Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(35)

“No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Shut it down,” says Ryan. “Come on, Beth. You and Lacy take      the area toward his feet. Chris and I will handle his back.”

“Why, so we can get kicked in the head? That’s real      gallant.”

“No,” says Ryan with forced patience. “Logan’s all upper      body. Chris and I are going to take the heavier part.”

Logan pumps his chest with his fist. “Solid wall, baby.”

“Less talking, more jumping,” says Chris. “Let’s go,      dawg.”

I take my place across from Lacy. Without giving me much of      a choice, Lacy grabs hold of my hands and seconds later we grip each other      tighter when heavy legs plop onto our arms.

“Son-of-a-bitch, Junior,” swears Chris. “You were supposed      to count down before you jumped. Drop his sorry ass.”

Okay. Lacy and I let go and Logan falls the remaining way      onto the mat. He laughs as he scrambles up. “You caught me just fine.”

“My turn!” Lacy hops over the mat and climbs the      platform.

Ryan takes Lacy’s place across from me and offers me his      hands. I stare down at them. I don’t touch people and they don’t touch me. I      mean, Lacy has, but it’s different. We used to be friends, even if was a long      time ago. Sweat forms on my palms and I rub them against my shorts and place my      hands over Ryan’s. His fingers clutch mine. His skin is the right mixture of      strength and warmth, and his touch sends shivers through my body. I’ve gone two      torturous weeks without a cigarette and I really crave one right now.

“All right, Lace,” Ryan says in that deep, soothing voice.      “Whenever you’re ready.”

Ryan and I have been holding hands for five seconds.

“It’s kind of high.” Lacy stands on the edge of the      platform. A bit of the fire that constantly lives in her eyes diminishes.

Ryan gives me that glorious smile—the cute one with a hint      of dimples. A curling heat spreads in my bloodstream. Damn, I like that      smile.

“You can do this, baby,” says Chris.

Ryan’s thumb moves across the top of my hands and every      single cell of my being becomes a live electrical socket. We’ve been holding      hands for ten seconds.

“I know.” Lacy doesn’t look like she knows. She looks as      unsure as I feel about catching her. “Maybe one of you guys should go.”

“Turn around, Lace, and fall backward.” Ryan uses a gentle      yet commanding tone. Even though he speaks to Lacy, he keeps those brilliant      light brown eyes locked on me. His thumb does another heart-skipping sweep      across my hand. “You’ve got this and you know we got you.”

I wonder what it would be like if he held me in his arms?      Would I feel as alive as I do now?

“You’re right.” She sighs. “Give me a sec.”

My hands sweat again and I don’t want any more thoughts of      my body lying next to his or visions of his hands on my skin or hope that his      smile is for me. I don’t want anyone touching me anymore. Especially guys that      are strong and warm and slightly cute and can make my heart stutter. I try to      pull away, but Ryan tightens his grip. “What are you doing?”

“She can’t do it,” I say. “And she shouldn’t have to.”

Ryan studies me for a second. “Yes, she can. Lacy can do      anything she puts her mind to.”

I try to jerk my arms away again, but Ryan’s hold is too      tight.

“This is stupid.” Panic floods my brain and makes me feel a      little crazy. “All of this is stupid. What’s the stupid point?”

“To learn how to work together as a team and to put our      trust in one another.” Ryan’s voice becomes a calming balm on my panic until I      figure out how much I want to listen. This isn’t good. Not good at all. Isn’t      that how the pied piper worked? Didn’t he play something soothing and all the      rats drowned?

“I’m not a part of your stupid team.”

“I know, but let’s pretend for a few seconds that you      are.”

“She’s ready,” says Chris.

A split second later Lacy’s Nikes are inches from my face.      Resting safely in our hands, Lacy laughs. “That was great. Let’s do it      again.”

Ryan releases me and helps the guys lower Lacy to her feet.      I step back and try to rub any trace of Ryan off onto my clothes. I don’t want      strong hands holding my arms. I don’t want to be part of a team, and I sure as      hell don’t have to prove anything by jumping off a ledge.