The Ten-Day Baby Takeover(36)

Aiden laughed. “You okay?” he yelled, still holding her hand.

“Yeah,” she shouted. She did have to work at focusing on the freeness of the moment, rather than the fact that she and her feet were dangling hundreds of feet above the bay. She’d never willfully experienced a height like this, outside of visiting the top of the Sears Tower in Chicago and pressing her forehead against the window for a second before she clamped her eyes shut. Somehow, the tautness of the rope and the tug of the chute made it feel as though they couldn’t fall. Or perhaps it was Aiden. He did scary things all the time and he always lived to tell the tale.

Careful not to look straight down, she took in the view—high-rise hotels lining the beach, people dotting the sand and countless shades of beautiful blue composing the vista of sea. She sucked in salt air, relished the wind against her skin, and more than anything, the comfort of Aiden’s hand.

If someone had asked her a month ago if she’d ever do this, she would have said no way. Now she had to wonder why she’d never allowed herself to try. Bungee jumping was definitely not on her list, nor was BASE jumping or skydiving—basically, jumping of any kind was out of the question. But this—flying in the air with a handsome, hunky guy holding on to her? This she could do.

Aiden was such a huge part of everything she was feeling right now. He’d been so sweet in the car, giving her the pep talk that helped her step back from the proverbial ledge. Even though they were only friends, they’d grown close, and she couldn’t help but compare him to other men. Aiden, even when he made her question what she was doing, did not doubt her ability to rise to the occasion. So many men had dismissed her, especially Jason. Not Aiden. He thought of her as more. That made her see those things in herself.

She smiled. Bad memories would not dog her today. Today was full of possibility. Today was about taking risks. Aiden leaned into her, sending a zap of electricity through her. It made them pitch to one side, which made her heart race. Sarah angled toward Aiden and that became their game, back and forth, laughing, smiling at each other, shoulders touching, hand in hand. Her heart swelled with the way she felt right now—unhindered. She could do anything today.

It was hard to know how long they’d been up in the air, but all too soon the rope was pulling them back to earth. Without much trouble, their feet settled on the boat’s landing pad, while the crew rushed to bring in the sail and help them out of their harnesses. Minutes later they were at the dock and trekking back across the sand to the spot where John was waiting.

Taking her seat in the car with sandy feet, windswept hair and the blood brought to the surface of her skin, Sarah’s nervousness had been obliterated. Feeling invincible and exhilarated, she wanted to hold on to this moment forever.

Aiden handed her a cold bottle of water, which John had brought for them. “So?”

She smiled, turning away from him for a moment and watching South Beach whiz by as they headed back to the hotel. She knew the answer Aiden was waiting for. He wanted confirmation that he’d been right and she’d been wrong. Part of her didn’t want to give it to the guy who always got whatever he wanted, but he’d earned it.

She turned back. “You were right. I loved it. It was scary at first, but I loved it.”

“And how are you feeling about tonight?”

She took in a deep breath through her nose, waiting for the old nervousness to creep back in. She was on such a high that she couldn’t fathom that old negativity. She could do what she set out to do. She was going to dazzle Sylvia Hodge tonight, impress her with her gown, the photos she had ready on her phone, and prove to her that her company was worth investing in. “Honestly? I feel great. Which is scary in its own way since it’s not normally the way I feel, but definitely better than the other kind of scared.”

“A little bit of scared keeps you on your toes, but you can get rid of the rest of it. It doesn’t help you accomplish what you want.” He took a swig of his water and screwed the cap back on. That little bit of time in the sun had darkened his skin, giving it a golden glow, making him that much more touchable.

“You tan quickly.”

He removed his sunglasses and lifted his T-shirt sleeve, revealing the rounded curves of his muscular biceps. “I guess I did get some sun.” He glanced over, setting his sights on her, making her feel exposed in a wonderful way. “You did, too. Your shoulder is pink.”

Sarah turned her head. Her cover-up had slipped down and she did indeed look sunburned. “Oh, man. And I used SPF 700.”

“They make such a thing?”