Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 85(@200wpm)___ 68(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 85(@200wpm)___ 68(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
Right before I drift off to sleep, I think…
It’s going to be really hard to sneak out of here and go bungee jumping in the morning.
4
Zoe
Before I tiptoe out of the bedroom, I turn to stare at the big, gorgeous men occupying it. There is still a space between them where I slept. On one side, Bridger is still buttoned up in his work clothes, looking like the master of the universe. Invincible. Dark. On the other is a complicated man with demons lurking behind his pale blue eyes. Ironically, he’s the light brother, despite his tattoos, the sunrise burnishing his dark gold hair.
I’m startlingly attracted to both.
Bridger is the bigger mystery. Shuttered. Controlling.
Jacob is wild, endearing, innately sexual.
They’d both be ready to give chase at any moment.
Which is why I need to get out of here.
Sometime during the night, a suitcase of my clothes and toiletries was delivered and I shower as quietly as possible, putting on minimal makeup, red yoga pants, a black sports bra and sneakers. Thanks to the vast square footage of the hotel room, I’m able to sneak through my routine and leave the hotel room without my stepbrothers hearing me.
There is definitely going to be hell to pay for this. But as much as I liked being snared in their web of seduction and pleasure last night, I’ve always been fiercely independent. I’m not letting these two stumble onto the scene and start making decisions for me.
Except, maybe, this hotel room. I might have to keep it.
As soon as I’m tucked inside the elevator, I let out the breath I’m holding and focus on the upcoming adventure ahead. Ever since I was a child, I’ve been a daredevil. I built a box car to race the boys in the street and my father liked to brag that I never used the brake. Not once. As soon as I turned eighteen, I went skydiving and parasailing, and by then, my addiction to adrenaline rushes was solidified. Traveling is part of it. An adventure isn’t an adventure if you’re always having it in the same place, right?
My car is back at the office, so I scroll through my phone for the location Catherine gave me and call an Uber. Five minutes later, I’m on my way. And I ignore the invisible fingers tickling the back of my neck, hinting that I might be doing the wrong thing. If Jacob and Bridger are so concerned about me testing products, maybe there is a reason?
But no.
I check the statistic on their website. They’ve never had one failed product test.
Not in over ten years.
Plus, the product we’re testing is hardly a groundbreaking risk. It’s a new type of bungee line that causes the jumper to rebound from the initial jump with more height. They’ve already done some initial testing with dummies. My live jump is just to seal the deal.
This morning is going to feed my need for excitement and I’m also going to send a message loud and clear to the brothers that Zoe calls the shots when it comes to her own life.
Satisfied with my decision, I’m even more reassured when I reach the cliff side and the staff are briskly efficient, making sure the platform—which extends out from the cliff—is sturdy. There are risk assessment managers from the insurance company, representatives from headquarters…and Catherine is there, too. Which I wasn’t expecting.
While the instructor is hooking me into the harnesses and going over safety instructions, my stepmother smiles and sashays to my side. “I’m surprised my sons relented so easily. I thought they would fight me on your new position until the very last second. Did you have something to do with that?”
“No.” Remembering what her sons did to me last night, I can barely look her in the eye. “No, I guess they figured it’s up to me if I want to take the risk.”
“Hmmm.” She considers me. “Still…they did appear quite fond of you.”
Lady, you have no idea.
I’m actually quite sore from all of the fondness.
I’m saved from having to respond when the instructor calls my name. “We’re all ready when you are, Zoe,” he says, giving me a thumbs up.
Some people are terrified looking down from a platform into a canyon. To me, it’s an opportunity to soar. I even have a hard time waiting for the instructor to give me the all clear—and when he does, I step to the edge—
A car door slams behind me.
“Zoe,” Bridger growls behind me. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
Go time.
“Stop her!” Jacob shouts.
I back up a few steps, getting a running start and leap.
I’m laughing on the way down, my stomach flying up into my mouth, wind rushing up over my face. I stop laughing when I hear the snap.
Bridger
When Zoe jumps from the platform despite both of us yelling at her to stop, I’m so irrationally terrified, I almost jump down after her.