Page 43 of Try Me

Helicopter over Kauai

Pearl

“Please tellme we are not getting on that,” Pearl said.

Declan leaned over her shoulder to look out the window. A helicopter was parked nearby. Its silver body winked in the bright morning sunlight. A man wearing a headset hopped out of the pilot’s seat and started walking toward the car.

Declan took another bite of the sandwich and reached for the door handle. “Be right back,” he said.

He got out of the car and strode toward the pilot. They shook hands and walked over to the helicopter. Pearl’s eyes slid from Declan’s back to the bug-like form of the helicopter and her stomach rolled. She’d never been on a helicopter before, but she knew that she would not like it.

Her fists clenched so hard that her fingernails cut into the flesh of her palms. There was no way she was getting on that thing. It was too small — barely more than a basket with a fan stuck on top.

She watched as Declan finished his sandwich, then dusted his hands together and headed back toward the car. As he opened the door, Pearl backed into the corner. Declan stuck his head into the open space.

“Hey,” he said. “You ready?”

Pearl cringed against the door, feeling the sting of tears in her eyes. She blinked at Declan, then looked over his shoulder at the helicopter. The engine stirred to life, filling the air with its mechanical whir. Pearl’s vision blurred as she stared at the machine. She felt the sweat on her neck, and tasted the metallic hint of bile in her throat. Then, everything went blank as she sank against the door.

She woke to the feeling of cool fingers on her forehead. She was lying in a heap. Her legs were tucked under her at an awkward angle, and something hard pillowed her head.

The faint scent of cedar trees surrounded her, and the only noises were the whoosh of her blood in her ears and the thud of her heart. Pearl opened her eyes, and she saw Declan peering down at her. His hair fell over his forehead in a golden wave, and the lines around his eyes creased as he smiled.

“Hey,” he said, cupping her face in his hand.

Pearl stared up at him. She felt confused, but somehow his presence was soothing. Pearl’s eyes dropped to his mouth. His firm, full mouth that smiled so infrequently, and kissed with astounding generosity. She took a deep breath and smelled the woodsy scent of his aftershave and…jet fuel.

Oh, no!

Pearl knifed up to a sitting position and peered out the window of the cab.

The helicopter was still there.

Declan’s hand came to her shoulder, and he eased her away from the window. “We don’t have to go,” he said.

“We don’t?” Her voice betrayed her, sounding weak and scared.

“I’ll call McKenna and tell him. He wants us to go to Kauai to surf in some incredible conditions, but…” He shrugged, leaving the sentence unfinished in a gesture that was uniquely Hawaiian.

Pearl swallowed hard and tugged Declan back as he reached for the door. She realized the gravity of her situation. Plus, she was a surfer at heart and the prospect of surfing these perfect conditions tempted her.

She had to get on that helicopter. She couldn’t let fear control her.

“I’ll do it,” she said. “Just give me a minute.”

Declan leaned back against the seat as if they had all day. Their hands remained linked, and after a moment he moved their clasped fists into his lap.

“Hey,” he said, squeezing her hand. “Nothing will happen. Doug, the pilot, is an old friend. I’ve flown with him a dozen times. He’s the best.”

Pearl’s eyes locked on Declan’s. He looked calm and confident. He was patient, and it was polite of him not to tease her over her weakness. But it still didn’t make her feel better about getting in that winged contraption.

“You can do this,” he said. “But you don’t have to do it. The choice is yours.”

Pearl shifted her gaze to the shiny helicopter. A shiver passed over her, and she swallowed thickly. It was her choice. But did she really have one? Every step she took needed to take her closer to her goal. Not getting on that helicopter would be a giant leap backward. Pearl’s eyes flashed to Declan, and she found him watching her with a look that read, no pressure, even though his career also depended on him getting on that helicopter.

“Let’s go,” she said.

Declan slid out of the cab first and then leaned down to help Pearl out. She clung to his hand and stuck to his side as if he could guard her against an attack. The closer they got to the helicopter, the more she leaned on Declan, until he was practically carrying her. He helped her into the helicopter and buckled her seatbelt before reaching for his own. She realized he was doing it all one-handed, because she was still clutching his other hand as if her life depended on it.

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