was different; it had nothing to do with skills or accomplishment. It was simple and instant attraction. Travis Cain was a handsome guy and she was in Vegas. It was a moment when she felt that anything was possible.
“You’re going to do great, Christine,” Travis called out to her as she walked to the platform. “You’ll be fine.”
“I don’t want to be fine,” she said over her shoulder. “I want to shake things up.”
Christine stood on the platform and stared out at the Strip. She tasted the fear as she started trembling. She barely heard the man behind her giving tips as he strapped her onto the wires.
“Ready?” the man asked.
She shook her head. Christine stared at the small blue X on the ground, where she was supposed to land. She knew this was a controlled fall, that the wires would keep her on target with where she needed to land, but the ground was so far away.
“You don’t have to jump,” the man explained. “All you have to do is let go.”
He said it as if it was no big deal. That it was perfectly normal to let go of something solid and safe so she could fall to the ground. She took a big breath.
“Don’t think about it,” the man said. “That will only make it more difficult.”
That was her problem in a nutshell. She thought too much. She considered every possibility, every outcome. It didn’t take long before she was frozen with indecision and did nothing.
She didn’t want to be like that anymore. “I’m ready.” Her voice shook.
“Put your toes on the edge. Good. Three...two...one...”
Christine closed her eyes, let go and screamed all the way down.
* * *
TRAVIS PACED ON the ground floor as he waited for Christine to change out of her flight suit. He glanced out the window and saw Pitts and Underwood on the sidewalk. They were at a discreet distance as they watched the other sky jumpers.
His instincts told him that they suspected he had the emerald. The stone in his jacket suddenly felt large and heavy. He refused to check his breast pocket. He knew the jewel was deep green and uncut. It was also safely tucked away in a tiny, sealed plastic bag. He didn’t know much about gems, but he knew this small emerald was worth a lot of money.
When Aaron first suggested he carry it around in his pocket, Travis thought it was a crazy plan. But it also made sense. Keep the emerald moving with very little fanfare and there was little chance of it getting stolen by Hoffmann. Aaron only needed to show it to an appraiser before the poker game. Once the game was over, Aaron would return home and lock it back up in a safe.
But there was a glitch neither he nor Aaron had considered. Someone had figured out that he had the emerald. Why else would these guys be following him? Travis thought he had lost them when he had taken a bright yellow cab down the traffic-choked street with Christine before they got out and walked the rest of the way. Pitts and Underwood were better than he had expected.
He needed to shake them off before they decided to pounce. He would never forgive himself if Christine got hurt or if he lost the emerald.
“Travis? Is everything okay?”
Travis turned at the sound of Christine’s voice. He paused, his chest tightening as he watched her approach. Something had changed about her. She still wore the short blue dress and impractical heels, and her soft brown hair was windblown, but there was no significant alteration in her appearance.
Yet she now walked with a purposeful stride. Her shoulders were back, her head held high as if she was ready to take on the next challenge. A fire had been lit inside her. It was fragile and small. He wanted to see it flare wildly.
“You should be proud of yourself,” he said. He knew she had to dig deep and find the courage to take the plunge.
“I am,” she admitted with a wide smile. “But my heart is still racing. I don’t think my legs have stopped shaking. I thought I was going to throw up after I landed, but that was a false alarm. And my throat hurts.”
Travis smiled at how she spoke in quick bursts. He didn’t think she was going to be quiet and reserved anymore. The shy Christine had caught his attention, but this side of her was capturing his imagination. “Yeah, you screamed all the way down.”
“You would, too.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “I can’t stop smiling.”
He reached for her wrist and pulled her hand away. “Why hide it?”
“Right. Exactly. Why hide it? I just feel strange. Different. Powerful.” She gave a husky chuckle. “I’m not making sense, am I?”
“You’re making perfect sense,” he assured her as he guided her back onto the crowded sidewalk. He knew Christine was still enjoying the excitement of her jump. Her senses were heightened. This was the time when she would be bolder because she felt stronger.
Christine slid her arm through his and held him close. “Everything is so loud. Colorful. I feel like Alice in Wonderland.”
Travis looked down at her in surprise. The way she spoke it sounded as if she’d never had an adrenaline rush. How was that possible? People got a high from speeding, having sex and facing their fears. What had she been doing all her life?
He held her arm tighter and led her along the sidewalk. He felt very protective of Christine. She stared at the Las Vegas lights as if everything was becoming brighter. Clearer. Her smile widened. He knew he wanted to see that smile all night long.
“Where to next?” he asked.
She stumbled in her platform heels. “Oh, I shouldn’t decide.”
“Why not? I’m your guide.” He found it curious that she was reluctant to try something more when she seemed so excited about her jump. This was the time when most people would set a bigger challenge for themselves.
“You’re supposed to be showing me your Las Vegas,” she reminded him, her shoulder and hip bumping against him as they strolled down the sidewalk. “Where should we go next?”
He looked around the street, searching for Pitts and Underwood. Dread curled around his abdomen when he couldn’t spot them. They could be anywhere. Travis noticed an exotic car idling in the traffic jam and his mind grabbed on to an idea. “Have you ever driven a Ferrari?”
Christine laughed. “I haven’t even seen one up close. Why? Do you have one?”
“No, but I know where to borrow one.”
She tilted her head and looked at him with narrowed eyes. “When you mean borrow...”
“Don’t worry, Christine. I won’t let you get arrested,” he promised. “Not on your first night in Vegas.”
“THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!” Christine said as they strolled along the sidewalk next to the Bellagio. The night air was cool, but Christine didn’t seem to notice as she
