Skydiving to Love Read online

  Too bad. He was a nice guy. Good looking, too. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so hasty. But she wasn’t interested in a relationship. Didn’t have time for one. Her days began before the sun came up and usually didn’t end until well after dark. Overnight emergencies often interrupted sleep, which meant that her rare days off were usually spent dozing. She didn’t have time for a man. Any man, much less one who lived so far away.

  She pushed her own chair up to the table and headed in the opposite direction toward the hotel and the king-sized bed she’d rented for the week.

  Her cell phone rang out with “A Wink and a Smile,” Annie Flowers’ ringtone. Perfect timing. Another of the original college quartet, Annie made a living as a wedding photographer, so she had a soft heart for love and romance.

  “How’s the first day of your vacation going?” she asked.

  “Well, I discovered flying terrifies me, found a great little outdoor café on the River Walk, and turned down a date with one of the best-looking guys I’ve seen in a long time. I guess you can say my vacation is just so-so.”

  “You get asked out your first day there, and your day’s just so-so?” She tsked. “Girl, you need to re-assess your happiness scale.”

  JoJo turned on the sidewalk leading to her hotel and shook her head. “Maybe you didn’t hear me. I am terrified of flying.”

  “Honey, if you can’t fly in a plane, how are you going to jump from one? I thought this was on your bucket list.”

  “That’s just it—it wasn’t on my bucket list.” The entry doors to the hotel swooshed open for her, and she marched straight for the elevators. “I don’t have a bucket list.”

  “You did back in college.” Annie sighed. “So, what are you going to do?”

  She punched her floor number, then flopped back against the wall and massaged her temples. “I’m going up. I mean, what choice do I have? If Kat is going to climb a mountain with her handicap, I’m going to skydive with mine.”

  “There you go. You can do this. And call me as soon as you do.”

  “Of course,” if she lived through it. She signed off, headed to her room, and collapsed on the bed. With any luck, she wouldn’t wake up.

  Chapter 3

  The orange windsock drooped from its pole at the small, community airport. That was a good sign, wasn’t it? No wind to blow her into power lines, right? Or did that apply to hot air balloons?

  Probably both.

  She parked near the door sporting a US Parachute Association seal. Only a dozen or so other vehicles occupied spaces in the concrete lot outside the building, a far cry from the international airport she’d flown to the day before. The planes near the hangars were personal jets, gliders, bi-planes, and whatever other kind of small aircraft mankind had created. Nothing she wanted to jump out of. But if Kat could chase her dream, she could jump from a plane.

  She had faced stubborn cows and high-tempered mules. She’d been stepped on, kicked, butted, bucked. She could do this.

  She popped out of her rental and headed to the door before her pep talk could wear off.

  Inside, a cute little brunette looked up from her fashion magazine. “Welcome to The Drop Zone. You signed up for classes?”

  JoJo gave her name and presented her driver’s license, then glanced around at the pictures hanging from the walls. Shots of bright canopies gliding through a clear blue sky, groups of jumpers holding hands to form a circle, goggled faces with expressions so excited, she could feel their ecstasy. Every picture presented people having a great time.

  Of course. They wouldn’t hang shots of bodies splatted on the concrete.

  “Here you are,” the receptionist said. “You’re a little late, but not too bad. I just need you to fill out these forms before you join the class, and we’ll be all set.”

  She handed JoJo a clipboard full of legal papers, including the promise not to hold the school or any of its instructors or pilots liable if the plane crashed or chute failed to open and she died on the tarmac — or something to that effect. Her hands shook as she signed the forms.

  What on God’s green earth had she been thinking? She could happily face her thirtieth birthday without having to jump from a plane, thank you very much. Couldn’t they just throw themselves a party like normal people?

  But a deal was a deal, and she’d given her word — something she never did lightly. If she said she’d do something, she’d do it.

  Stupid bucket list.

  Only one chair in the back of the orientation class remained unoccupied. JoJo slid into it. The eight attendees seemed to be in their late twenties, early thirties — around her age — but the instructor in the front hardly seemed old enough to shave.

  He nodded at her. “Welcome. We were just getting ready to watch the video, so you didn’t really miss anything.”

  The video lasted twenty minutes and included everything from putting on the harness to landing. According to the video, the first jump would be with an experienced partner. That was a relief.

  Everything looked easy, so why were her palms sweaty?

  When the video was over, the instructor rubbed his hands together. “Alrighty, then. Any questions?”

  Yes. What was the mortality rate of this sport?

  “No? Okay. Let’s suit up and get ready for the tandem jump!” He pointed to a rack of yellow jumpsuits. “Don’t forget your goggles. When you’re dressed, come on out to the tarmac. We’ll match you up with your partner and help you with your harnesses before we head over to the Twin Otter. Gonna be a great day for jumping, folks! See you outside.”

  JoJo leaned toward the young woman next to her. “Twin Otter?”

  “That’s the plane we’ll be jumping from.” She shoved her hand out. “I’m Heather.”

  “JoJo.”

  Heather had a friendly smile, obviously enhanced by a regular application of whitening strips. She’d pulled her chestnut hair into a ponytail, something JoJo should’ve done before she came. Too late now.

  They walked together to the rack of jumpsuits. JoJo flipped through, looking for something that might fit her lanky frame decently.

  “You ready for this?” she asked.

  “Oh, yeah. I’m pumped!” Heather pulled out a suit perfect for her short stature and shoved a foot through one of the leg openings. “I’ve wanted to do this forever. First my parents wouldn’t let me, then I couldn’t afford it. But it’s been a dream since I was a kid. What about you?”

  “Not quite as enthusiastic.” She picked a suit that looked to be her size. “I’m actually dreading it.”

  Heather gaped at her. “Seriously? Why would you come if you didn’t want to?”

  JoJo shrugged. “Kind of a dare.”

  “You’re a brave one, then.” Heather zipped up her suit. “I can’t imagine doing this unless I really wanted to.”

  She flipped her ponytail out from under her collar, grabbed some goggles, and offered a wave. “See you out there.”

  The others had dressed too and were heading out. Once again, JoJo would be late.

  She rammed her feet through the jumpsuit legs and wiggled the suit up over her shoulders. The goggles had adjustable straps, so she grabbed the nearest and followed, zipping up her suit as she walked. She shouldered through the glass door and fumbled with the strap on goggles that had apparently been set to fit the Jolly Green Giant.

  “I don’t believe this.”

  Mitch’s voice. She didn’t even have to look up to recognize it, but she did—just in time to see him smirking at her.

  Chapter 4

  She twisted her lips into what she hoped was a smile. “What are you doing here?”

  He pointed his thumb over his shoulder, toward the instructor. “Chad needed an extra for the tandem jump. The real question is what are you doing here?”

  “Yeah. Crazy, isn’t it?”

  “Downright insane.” He brought her a harness. “You realize you have to go in a plane, right?”

  “I was hoping I
could jump while it was grounded.”

  “Right. You paid two hundred dollars to jump seven feet?”

  She sucked her lip between her teeth. Best not to answer and risk sounding more inane than she already did.

  He shook his head and helped her with the harness, double-checking the straps to make sure they were secure. Then he gave her instructions about her harness and how it would connect to his. The concentration on his handsome face and the assurance with which he spoke and moved steadied her nerves.

  When he was done, he propped his hands on her shoulders and searched her eyes. “You sure you want to do this?”

  “Yeah, I guess,” she answered, then lifted her chin and hooked her thumbs through the shoulder straps. She would do this, and she would do it well. She could do this. If he felt confident — and he would be the one holding on to her — then she felt confident. “Yes. I’m ready.”

  “Atta girl.” He flashed a smile at her that warmed her insides. A smile of appreciation. Of admiration. For some silly reason, she wanted to live up to his new opinion of her.

  But once they’d loaded into the plane and the engines flared to life and the twin propellers began to spin, her confident hold on the shoulder straps became a death grip. Though not as loud as the jet, the thrum of the propellers chopping the air vibrated down her back and stretched her nerves until they thrummed too.

  Then the plane lifted, and her eyes slammed shut. An automatic response, apparently. She’d probably never go through a takeoff with wide-eyed eagerness.

  More likely, she’d never go through another takeoff. Not if she could help it.

  Mitch leaned against her shoulder. “It’s going to be okay. This flight is much shorter.”

  “Right. And it ends with me jumping out.” She was crazy. Flat-out crazy. Out of her mind. Certifiably insane. “Is it too late to let me off?”

  He shrugged. “Or too early. Take your pick.”

  “Ha. Ha.”

  He pried the fingers of her right hand off the strap and interlaced them with his own, rubbing his thumb soothingly over her knuckles. It helped.

  “You really will love this,” he said. “After a bit, when the wind noise is gone and it’s quiet and peaceful, and you look at the beautiful patchwork quilt of this earth God created, you’ll be happy you did this. Wouldn’t surprise me if you wanted to do it again. Everyone does. But there’s nothing like the first time. It’s invigorating and awe-inspiring all at once.”

  The engine noise had either settled out, or she’d been concentrating on Mitch’s gentle voice so hard, she’d drowned it out, but she was beginning to relax. The tightness in her shoulders loosened, her grasp on the harness strap began to ease. After a moment, she peeked at the other people on the plane.

  The two groups faced each other on benches bolted down the length of the fuselage. Each novice sat beside an experienced jumper, and from what she could tell by their laughter and chatter, she was the only one with a knot in her stomach. Fortunately, they all seemed to concentrate on their own conversations, and no one cast condescending glances her way.

  Soon, a yellow light flashed over the cockpit. Chad rose and went to the door in the side of the fuselage.

  And opened it.

  Was he crazy?

  She clamped both hands on Mitch’s arm. “What is he doing? We’ll get sucked out of here! Won’t we lose air pressure?” She scoured the ceiling with her eyes. “Where are the oxygen masks? Shouldn’t they have fallen by now?”

  “Relax. It’s okay.” He covered one of her hands with his. “We have to open the door. How do you think we’re going to dive if we can’t get out?”

  “Oh.” She released his arm and sat back. “Kind of silly of me, huh?”

  His brow went up. “Kind of?”

  The light above the cockpit changed to green, and Chad started shouting directions.

  Heather and her partner were first in line. She shot JoJo a thumbs up and a broad, encouraging smile before moving closer to the gaping space in the side of the plane.

  JoJo forced an upward lift to her lips in return, but didn’t stand to join the others. Her legs wouldn’t hold her up if she tried.

  Mitch stood and extended a hand toward her. “You ready?”

  “Um … no. I’m good for now. I’ll let a few of the others go first.”

  “Once Chad finishes the final inspection of all the harnesses, it’ll go pretty fast. May as well get up and get inspected.”

  Chad had been walking down the line, jerking on harness straps, checking their security, and now walked to where she remained glued to the seat. He shouted over the wind noise, “You ready?”

  No, she wasn’t. She’d already answered that. But she stood and let the man with the baby face jerk on her straps. Then Mitch stood behind her and connected her to his harness, and Chad checked the straps again.

  “Good to go!”

  He returned to the head of the line and stood at the door, facing everyone. He held on to the frame and leaned out to look below, then he gave a series of signals—index finger up, thumb up, and a shouted Go!

  The first pair jumped, the line moved forward.

  Chad lifted two fingers, then his thumb, then Go!

  After a few seconds’ hesitation, the second pair disappeared from view.

  Funny. JoJo had expected screams of terror. Probably couldn’t hear them over the sound of the wind whipping through the fuselage.

  The third pair jumped. Four more before her turn.

  She shifted her weight from foot to foot, then bounced on her toes.

  Mitch held her down by the shoulders. “Be still. What you do, I have to do. We’re connected, remember?”

  Soon, the next to the last pair approached the door. The couple ahead of her moved forward, but her feet remained stubbornly riveted to the floor.

  Mitch nudged her, prompting her to move, but she didn’t budge. Her body shuddered involuntarily, her teeth chattered until she clamped her jaw, but her feet refused to move.

  “You okay?”

  “No.” She leaned back to talk into his ear. “I can’t do this. I can’t.”

  He rubbed her arms. “C’mon, give it a try. I bet you face things more frightening than this every day. Angry bulls, defensive sows. This is a cakewalk.”

  “Except I won’t be walking, will I?” She’d be falling, from ten thousand feet. Only a third of what they’d been flying the day before, but still quite high enough to ensure a messy splatter when she belly-flopped to the ground.

  The final couple moved ahead, leaving a long, empty space between JoJo and the gaping hole in the fuselage.

  Chad waved them forward and shouted, “You’re up.”

  JoJo shook her head and took a step back — or tried to. She bumped into the solid rock wall of Mitch’s chest, the unyielding form to which she was strapped.

  Panic squirmed through her stomach and up her throat. The wind from the cavernous doorway couldn’t cool the heat in her cheeks, heat that kept rising despite the distinct chill she suddenly felt all the way to her bones. Her hands sweated, her toes were like ice — and her head kept shaking no. No. No!

  She twisted and jerked against the harness, against the straps holding her prisoner, and tried to free herself from Mitch.

  He grasped her arms and slipped his leg backward to brace himself and keep them both from falling over. “Whoa, honey! Hold on—”

  She fumbled with the clasps, her fingers so shaky she could barely control them. “No, no, no … “

  He reached around her and pinned her hands to her stomach, clutching her body to his. His arms felt like steel around her. She couldn’t budge him if she tried, and she couldn’t try because of his grip on her.

  She whimpered and bit her lip against the tears threatening to fall. If she wasn’t so terrified, she’d be furious — but one emotion at a time. First things first, and terror came first. She tried to scream, but nothing came out.

  He squeezed her. “Can you hear me
, baby? It’s okay. Do you hear me? You don’t have to jump. Okay? You don’t have to jump.”

  “I-I don’t?”

  “No. You don’t. We’re going to land soon.”

  If he hadn’t been holding her, she would’ve melted to the floor in a puddle of relief.

  For the first time, she realized Chad was standing in front of her, his strong hands on her biceps, deep concern in his hazel eyes. How had she not seen him there?

  And another question—had it really taken two of them to hold her?

  Chapter 5

  She offered Chad a smile and a nod. “I’m okay now. I’m so sorry.” She tried to twist around to extend her apology to Mitch. He relaxed his grip on her and stepped back.

  They were no longer connected. That realization alone brought breath back to her lungs, but her legs felt wobbly and uncertain. She stumbled to the nearest bench and plopped down.

  Chad sat beside her, and Mitch knelt in front of her, taking her hands. “That’s one whopper of a phobia you have there, kiddo.”

  “Yeah, well, I didn’t realize just how bad it was until I flew here. Back home, I’m never higher than horseback.”

  “We’ll be landing soon,” Chad said. “Glad you’re all right. Don’t sweat the jump. You’re not the first who couldn’t bring themselves to do it. It’s a scary thing to a novice.”

  He patted her shoulder one more time, then headed for the cockpit.

  “He’s right,” Mitch said. He lifted up and swiveled into the space on the bench Chad had vacated. “No shame in it. It’s no big deal.”

  Then why did she feel like such a failure?

  She’d given her word. Despite the fact she never should have spouted “skydiving” as top on her bucket list, she had given her word to the girls that she’d do it.

  And she failed. She couldn’t even say she’d tried. She’d just stood at the back of the plane in a quivering panic. How could she tell them? She couldn’t try again some other time — her bank account was too low for her to frivolously slap down another two hundred dollars.

  The plane landed, but she couldn’t convince herself to get up. How could she face Heather and the others? What kind of looks would a coward get — sneers or pity? Would they regard her at all?