Pleasure Rush Read online

  “Dammit,” Torrian swore. “The Bears front office isn’t going to like this.”

  No, they would not, Theo mused. If Dane tore something in his knee, it could significantly impact the Bears next season.

  Torrian glanced at his watch. “I need to get back to my wide receivers,” he said. He clasped Theo’s hand. “I’ll check in with you later, dawg. And thanks again for helping out with Dee.”

  “No problem,” Theo said. It was time he got out of here, too. He had an adventure planned for this afternoon, and he was more than ready to get started.

  When Theo arrived back at the hotel, Deirdre was sitting on the same sofa where he’d found her yesterday. A part of him still couldn’t believe she was there waiting for him. After more than a year and a half of dodging him like a rabbit scampering from a wolf, Deirdre was finally willing to give them a chance. He wasn’t sure how much longer this would last, which was why he’d scrambled like crazy last night, calling on every contact he had on the island to make sure today was nothing short of spectacular.

  “Are you ready?” he asked as he approached.

  She shot him a wary look. “No,” she said.

  “You don’t even know what I have in mind.” Theo laughed.

  “You didn’t think the helicopter ride was adventurous enough, so I can’t even imagine what you have planned.”

  “It’s a little on the wild side, but I promise you’re going to enjoy it.” He took her by the hand and helped her from the sofa. “And when we’re done, you won’t have any doubts that you’ve just done something dangerous.”

  Deirdre stopped and tugged his hand until he did the same. “Theo, this isn’t something that can get me killed, is it?”

  “You can be killed crossing the street,” he reasoned. “Now, when you wrote ‘do something dangerous’ on that list, did you really mean it or were you only kidding yourself?”

  She paused for several moments, and in that short span of time, Theo saw her expression transform from fearful, to hesitant, to a self-confidence he’d never witnessed in Deirdre before. She squeezed his hand and gave him a firm nod.

  “You’re right,” she said. The excited, mischievous grin that lit up her face wasn’t something he saw in Deirdre everyday, either. “I’m ready to do something dangerous.”

  Theo smiled down at her. “Sweetheart, get ready for the ride of your life.”

  * * *

  Following a ten-minute cab ride where Deirdre soaked in more glorious views of the Pacific Ocean, they arrived at a helipad. She twisted in her seat and frowned at Theo. “I thought you said a helicopter ride didn’t count as something dangerous?”

  The crafty smile he shot her way sent a tremor of unease cascading down Deirdre’s spine. “This isn’t your something dangerous, Dee. It’s just the transportation we’re taking to get there.”

  “Oh, goodness.” Deirdre squeezed her eyes shut, the first bout of true fear seizing her lungs. “I just know you’re going to get me killed,” she moaned.

  Her eyes flew open when she felt Theo’s fingers on her chin. He tilted her face up and said, “I’ve spent a year and a half trying to get you to give me the time of day. Why do you think I’d do anything to harm you now that I’m finally getting what I want?”

  “I guess that makes sense,” Deirdre murmured, completely entranced by his velvety-soft voice.

  They exited the van and boarded the waiting chopper. The pilot ran through a final safety check and moments later they were airborne.

  As the chopper ascended it felt as if her stomach was still sitting somewhere on the tarmac below. The feeling lasted for only a few moments, because when Deirdre caught sight of the view outside her window, her fear and everything else ceased to matter.

  It was simply breathtaking.

  Lush vegetation covered mountains that sprouted from the clear blue ocean. She could make out thin streams snaking through the dense forest, eventually meeting to form graceful waterfalls. Deirdre’s breath caught in her throat as they soared over one stunning scene after another.

  She looked up to find Theo staring at her, the shadow of a smile hovering at his lips.

  “What?” Deirdre asked.

  “Nothing,” he said. “I’m just enjoying watching you.”

  “Why you would look at me, when some of the most amazing views are just outside this window, is a mystery to me,” she said.

  “The look on your face is as lovely as anything I’ll see out there.”

  A tremor of desire fluttered in her stomach. Deirdre knew if she touched her face right now she would burn her fingers. She was embarrassed at the way this man could make her blush like a school girl, but he had become a master at causing a reaction in her with just a few simple words.

  Deirdre turned back to the window and noticed there was all ocean and no land.

  “We’ve left the island,” she said. Her face shot to Theo’s. “Where are we going?”

  “We have to go to Kauai,” he said. “There are no companies on Oahu that specialize in what we’re going to do.”

  A short time later, the helicopter touched down on an impossibly small patch of open land. When they alighted from the aircraft, two men were waiting with backpacks and several pieces of equipment Deirdre didn’t recognize.

  Theo shook their hands. “Thanks for setting this up on such short notice.” He turned to her. “Here we are. You ready?”

  Deirdre’s eyes roamed over the towering trees and tropical foliage surrounding them. It was beautiful, but she didn’t understand why they had to fly to another island—Oahu had acres of forest.

  “Ready for what?” she finally asked.

  “We’re going zip-lining,” Theo said.

  Deirdre’s brow furrowed. “Zip-lining?” She suddenly recalled pictures she’d seen on several of the travel websites she’d viewed when preparing to come to Hawaii. “Wait, is this where you fly across the sky on a piece of wire?”

  Theo’s smile grew wide.

  “You must be out of your mind,” Deirdre croaked.

  “You said you wanted to do something you’d never do in a million years. I’ve gone zip-lining over a dozen times, Deirdre. There’s nothing like it, and if you think you had beautiful views of the island from the helicopter, you’ll be blown away seeing them up close.”

  Her heart was pumping like a steam engine just thinking about hanging several hundred feet in the air on a single piece of wire. It wasn’t just dangerous, it was insane.

  Deirdre shook her head. She could not possibly allow some crazy list she’d written while buzzed on a mai tai cajole her into doing something this outrageous.

  But wasn’t that the point of all of this?

  She stared out at the picturesque landscape, her mind warring with itself. This excursion was about hurling her out of her comfort zone. She didn’t want to be that same woman who stood in the background and watched as life sprinted past her. She was ready to grab hold of this bold, new self with both hands and soar. No baby steps allowed.

  “Okay,” she said with a firm nod. “Let’s do this.”

  Theo’s brows hiked up. “Really? Just like that?” He laughed. “I thought it would take at least a half hour to talk you into it.”

  “There’s nothing to be afraid of,” she said, more for her benefit than his. She looked up at him. “You said you’ve done this a dozen times, right?”

  He nodded.

  “Well, you’re still here. I just have to trust that I’ll be here at the end, too.”

  Theo shook his head, amazement shining in his eyes. “Who are you?” he laughed.

  She smiled, big and wide. “The new Deirdre. Now come on.”

  They donned their safety gear and headed out for the first leg in w
hat Deirdre learned would be a seven-part adventure to the base of the mountain. The bravado she’d cultivated disappeared with a swiftness that left her breathless, or maybe it was the sight of the plunging valley she was supposed to fly across in just a few minutes. She watched with building trepidation as one of the guides went sailing along the thick steel wire. Was she really expected to do that?

  “You want to go first?” Theo asked.

  She didn’t want to go at all!

  But Deirdre forced herself to nod. She concentrated on taking slow, even breaths as she strapped on her helmet and was hooked to the line.

  “Now, just hold tight and jump,” Theo encouraged. “And, whatever you do, keep your eyes open.”

  “Do I have to?” she muttered.

  “Yes. You can do this, Deirdre.”

  She looked over her shoulder and was momentarily caught off guard by the look of pride on his face. It was all she needed to give herself that final push.

  With another deep breath, Deirdre let out a small yelp and jumped. Her eyes automatically clenched shut, but Deirdre quickly opened them and peered down at the verdant land below. It was surreal. She had never seen trees so green, their wet leaves glistening. The thick flora perfumed the air with a heady aroma.

  A peal of laughter escaped as the wind rushed past her. She had never felt so alive, so free. It was exhilarating.

  Deirdre landed flat on her butt, but she didn’t care. As she waited for Theo and the other guide to make their way down the line, all she could think about was going again and again and again. They quickly flew across the next two lines.

  When they arrived at the third platform, there was a wooden suspension bridge stretched across a wide gorge. Her heartbeat skidded to a halt, but Deirdre quickly squelched the fear. She cleared her brain of everything as she stepped onto that first plank.

  As she stalwartly marched across the bridge, her shoulders stiffened with a confidence she’d never experienced before. She was really doing this. She, Deirdre Smallwood, who had hyperventilated the first time she’d had to take the New York subway alone, was flying through the sky like Jane of The Jungle.

  When she arrived at the base of the final zip-line, Deirdre couldn’t believe the sadness that washed over her. She now understood why Theo did this every time he came to Hawaii.

  “So, are you ready to kill me?” Theo asked.

  “Not at all,” Deirdre exclaimed. “That was the most incredible thing ever. I’m so happy you didn’t allow me to talk myself out of it.”

  “You were amazing,” Theo said. “I’m really impressed, and proud.”

  She beamed up at him. “So am I.” She looked around at the forest surrounding them. “Do we have to climb back up, or will the helicopter meet us down here?” she joked.

  “They’ll meet us, but not yet,” Theo said. “I have something else planned.” Her stomach instantly filled with nerves again, but these nerves were from excitement, not fear. “We have to hike a bit before we get there,” Theo said, motioning for her to follow him.

  “It’s a good thing you told me to wear my tennis shoes,” she said. “I don’t think my sandals would have held up.”

  He flashed a quick smile. “I can always carry you.”

  Just the thought of being cocooned in Theo’s powerful embrace sent a shiver of want through her.

  As they trudged through the dense forest, Deirdre mentally deliberated the wisdom of ruining the peacefulness of the afternoon, but despite the camaraderie they’d shared while sailing down the zip-lines, there was still an air of awkwardness hovering between them. She knew she had to tread lightly. There had been so much aloofness between them this past year, if she said the wrong thing, the joyous little bubble they had been floating in today could pop.

  “Theo?” she started.

  “Yeah?” He took her by the hand as they gingerly stepped across a smattering of slippery, moss-covered rocks.

  “Why did you agree to do this?” she asked. He gave her a quizzical look, so Deirdre decided to be direct. “It’s no secret that I haven’t been your favorite person lately. Yet, you put together this amazing day.”

  “That’s not fair, Deirdre. You’re the one who pushed me away, not the other way around.”

  “You’re right,” she conceded, “which makes it even more puzzling that you would agree to help me complete my list. Not only are you helping, but you set up such an incredible adventure.” She stopped him, pulling on his hand to halt his steps. “Why didn’t you just tell me to go to hell?”

  “I could never do that.” He stared down at her, his warm eyes searching her face. “You haven’t a clue how I feel about you, do you, Deirdre?”

  “I thought I did,” she said. “The fact that you could hardly stand to say two words to me made your feelings pretty obvious.”

  “Are you serious?” A low, rumbling laugh rose from his throat. “God, Deirdre, how could you not see that you have been driving me crazy for over a year?” Theo stooped down and got face level with her. “Do you know why I’ve hardly been at Torrian’s these past couple of months? Because just the thought of seeing you there, and knowing that you didn’t want anything to do with me, caused an ache in my chest so painful I thought it would kill me.”

  “I thought you were not coming around because you didn’t want to deal with me. Period.”

  A pained look flashed across his face. “Deirdre, knowing that you didn’t feel the same way about me as I felt about you has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to accept. A man can only take so much rejection. After a while, it was just easier to keep my distance.”

  “Then I show up in Hawaii,” she said.

  “Yeah.” He grimaced before looking at her with a bemused smile. “For a minute, when I first spotted you in that lobby, I thought I was hallucinating. Then, later that night, when you told me that you wanted us to go back to being friends…” Theo shook his head. “That’s not going to happen, Deirdre. You’ve been my friend for seven years now. I want more than that. And I know you do, too. I see it in the way you look at me.”

  Her eyes trained on a bright pink flower barely in bloom, Deirdre whispered, “I know.” She looked up at him. “I do want you.”

  Once she let the words out, Deirdre automatically wanted to snatch them back. Admitting her need for him opened her up to a whole new world of vulnerability. She had trusted Theo with her physical well-being—allowing him to take her on this grand adventure.

  Could she trust him with her heart?

  Chapter 8

  A few yards ahead, Theo spotted the rock wall he remembered from numerous prior trips to this spot. “It’s not much further,” he said.

  “I don’t mind the walk,” Deirdre returned. “I’m enjoying the scenery.”

  “Just wait,” he said. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

  They rounded the wall of jagged stone and came face to face with one of the most breathtaking sights he’d ever encountered. Theo heard Deirdre’s breath catch.

  “Oh, my goodness,” she whispered.

  “Pretty sweet, huh?” Theo grinned.

  A rushing waterfall flowed into a small lagoon that was sheltered by thick vegetation. The enclosure of smooth gray and brown rocks cropping out of the earth created an intimate, natural cocoon. A pool of turquoise water sparkled with the reflecting sunrays that shone through the copse of trees above.

  “Theo, this is…it’s gorgeous.”

  “There’s more,” he said, hoping that everything had been set up to his specifications.

  They walked along the rocky ledge that surrounded the lagoon, heading toward the backside of the waterfall. As they came upon the flowing veil of water, Theo spotted the table and chairs set up inside the naturally carved cave. He blew ou
t a relieved breath just as Deirdre inhaled a surprised one.

  “Oh my God,” she gasped.

  A small round table was covered with crisp white linens, fine china and crystal wine goblets. In the center sat a stout centerpiece of bright tropical flowers and two tapered candles, along with a silver wine bucket with a bottle of wine resting on the rim. A large wooden picnic basket sat a few feet away against the cave wall.

  “How… When… How did you set all of this up?” Deirdre asked.

  Theo didn’t say anything, just continued grinning, completely stoked that he had been able to pull this off. If she had any idea what it had cost him to set up this surprise, she would probably push him into the water.

  “Who set this up?” she asked, looking around.

  “The people who put this together are all gone,” he said. “It’s just the two of us for the next three hours, until we have to head back to catch the helicopter to Oahu. I wish we could stay longer, but I have a production meeting later this evening to go over last-minute details before tomorrow’s Media Day.”

  “This is perfect.” She turned to him, her face aglow with gratitude. “Theo, really, this is just… I don’t even know what to say.”

  “You can say you’re sorry for waiting so long to go on a date with me,” he said. “See what you’ve been missing?”

  “I apologize for not accepting one of your invitations sooner.” She laughed. “If I’d known this is what a date with Theo Stokes entailed, I would never have waited so long.”

  She went for the picnic basket, but Theo stopped her. “You spend your entire day serving other people. It’s time for you to be on the receiving end.” He pulled out her chair.

  Deirdre sat, amusement crinkling the corners of her eyes. “Can I at least pour the wine?” she asked.

  “No,” he admonished. “The only time I want you lifting a finger is when you lift your fork to your mouth.” He winked. “And if you let me, I’ll do that, too.”

  Theo put the picnic basket on the seat of his chair and began pulling out containers of food. He dished out the roasted chicken with rosemary, sweet potatoes and sautéed eggplant. As they feasted on the amazing meal, Theo had a hard time believing he was really here with her.