Paradise....almost

Part 6

Miss Parker was falling on her back, her arms flailing around in the air, yelling Jarod's name. Jarod tucked his arms to his side and bulleted down to Miss Parker, reaching her in seconds. He grabbed her by the waist and secured her to the unopened parachute that was attached to him.

Miss Parker glared at him and yelled, "....GOING TO DIE!!"

"Relax, Parker. We're not going to die. I've done this before."

"I said, YOU ARE GOING TO DIE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!"

Jarod just smiled at her and pulled the cord. The impact caused Miss Parker to wrap her arms around Jarod's neck and cling to him for dear life.

"Now the landing might be kind of tricky, so you have to do exactly what I tell you. Are you with me, Miss Parker?"

Miss Parker nodded, tightening her grip on Jarod. "I'm still going to kill you." She whispered in his ear.

Jarod and Miss Parker touched down on a marshy field without much trouble. Jarod untangled them from the chute and they sloshed their way up to the road, with Miss Parker walking in front of him in a huff. Jarod called after her apologizing. "I'm sorry, Parker!"

Miss Parker stopped mid-stride, turned, and faced Jarod. "I can't believe you pushed me off the plane!"

"I had to make it look good."

"I was scared out of my mind!"

"Did you feel the rush?" Jarod asked excitedly.

"Here's a rush for you." Miss Parker punched him in the gut with all the strength she could muster. She was satisfied to see Jarod receive her hit with a painful grunt.

"You feel better now?" Jarod asked painfully.

"Much." Miss Parker turned and walked off again.

Jarod watched her, and with a mischievous smile on his face, caught up to her and scooped her up in his arms. "Wouldn't want you get your shoes wet."

"Too late." Miss Parker held on to Jarod's neck and shoulders. She turned his head toward hers and she gave him a tender kiss on the lips.

"What was that for?"

"For buying me a couple of days in paradise."

"We are going to have so much fun!" Jarod exclaimed, giving her a short kiss on the lips before picking up the pace of his walking.

"I need a serious bath." Miss Parker grumbled.

Jarod carried Miss Parker all the way to the road and they hitched a ride with a farmer to the nearest town.

With the leftover cash Miss Parker received from Lyle, they could only take the bus that was headed to Waikiki. They got to the city and went into a bank.

"Last time I was in a bank with you, it got robbed, people got shot, and we got locked up in a vault. Not a very pleasant experience, Jarod." Miss Parker reminded him.

"This time it's different. I won't bite your head off, you won't give me looks that could kill."

Jarod widrew a large sum of money from an international account and they walked out of the building, ignoring strange looks from the other customers.

"That's not my money, is it?" Miss Parker questioned.

"Nope. Thought we should have a little fun---courtesy of the Centre."

"You are a twisted, conniving, little rat, Jarod." Miss Parker smiled.

They found a fancy hotel by the beach and checked into a room. While Jarod paid for the room, Miss Parker waited in the seating area, practically falling asleep on the chair. The bellboy opened the door to the suite and Miss Parker gasped at the sight of the elegant room. She walked out to the balcony and admired the magnificent view of the ocean. She slowly breathe in the warm air, closing her eyes in delight. "This is wonderful."

Miss Parker came back in the room and found that Jarod has disappeared. Hearing the running water in the bathroom, she smiled a pleased smile and headed there seductively, peeling off her clothes and discarding them on the floor. She entered the bathroom and found the water filling the tub, but no Jarod. Disappointed, with a hint of anger, she turned toward the mirror to look at herself and found the note he had left.

Parker,

Take your bath, get some sleep. I'll be back later.

Jarod

"Great. I'm in paradise and I'm alone. You'd BETTER be back later." She mumbled to herself. She slipped into the tub and she let the hot water engulf her, easing away all the tension from her tired body. She closed her eyes and let her thoughts wander to wild fantasies and romances in this paradise---almost. "Soon,"

she daydreamed, "soon, I'll get what I want."