Chapter 9 #2
Paisley found herself growing hot. She never, ever had sexual thoughts like this. Had never met a guy who interested her in that way. Her heart never sped up. She never got tingly vibes. Yet those were the very things happening being around Sawyer Montgomery.
Maybe there was more to life than her trusted vibrator. Maybe she could explore some of these new feelings with Sawyer.
“I think we can sign the form,” he told her.
“Is that Lawyer Sawyer encouraging me to sign or Wild and Crazy Sawyer who is suggesting that?” she teased.
He gave her a very sexy smile. “Both.”
She laughed. “What if I had backed out of skydiving today?”
“I had a couple of other exciting things in my back pocket. Who knows? Maybe we’ll try them after we’ve done this.”
“I think one death defying activity a day will be enough for me, Mr. Montgomery.”
Andy returned to the office, bringing another guy with him. He introduced himself to them as Jared, and they were taken back to an area which housed the parachutes and harnesses. Andy told Paisley she would dive with him, while Sawyer and Jared would jump together.
“We’ll be the first out of the plane. I’ll tap you on the shoulder twice. That’ll be your signal that we’re ready to jump.”
“I hope I won’t balk,” she said. “I’ve never worried about flying, and I don’t have a fear of heights. This is very different, though.”
“You’re an athlete,” he said. “Someone comfortable in her own body. I believe you’ll take away a lot from this experience. I’ll signal you with taps every time something is about to change. Relax, Paisley. This is going to be fun.”
The two TIs gathered what they would need as Paisley and Sawyer put on the goggles Jared provided to them. They were snug against her face.
Then she was placed in the tandem harness, and Andy made the necessary adjustments.
“This may be a little tight, but trust me. You want it to fit that way.”
Once the parachutes were retrieved and loaded, they went to the hangar.
One of the two planes which had been inside now sat on the tarmac.
They were introduced to the pilot, who told them the altitude they would jump from.
Once they made their jumps and he returned the plane to the hangar, he would be the one to come and pick them up.
They boarded the plane, taking seats along a bench and strapping in for takeoff.
Paisley’s heart was pounding rapidly now.
Andy told them to take several deep breaths and blow them out their mouths as the plane started down the runway and took off.
That seemed to calm her. It was a little unnerving, though, to be climbing in the air with the open door nearby.
Once they began to level off, Andy motioned for her to stand. He connected Paisley to him with four different attachments, one for each shoulder and both legs.
“Last advice, Paisley. Arch your body those first few seconds as we freefall to terminal velocity. You want your belly to jut out toward the ground.”
“Roger that,” she said, sticking a thumb up.
“Let’s head to the door.”
They moved slowly toward it. She placed her hands on each side of the opening, hoping her heart wouldn’t explode.
Then Andy tapped her shoulder twice, and she braced herself.
They leaped from the plane, and she was immediately aware of the wind on her face and how loud it sounded.
This must be why Andy used taps to communicate because it would be impossible to hear anything spoken with all this noise.
Adrenaline rushed through her as he guided them so that her belly faced the ground.
A sudden calm descended over her. Sawyer had been right.
It wasn’t falling as much as floating, a sensation of being almost weightless.
She took in the landscape below them, blood rushing to her ears.
Her senses seemed more heightened than ever before. Time no longer seemed to exist.
Then she felt another tap and saw a phone in Andy’s hand. She smiled while he took a couple of selfies of them.
Paisley became aware of Sawyer and Jared now near them. She watched Andy take a couple of pictures of the pair and then saw that Jared seemed to be snapping photos of her and Andy, too. She was on sensory overload now as she rushed through the air.
Another tap on her shoulder let her know something was about to happen.
She recalled Andy saying there would be a strong jerk as the parachute opened.
That’s exactly what happened. Paisley gasped, trying to steady her breathing again as they shot backward through the air.
Then they stopped, and a gentle swaying began to rock them.
The abrupt descent now slowed considerably.
As they serenely glided in the air for several minutes, she soaked up everything happening.
The landscape was embedded in her brain.
As they approached the ground, however, a trickle of fear ran through her.
They would hit the ground soon. For a moment, all she could think about was her bum knee.
Then another tap occurred, with Andy’s palm facing up, pushing upward.
Instantly, Paisley remembered what to do and lifted her legs high in the air.
About five seconds later, they touched down so gently that she wasn’t quite sure if they had landed or not.
“Here,” Andy called, causing Paisley to set her feet on the ground.
Again, another rush of adrenaline hit her, and euphoria flooded her now that the experience was over.
Andy began unbuckling the harness holding them together, his fingers moving nimbly. Soon, they were separated, and he helped free her from the harness. She removed her goggles, glad she had worn them.
“How was it?” he asked.
“Amazing! The best thing ever!”
She glanced and saw Sawyer was also on the ground, climbing from his harness. Their gazes met. He was wearing a huge smile, making him more appealing than ever before.
“I can’t believe what a rush that was,” he said, tugging off his goggles. Then he sobered some. “How about you? Are you okay?”
Paisley beamed at him. “It was more like flying than falling. It’s hard to explain, but I felt at peace.” She paused. “I just had the time of my life—thanks to you.”
She turned to the tandem instructor. “And you, too. That was the most incredible thing I’ve ever done.”
“I told you so,” Andy replied.
“It’ll be about twenty minutes or so before we’re picked up,” Jared said. “We’ll gather the silks. You two might want to walk around and get your bearings again.”
She took a couple of steps, feeling wobbly. Then Sawyer was there, steadying her.
“Let’s do this together,” he suggested, clasping her hand in his. “Small steps at first.”
As they walked, she slowly began adjusting to being on solid ground again.
He said, “It’s like when you’ve been rollerblading. You take them off and walk a few steps. It’s an odd sensation.”
“Yes, that captures the feeling,” she agreed.
Paisley stopped walking and faced him. “I can’t thank you enough for this experience. I never would have chosen to do something like this on my own, but it’ll be something which I’ll remember forever. One of the best days of my life.”
“Good,” he said, starting to walk again, his hand still firm around hers.
While they waited for their ride back to the hangar, Andy and Jared texted the pictures which they had taken to both Sawyer and Paisley. She was glad to have the photos so that she could relive the experience.
The pilot returned in a white van to collect them, and they drove back to the airstrip. Andy thanked them for their business and gave each of them his business card.
“In case you want to recommend us to anyone,” he said. “And if you ever think about flying lessons, I hope you’ll consider taking them here.”
Jared handed them bottles of water. “Drink up. Keep hydrating the rest of the day, too.”
They said goodbye and returned to Sawyer’s sedan. He looked to her.
“Where to next, Paisley?”
“I’m ravenous. It’s as if I haven’t eaten in days.”
“Then I know just the place. It’s time you went to Burger Heaven and met Miss Caroline.”