steady her.

As a SEAL, Hays would be an expert at skydiving and know exactly how to maneuver with Darcy and keep her safe. Nick had heard their teams sometimes jumped as high as forty-five thousand feet. That was nuts.

He prayed he could win today. He'd done his share of skydiving with the Marines, but nothing like a SEAL would do. Jagger had an advantage, but he'd had an advantage yesterday and Nick had won. God would help him win for Darcy and her babies.

Hays counted down loud enough he could hear it over the rotors. He stepped forward, gently lifting Darcy off her feet, and then they were gone.

Darcy's scream was louder than the rotors.

Ah, no.

He and Jagger both hurried to the door, each bracing a hand on the opposite side. Hays had stabilized himself and Darcy and they were soaring down. Even as they watched, Hays moved to the side until he was only holding Darcy by the arm, both of their arms and legs splayed naturally. The position would also slow them so Nick and Jagger had a chance to catch them.

And she was still screaming.

"Five," Captain Hendry hollered. "Four …"

Jagger extended a fist.

"Three …"

Nick bumped it.

"Two …"

"One!"

They both dove out of the plane. Nick angled his body straight at Darcy. Jagger couldn't get there first. But even as he thought that, Jagger pulled ahead.

He could hear Darcy's screams being carried by the wind draft, and it tore at him. He prayed and tried to focus, streamline his body, and dive quicker.

Please, a wind draft, some help. Not for my pride, but for Darcy and the children. Help me get to her.

If he reached her, he could also reassure her better than Jagger could. There was something special between them, even if he shouldn't act on it and she had turned him away last night.

Jagger was just in front of him, and he was closing in on Darcy. The ground was rushing up faster. Would they be able to catch her and pull the chute in time? Hays had an altimeter and would know when to pull her chute if they didn't get there.

Nick couldn't let Jagger win. Darcy winning the money for her children was too important to him, and okay, his own pride was on the line as well. He was Captain Aiden Porter's top man. He had to represent.

They were feet from Darcy when Nick knew he had to play a little dirty. All's fair in war. Jagger had said that. He reached out and grabbed Jagger's foot, yanking him the other direction. Jagger hollered.

Nick slammed into Darcy, wrapping his hands tight around her arm. She cried out in pain.

"I've got you!" he yelled, clinging to her arm. He tried to maneuver her around in front of him. The ground was only twenty-five hundred feet away now. They needed to pull her chute, but she'd be ripped from him if he didn't secure her.

"Pull it," Hays called to them.

"Pull it," Jagger yelled.

"Darcy!" Nick commanded. "Turn toward me and hold on." He tugged at her, and she wrapped one leg around the back of his thigh and clung to his waist. "Hold on!" He grabbed her cord and yanked it.

The parachute blasted out above them, and they jerked. Darcy screamed out as her grip around his waist slipped. Nick held tightly to her arm. He wrapped his other arm around her lower back and held her snug against his body. Her body trembled against him, but he had her. He'd caught her and he'd beaten Jagger.

From the corner of Nick's eye, he saw Hays's and Jagger's chutes deploy.

The peaceful silence that always came after traveling at terminal velocity was even more pronounced as they clung to each other, and he had everything in his arms he'd ever need. He savored the moment. Soon enough, he'd have to let her go.

The sand approached fast. He could've pulled his own chute earlier, released her, and let her float down on her own. He didn't want to let her go, and he was strong enough to hold her and make it a good landing.

"Hold on tight to me," he called to her.

Darcy obeyed, clinging to his neck with her arms. Both of her legs were now wrapped tightly around his lower back. Nick grabbed the chute handles and directed their descent toward the beach. Jagger and Hays were to his right.

Hays and Jagger landed easily, unlatching and slipping their chute packs off and dropping them.

Nick landed, taking a few easy steps, the sand softening the impact. Her chute floated down behind them. He stood in the sand with Darcy clinging to him like a monkey. It felt exactly right to hold her and have her wrapped around him as if he were her lifeline, her safety net, her love.

She trembled and buried her face in his neck. Nick cradled her close. He'd never forget this moment.

"Is she all right?" Hays asked, concern evident in his voice.

Nick tilted her chin up so he could look into her eyes. "You okay?"

"I … I think I am."

He smiled. "Of course you are. So brave."

She studied him, then she released her legs from around his back and slid to her feet, releasing her hold on his neck. She wobbled, and Nick was glad he hadn't released her completely. He felt a letdown at her not being wrapped around him.

"Take it slow," Hays cautioned, coming to her other side and supporting her with his hand.

"Thanks." She nodded to Hays and then to Nick. "Thank you both. We did it. We beat Jagger again."

Nick had high hopes she'd give him an impulsive kiss, but there was no indication of that.

"Ah, come on," Jagger groaned. "Don't rub it in."

Darcy laughed. It was only a little shaky. "You don't know how to lose. We're helping you with that."

"Don't hold your breath," Jagger shot back. "I don't like to learn new things."

Nick smiled as Darcy laughed again, steadier this time. It was good she could tease with Jagger.

"Did you hate skydiving?" Hays asked.

She paused and then shook her head. "It was scary, but thrilling too." She cast a quick glance at Nick. "I'd do it again if I could go tandem with Nick."

His smile grew to a grin. "I like that plan."

Could they plan something for after this week? He had no idea how, but a plan with Darcy sounded heavenly to him. He'd never focused on a long-term relationship with his busy life and career. Now he longed for one with the ex-wife of a target. A bad idea all the way around. Maybe when they finally apprehended Trattori. His stomach soured. That could take years.

Hays helped her out of her parachute as Nick shrugged out of his.

"Our instructions are to hike along the stream to a waterfall," Jagger said. "Then I guess we just relax on the yacht for the rest of the day." He pulled a face.

"Have you ever relaxed?" Darcy teased the SEAL.

"No way," Hays answered for him. "Jagger hates downtime."

"You could take a long nap when we get back to the boat," Darcy suggested. "We could all play card games, you could each share your life stories with me, and we could all soak in the hot tub and watch the sunset."

Jagger rolled his eyes. "Let's hope it's a really long hike and a very interesting waterfall."

They all laughed.

Nick wanted to soak in the hot tub alone with her. He found it intriguing she wanted them to share their life stories but didn't offer to return the favor. Red flag for certain, but she was most likely just teasing Jagger.

The problem was he kept overlooking all the red flags. It was easy to focus on the mission when the mission was to protect and help and win for this ideal woman. What red flags? Only a vicious, drug-dealing ex-husband, the top of Nick's current special project list, and the worry Darcy knew about Trattori's illegal activities and could be prosecuted herself.

Nick would hide her on a remote island before he'd let anyone prosecute her. He'd protect her with his own life if Trattori tried to come after her.

He was in way too deep. What a mess.