Falling Free: What happens in Vegas... (The Fall Series) (16 page)

Seconds later, as if he were
going to burst he said, “We’re going to take a helicopter tour of the Grand
Canyon.”

“Parker, are you crazy?” I
screamed. “You want me to get in a helicopter? I’m terrified of heights.”

“You’ll be okay. I’ll be right
here beside you holding your hand. I promise it’ll be amazing.”

I didn’t want to ruin the joy on
his face. I relented, “Okay, okay I’ll do it for you.”

He lifted me up and spun me
around in a circle. “I’ve always wanted to do this. I’m really happy we get to do
it together.”

I squeezed Parker’s hand as we
listened to our flight instructions and were schooled briefly on the perils of
the Grand Canyon. The lesson was over quickly, and before I could think about
it we were ducking into the helicopter and putting our headsets over our ears.

We looked at each other, and
Parker squeezed my hand tighter as the helicopter lifted off the ground and
whizzed through the air higher and higher. It was different than flying in an
airplane. It was scarier, but I felt safe with him, and as the Grand Canyon
came into view I was completely mesmerized. Words couldn’t describe the vast
beauty before us. As we took in the terrain Parker put his arm around me and
said, “It’s amazing isn’t it? Just like you.”

We descended down into the canyon
and the pilot instructed us to look out to our left to see the skywalk. I was
astonished, and I looked to Parker pleading with my eyes not to be forced to
walk out on that perilous thing. It was a horseshoe-like structure jutting out
beyond the cliffs, hanging over the canyon. People were walking around it, and
I could see from a distance the floor was made of clear glass.

Parker shook his head. “We don’t
have to,” he smiled, and I was instantly relieved.

The helicopter continued to
descend until to my surprise we landed. I looked at Parker.

“Have you ever had lunch in the
desert?”

I loved seeing his face light up.
He looked so happy, so relaxed. “This will be another first,” I replied looking
into his eyes.

I knew he understood when the
corners of his mouth curled into that sexy smile. He seemed distracted, but
replied, “Good. We’ll have many more firsts as long as you’re willing.”

After we exited the helicopter
the pilot began setting out a picnic lunch for us complete with champagne. It
was early, but the heat of the desert sun was already beating down, and I was
thankful that my feet weren’t swelling in Jimmy Choos. We ate quietly taking in
the surroundings. The colors and shapes were incredible. From the corner of my
eye I spotted a lizard crawling close to our blanket and screamed. Parker burst
out laughing, and I quickly joined him. His laugh was contagious. When we
finished eating we laid back to look at the sky.

“See that cloud right there?” He
pointed. “What does it look like to you?”

“That one?” I pointed too, just
to be sure we were looking at the same one.

“Yes. It looks like a horse to
me. Like a wild mustang with its mane flowing behind it.”

I tried see a wild mustang, but
no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t see one anywhere. “No, definitely not,
it’s more like a flower. See? The
mane
is really the flower’s petals.”

“Are you serious!” he exclaimed.
“A flower? No way. It’s a wild mustang. Look at it again.”

“I’m telling you it’s a…” The
peculiar look on Parker’s face distracted me. Clearly enjoying our heated
debate over cloud shapes, he was smiling from ear to ear, but there was
something else going on, something that I couldn’t put my finger on at the
moment. He had something up his sleeve, but I had no idea what it could be.

Reluctantly, I turned my
attention back to the clouds. “I can’t believe you don’t see the petals right
there.” I pointed again. This time he didn’t answer, and when I looked at him
again he was studying the sky intently. Then out of the corner of my eye I
noticed a little black box sitting on the blanket between us. I looked at the
box then at him, suspiciously as he continued to study the clouds as if nothing
had happened.

Intrigued, I tried to get his
attention, “Parker.” He didn’t look. He was obviously enjoying the suspense. I
tried again, feeling both giddy and frustrated in the same breath. “Parker?”  When
he finally looked, I was almost bowled over by that huge sappy full-dimpled
grin that melted me from the inside out.
“It’s for you. Open it.”

Skeptical, I hesitated. He
grabbed the little box and placed it in my hand. I had to swallow the lump that
suddenly formed in my throat.
What could it be?
My heart raced as I
imagined the possibilities.
A ring? No. Not his style, but some type of jewelry
by the looks of it.

I held the box gently and
examined like its contents could change my life forever, and judging by the
hope that sparkled in Parker’s eyes it just might. My cheeks felt hot, and my
palms started to sweat. Somehow I felt like this moment was the beginning of
something more. I wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time, and I hadn’t
even looked inside yet.

Wanting to savor the moment, I
opened the box slowly to reveal a platinum heart locket attached to the end of
a dainty matching chain. I bit my lip as I opened the locket.

“Remember that day, Lo? Back when
we both believed anything was possible? I’ve looked at the picture so many
times. I never thought I could feel so happy or so sure of anything again…until
right now.  When we’re together anything’s possible”

My eyes filled with tears as I
looked at the little picture inside. I had long forgotten that day. Parker and
I had spent hours on the beach working on a sand sculpture for the annual
contest. We were so intent on winning, we refused to take a break, so my mom
brought sandwiches, snacks and water to us throughout the day. Looking back now
it seemed silly since the odds of us actually winning were slim. We were up
against professionals, but that didn’t stop us. It was the first time we
stopped competing against each other and worked together, and we ended up
taking fifth place. I could see the pride on our faces as we smiled for the
camera and secretly gave each other bunny ears at the same time in the typical
Parker and Lo style.  

I looked at Parker through blurry
eyes.

“You make me feel like anything’s
possible, Lo. I know you have to leave tomorrow, but this is just the beginning.
You know?”

“Anything’s possible,” I
whispered still looking at the locket. He leaned in, and his lips met mine. He
pushed my hair aside and trailed his fingers down my neck before securing the
necklace. Looking at him almost took my breath away. That’s when I knew the
answer to the question that was lingering since the day he showed up at The
Grand. That’s when it hit me full force. I was in love with Parker Blackwell.

It was true. Maybe I had always
loved him and was just too stubborn to admit it. I was totally and completely
head-over-heels in love with him, and it felt like someone had just knocked the
wind out of me as I remembered that twenty-four hours from now I would be far
far away.

I had no illusions. I knew all
those women from his past would be behind his door the second I was gone, and I
feared when he was all alone, the temptation might be too strong to resist.
How
could I let myself fall in love with him? How could it ever work?

My nerves were jumping. “Parker!”
I pushed him away, but my heart dropped when I saw the confused look on his
face. “I mean, not here. The pilot is right over there, and all those people on
the bridge?” I scrambled to regain my composure.

Clearly wounded, he spoke so
quietly I could barely hear him. “I’m sorry.”

I felt hollow. I didn’t pushed
him away because of the pilot, or the people above. I just panicked. Our love
felt like an invisible current. It felt safe when we were together, but once I
was gone…it scared me.

I reached for his hand during the
ride back to the airport, and he laced his fingers into mine, but we stared out
our windows in silence. Meanwhile, my mind was in overdrive going over the last
few days and the range of emotions that I felt in that short amount of time. I
almost told him I loved him. I came close more than once, but something always
stopped me. Maybe it was a sign that things just weren’t meant to be.
Maybe.

By the time we arrived back at
the suite, things felt awkward. I was relieved when Parker broke the silence.

“I was thinking we’d stay in
tonight. Take a shower with me?”

He held out his hand, and I accepted
the invitation, hopeful that we might be able to salvage the last few hours we
had left. We made our way to the bathroom. He started the water before we began
to slowly undress each other. Oddly, it wasn’t sexual, but things between us
felt more intimate than ever before.

The warm water surrounded us as
we stood together with my back to his chest and his arms cradling me from
behind. He washed my hair gently in soft circles working his way down to my
neck and shoulders. I didn’t want it to end. His hands worked their magic down
my back stopping just below my waist, and my eyes felt heavy as I waited to see
what he would do next.

“Lo,” his voice was soft. “Let’s go
to bed. I want to hold you.”

I nodded in agreement, and we
both finished washing. Parker wrapped me in a fluffy white robe and smoothed my
hair from my face. He picked me up, but not over his shoulder like before. This
time he cradled me in his arms, and when we reached his bed himself around me.

“I love you,” he whispered as
tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“I love you, too, Parker.” I felt
so content in his arms. I feel asleep wishing the morning would never come.

IN BLACK AND WHITE

Morning came quickly, and when I
woke up next to him, my heart was suddenly filled with hope. My fingers felt
the locket. The picture inside reminded me…anything’s possible.

Parker stretched his arms over
his head and yawned. “Good morning, babe.”

I wanted to wake up to that warm
sexy smile as many days as I possibly could I thought as I answered him with a
gentle kiss.

“What time is it?” he groaned.

“Not sure. Why?”

Sitting up to look at the clock
and then at me, he explained, “I have a meeting downstairs this morning. I’d
skip it if I could, but it’s about the upcoming tournament in Australia. I have
to be there. Shouldn’t take more than an hour or so, though. Then I thought we
could order in and spend our last few hours hanging out up here until…”

“Until I have to leave.”

He didn’t want to say it out
loud. “Yeah, until then.”

I climbed up to straddle him and
covered his eyelids, his cheeks, and finally his lips with soft gentle kisses.
His hands glided down my sides stopping to cup my ass and press me against his
growing arousal beneath the thin sheet between us. 

Feeling playful, I ground my
center across his length slowly and bit his neck. “Mmm…what are you trying to
tell me, Mr. Blackwell? Do you have time for a quickie?”

Without hesitation, Parker pulled
down the sheet allowing his full length to spring free. I was already wet with
need as I parted my robe and impaled myself on him, obviously taking him by
surprise.

“Damn it, Lo! Slow down or it’ll
be over before it gets started.”

“That’s why it’s called a
quickie, right?” I shot back with a mischievous grin before riding him hard and
fast until his body shook beneath me as he came in me in quick powerful bursts.
He stroked my hair as I laid on top of him, both of us trying to catch our
breath. Seconds later he was laughing.

“What?” I smiled up at him.

“You! How do you do that to me?”

“Well, a girl can’t give away all
her secrets,” I laughed.

“When I get back I want you naked
all afternoon.”

“Promise?”

“Just wait and see.”

I loved the playful sarcasm
between us. It was fun, challenging and full of sexual undertones that made my
hormones go haywire. I wished he didn’t have to leave.