Without fail, every time she sent a video I found a quiet place to watch and panic over it.
Today’s video was no exception. Wearing a helmet, harness, and wicked smile she yelled, “Watch this!” and plummeted towards earth. Heart in my throat, I watch and listen to her yell out, “Miss you, Ryan,” and then the video cut out.
“What are you watching?” Jay, my brother-in-arms asked.
Tucking my phone into my pocket, I stow my expression and mumble, “YouTube.”
Completely undone by this woman, I sat in the armchair by the window pathetically waiting for her to finish her shower. Swear to God, if she asks me to leave now, I might drug her. Being apart from her was literally unthinkable. She surprised me in every way and I refused to lose her. What she did to my body was a close second to what she did to the heart I never knew was capable of feeling more than bloodlust. Just looking at her made it beat faster. I felt my arteries expand making room for the rush of blood it was receiving. Jesus, I groan looking between my legs. This is what living felt like…
When she walks out in a towel, the slit reveals her toned leg and I felt myself starting to swell further. My god, I had no idea towels could be sexier than a dress...
Sitting across from me, she cocks her head to the side and asks, “Who are you, Nix?”
At this juncture, I felt it was best to only offer, “The man who would die before hurting you.”
Looking sad she toys with her towel before saying, “I have to be on set soon.”
Fuck, that’s right, she has a job. As a stunt woman. “Do you like what you do?”
“Mostly I love it,” she smiles wide and immediately I was rock hard.
“Do you have time to tell me about it over breakfast?”
Standing up and coming over to me, she leans down kissing my lips whispering, “For you, I’ll make time.”
And twenty minutes later we both had coffee in our hands when she explains, “I’m what you call a thrill seeker. As a kid, I had so much energy that my mom enrolled me in tumbling and when that wasn’t enough it was gymnastics followed by karate, wrestling, flag football, archery…you get the idea. I loved to climb, jump, bend, twist…I was in second grade when I started rock climbing. Fourth when I began Judo, sixth when I tackled my first free-fall and so on. In high school, Ryan and I were doing scuba in the Keys when we saw a movie being filmed. The crew was all worked up because they couldn’t get the shot right. He insisted I sneak onto set and show them how it’s done.” With the purest look of love in her eyes she says, “And I did.”
“The rest is history,” I say looking away.
“Why do your eyes go flat when I mention Ryan?”
“Because he was your everything,” I saw no point in lying. “Never been anyone’s anything and I find myself jealous of this person.”
“He was my best friend,” she says staring down at her hands. “And it was my fault he died. But I think it will help me to talk about him. He was wonderful, Nix.”
Best friend, thank fuck for that. Because I felt like a prick wanting to kill a dead man. “How –”
“Did he die?” she asks looking forlorn. “By following my lead.”
“Finn –”
“He loved the life, Nix but he did something he wasn’t ready for. His death, it’s on me. It’s on me because I wasn’t there to protect him and I should have been. I had promised I would be and I failed him. Why? Because making a statement was more important than making sure he was safe.”
Unsure what to say or do, I was spared any type of response when she says, “I have to go.”
“I’ve upset you.”
“I’ll never get used to this emptiness,” she says wiping her eyes. “Anyway, what are your plans for the day?”
“This is it,” I say opening my arms up.
“Where do you work? Or, are you on vacation?”
“I’m on vacation,” I semi lie.
“You vacation in Detroit?”
“No,” I say low. “I came here for you.” Or rather, I had hoped she’d be here. I walked out on the devil himself over a woman, an area code and desperation.
When her eyes lit, I nearly came in my jeans. And when she says, “Want to come on set and see me in action?” I was out of my chair pulling her with me before she changed her mind.
Not only was she a thrill seeker, she was also a God damn professional stunt driver.
The woman maneuvered her Jaguar F-Type SVR as if she was the only one on the road. Any other woman and I would have jumped out and taken my chances, but Finn was so fucking good, I was tempted to dare her to drift.
Normally, I wasn’t much for conversation but when she spoke it was if I was hearing words for the first time. She explained she was born and raised here. That she never owned a home and until Ryan died, they traveled all over the world together. Never married, no kids or siblings, Finn said her job was her baby.
Having never been on a movie set before, I was surprised by the security put in place. Once I was cleared (which proves security lacked), I followed her to what was her own personal trailer and silently watched her move around the space. Cast and crew came and went, with Finn proudly introducing me as her friend. The friend shit I let slide, for now. Being that I had spent half the night with my face between her legs, I wasn’t keen on being friend zoned. Makeup was now working on her while some guy with a clip board explained the scene. Apparently, Finn was about to be attacked by the bad guy. Phony or not, I wasn’t pleased. Attacks, even choreographed, had the potential for harm.
Facing me she smiles and says, “Ready to see how it’s done?”
My mind screamed no but my mouth said, “Lead the way.”
We didn’t have to go far, about four tents down. It was clear Finn was popular and not just because of how friendly she was. If the crowd circling us was any indication, she was very good at what she did.
When a giant motherfucker came through the crowd and zeroed in on her, I tensed, ready to attack, beside her.
“Who the fuck is that?”
“His name is Walter,” she says for my ears only. “He’s a sweetheart but for the next few hours, he’s my sworn enemy.”
“That giant is putting his hands on you?”
“Yep,” she laughs but she quickly realized I was not happy when she continues, “Nix, we’ve practiced this for weeks. Every movement is choreographed down to which way our eyes move. Walter and I have worked together for years, for us, this isn’t work, it’s fun.”
“He hurts you, I kill him.”
Thinking I’m kidding, she swats my ass shouting, “Let’s do this!”