Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“No worries, pretty sure that informing next of kin of death due to neck breaking is part of the package I bought.”
“You’re a smart-ass.”
“Oh, um, sorry.” She bit her lip.
“Didn’t say you had to be sorry. I’ll be waiting here.” This was directed at Corbin.
Bebe turned to see the other man nod. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she doesn’t break her neck.” Reaching out, Corbin again placed his hand on the small of her back.
She shivered.
She might like that a bit too much.
But he suddenly snatched his hand back as though he’d just realized what he’d done. “Sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” she asked.
“I shouldn’t touch you without your permission.”
Bebe stared up at his tight jaw. “What if I was in danger? Would you touch me then?”
“Of course. That’s different. You’re not in immediate danger right now, though.”
And what if I told you that I liked you touching me?
Yeah, best she didn’t do that.
“Don’t worry, I think it’s the instructor’s job to make sure I don’t break my neck,” she said lightly as they entered the building.
“It’s my job to keep you alive. No matter what.”
Damn.
He said it like it was a vow.
“I bet you say that to all your clients,” she said with a wink. Then she wished she hadn’t.
Because he likely did say something like that to his clients. And she didn’t like the idea of that. She wanted to be special.
Damn it, Bebe.
Stop being an idiot.
“Actually, I’m not often out in the field. The last time I was, it didn’t . . . well, it didn’t go well. The woman I was guarding became . . . actually, that doesn’t matter. I know what I’m doing and I’m going to keep you safe.”
Was he trying to convince her or himself?
Curiosity bit at her. Pushing her to ask him.
No. Nope.
None of her business.
She just hoped his last client hadn’t died. Because that would be bad.
Why had he brought up the last time he’d been on assignment? Idiot.
Now she was going to think that he didn’t know what he was doing.
And he could admit to himself that he wanted to impress her. There was something so vibrant about her. She practically radiated life.
Although there were a couple of times where he’d seen something darker in her gaze.
Was that what her parents were worried about?
Were they concerned that all that energy, the smile, the mischief in her gaze, was hiding something darker? Something dangerous to her health?
You’ve known her for a few hours. You can’t make any judgment.
No, all he could do was keep watch over her.
They were now on the plane. Luckily, they had space for him due to a cancellation.
He wasn’t worried about the sky jump. He’d done them before on his own plenty of times. But he was a bit concerned about her.
Bluebelle looked slightly pale as her instructor positioned her in the open doorway. Did she know she could still say no? That she could back out if she needed to? He wanted to tell her that, but it was too noisy. He waited for her to look back at him, urged her to.
But then they were gone. His heart actually leaped into his throat. Stupid, he knew.
She was safe. She wasn’t plummeting to her death. And her ridiculously cheerful instructor better fucking make sure that she made it onto the ground without a goddamn scratch.
Or Corbin was going to murder him.
Slowly. Painfully.
It was his turn, yet he barely noticed anything as his instructor pushed them out of the plane. He did what was needed robotically with no real enjoyment. He didn’t take in the scenery or revel in the feeling of flying.
Nope. He was too busy scanning the skies to make sure she was safe.
He thought that was her parachute over to the right, far below them. He was wearing goggles over his glasses so he could still see as they plummeted toward the earth.
Finally, they glided down to the ground. He lifted his legs for the landing, letting the instructor and catcher do their jobs. Once he was on the ground and freed, he rushed over to where he could see Bluebelle sitting on the ground, sipping some water.
“What’s wrong? What’s going on?” he asked urgently. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, of course,” she said brightly. But it sounded forced.
“Bluebelle,” he said warningly.
She winced. “Please call me Bebe. Bluebelle is . . . well, a bit much.”
“Your girl just got a bit of a queasy stomach,” her instructor said, coming over to squat next to her. “How are you feeling?”
Corbin didn’t correct the other man’s assumption that she was his. But if she were his, then this dipshit would have no right to sit so close to her.
Okay, ease back.
“I’m all good now.” She attempted to stand but wobbled and put her hand over her stomach.
“Okay, you’re definitely not all good,” Corbin said as he quickly wrapped an arm around her and guided her back down. “You need to stay sitting and sip your water.”