I slap him on the chest, the fabric of the T-shirt so thin I can feel the sultriness of his chest against my palm. “You evil son of a … You read my horoscope, didn’t you?”
“I knew Nancy Drew would crack the case,” he laughs, catching my wrist. “But careful, Grace, you wanna be nice to me. You wouldn’t wanna piss off your bungee partner, would you?”
I snatch my hand away, feeling the phantom pressure of where he was just clutching. I know that the instructor and the other jumpers are waiting for us in the small room under the crane, but for a moment, it’s like we’re in our own self-contained universe.
“I can’t believe you still use the same website,” he banters. “I guess old habits die hard, eh?”
Not as hard as I’d like.
Slipping into the grooves of who we used to be is too dang easy. I try to remember my mission of breaking his heart, like he broke mine. But right now just being in the moment is like an invisible rope coiled lovingly around my wrists, pulling me closer to him.
“I’m surprised you even remember my birthday,” I say, narrowing my eyes at him.
“September twenty-first,” he says. “Of course I remember.”
An inexorable glow infuses my cheeks. I wish I’d put on makeup now, because one-hundred percent he can see the crimson shine spreading across my pale skin. I feel embarrassed at how glad I am that he remembers my birthday.
“I feel violated,” I say sarcastically. “Howdareyou read my horoscope like that?”
“I know.” He grins. “How dare I go on to a public website and read public information. I’m a monster.”
I shoot him what are meant to be daggers, but feel more like Cupid arrows.
This sculpted douche-lord really needs to make hating him easier. This was not part of the whole reel-him-in plan. I was supposed to be in control, but it’s impossible to deny he’s taking the reins … just like he did when we were kids.
“What’d you say, Grace?” he growls, nodding toward the safety briefing. “Are you gonna back out?”
What happened to your baby?I want to scream.What happened to Gemma?
But that would mean steering oh-so-painfully into the territory of the past. So, instead, I take a step forward and cock my head at him, one hundred percent certified spunk.
“Not on your life, playboy.”
His wolfish smile spreads wider and he waves me toward the hut, his arm brushing against me with juicy closeness. “After you.”
Crap.
Now I’ve actually gotta do this.
And he was right before.
I am scared of heights.
***
In what feels like no time at all, we’re standing at the top of the world.
That’s what it feels like as I edge toward the jumping pad, Harry’s body pressed into mine. I can feel all the ridges of his hard-worked landscape against my back, even the way his abs indent slightly, we’re pressed so fricking close.
“Have you done this before?” I whisper, voice trembling.
“Yes,” he replies, close to my ear so that I can hear him over the wind. His breath tickles my skin, wrapping ardently around my throat. I take a deep breath. “I’m a qualified instructor, Grace. You’re in safe hands.”
“What if I wanted to get down?”
“Then I’d take you down. You’re in control.Doyou want to go down?”
I bite my lip, glancing down at the earth below.
