Honoraryniece, but he didn’t need to know that.“No.You did the burning car scenes yesterday and made it out without a scratch.”
Keith grinned.“That was amazing.He’s kind of a perfectionist.”
“That he is.And those two pros are covering us, too.”
Keith glanced at the two professional skydivers talking to their left.“Okay.I’m all yours.”
Smiling, Jillian signaled Chris and gave an A-OK.
He joined them and went over the stunt sequence one last time.“The wind velocity, visibility, and cloud ceiling are perfect.The temperature is about thirty-eight degrees.”He gripped Keith’s shoulder.“Remember, your main chute and the backup are fail-safe.You have Jillian below you and two divers above you.Signal them as we practiced if you need help.The ground crew will be waiting for you at the end of the field when you land.”Turning to Jillian, he added, “You go first.Heaney jumps after LeBlanc.”
Sean Heaney patted his cameras and gave a thumbs-up signal.Sean was a renowned cinematographer who filmed free-fall stunts for movies and commercials.How he hurtled earthward at over a hundred miles-per-hour with huge cameras strapped to his head while filming stunts defied logic.The cameras were mounted on a rig attached to his helmet, and were connected to hand-mounted controls by wires running along his arms.
Chris opened the door, and a blast of freezing air filled the cabin.“Get into position, Jill,” he yelled.
Wind whipping at her clothes, Jillian put her feet out on the strut and placed her hands on the wing support bar.It was cold.Although her grip was steady, the tempo of her heartbeat shot up, her pulse quickening.
Settling into a semi-crouched position, she looked toward the ground.Eighty mile-per-hour wind pulled at her clothes.It couldn’t get better than this.
Chris signaled her.
Taking a deep breath, Jillian let go of the wing support.Gravity pulled her toward the surface of the earth as she fell away from the plane.Her descent was rapid.A blurry Keith appeared in her line of vision as he hurtled toward her.She smiled.He was doing great.
For the next several minutes, she dived then arched her back and spread out her arms and legs, until she achieved stability.She was ready when Keith made his move and reached for her.
Jillian evaded him, swooped, dived, and rolled with precise and graceful moves her gymnastics teacher would have applauded.Keith kept coming after her, the mock fight seeming so real when he grabbed the sleeve of her suit and yanked.The seam, replaced with Velcro, ripped and air rushed inside the suit.Dang!It was cold.Even the inner suit didn’t protect her from the chill.
Jillian checked her altimeter.They were approaching the altitude to pull the rip cord and release their parachutes.Sean noticed what she was doing and imitated her moves.Moving her right hand to the rip cord, she released her chute and simultaneously moved her left hand over her head.
The lines jerked her body upward.Now she could control her descent.The spectacular view, the fresh air, and the feeling of oneness with nature were like the feeling she got after an amazing orgasm.However, the rush of emotions that accompanied the jump could never be compared with sex.It was better and more intense.
As she turned, dipped, and floated toward the ground, Keith followed her moves.Their landing went smoothly.
Margo, wearing a better quality of the red jumpsuit, the sleeve ripped to match Jillian’s, walked over to join her and the ground crew.Jillian knew the drill—trade places and get off the stage.It was a total buzz kill.As usual, Margo looked right through her.
Jillian had learned not to take offense.She walked off the field without looking back.That weird sense of being watched had her looking around until she found the culprit—the gorgeous stranger on his bike.
Her stomach dipped.She probably shouldn’t welcome the zing of excitement that shot through her, but she did anyway.It had been awhile since she felt it.Too bad it was for another Hollywood hunk.
He gave a stiff bow, a smile tugging the corners of his lips.Jillian looked behind her to make sure that smile was meant for her.There was no one near her.Warmth crept up her cheeks when their eyes met again.Feeling raw and exposed, she waved, yanked open the door of the trailer, and disappeared inside.
The stunt crew’s trailer was old and pitiful compared to the main cast’s fully stocked, state-of-the-art RVs.At least, she didn’t have to share with the other stuntmen and stuntwomen.Knowing Chris had its perks, even if they were sub-par.
She removed the wig and cap, shook her wheat-colored tresses, and finger-combed them.Next off was the suit.She carefully unrolled the bandages from around her chest, until her breasts spilled free.
Oh, that feels good.
She rubbed the welts left behind.Binding her breast so she appeared flat-chested and caking her face with makeup to achieve Margo’s pout and exotic features was the worst part of doubling for the actress.Jillian’s breasts hurt, and her skin needed to breathe again.
She was removing her makeup when the powerful sound of a motorcycle starting reached her.Hewas leaving.Already?The urge to go look followed.She ditched the idea before it took root.
Glaring at her reflection in the mirror, she blew out air.What was it about that man anyway?She’d met her share of handsome men in her line of work.Dated a few.Good looks didn’t mean jack.
Oh well.Let him go.She didn’t like the feeling of not being able to control her responses.There were enough things in life she couldn’t control, so when it came to her body, she was its mistress and she liked it that way.
The sound of the bike grew faint; then other sounds from outside replaced it.She finished washing her face and applied a light moisturizer, then changed into her regular clothes.Not wanting to clog her pores again, she didn’t bother with foundation.Just mascara on her lashes, the fake ones tossed in the garbage.A colorless lip gloss finished her post-scene ritual.
A glance out the window and Jillian grimaced.No wonder she’d heard voices.It was lunchtime, and the catering crew was removing coolers of food and drinks from their van and placing them under the tent.She was skipping lunch today, thank goodness.The stars might get whatever they demanded, but the crew got the same boring sandwiches and salads.She planned to make one quick stop at her father’s before heading home.If she got lucky, she might get her sister-in-law’s homemade stew.
