Oslo Overtures (2 page)

“Too long, my friend. Too long.”

Kyle gave him a bear hug. “We missed you in California last year. Glad to see you’re back in the air after your accident.”

“Fortunately, it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. Still, my stupidity had me laid up for a few months.”

“Still doing crazy stunts?”

The Norwegian grinned. “Now and then.”

Luke wrapped his arms over Kyle and Erick’s shoulders as he leaned into their conversation. “Has anyone else noticed a severe lack of women in this room?”

“Yes, and you know why?” Kyle looked at his two friends, unsmiling. Silence filled the air before Kyle’s smile boomeranged back. “Because if women were meant to fly, the skies would be pink.”

The three buckled over as their laughter filled the air.

When Kyle straightened, his chortles subsiding, he was met by eyes as blue as the Nordic fjords. He stared spellbound. Had he died and gone to heaven?

The blonde beauty’s lips parted. They were the softest pink Kyle had ever seen. “Clearly you’ve not yet seen our sunsets.” There was the slightest tremor in her voice.

Kyle cleared his throat. “I—I only arrived this afternoon.”

Her eyes widened as if to say, “So?”

He rubbed his neck before trying again. “It’s still light outside. No sunset yet.” He raked his fingers through his hair, sweeping the dark strands away from his eyes, and grinned. He hoped that would help.

It didn’t.

She turned her attention to their Norwegian partner in crime. “As for you, Erick…you find that sexist joke amusing?”

Erick began to nod, but his head quickly changed direction. He opened his mouth.

She stopped him. “Don’t say anything.” Turning to Kyle, she took a step closer.

Kyle could feel both the warmth of her breath and the coolness in her voice.

“I’m sure you’ll soon discover that in Norway we believe in equality of the sexes, so it’s best you behave appropriately in our country, Mr. Sheppard, or return home to your sheep.”

He really wasn’t a sexist—the joke had just rolled off his tongue. He never joked. Why had he chosen that moment to start? And why would she assume he was a sheep farmer just because he was from New Zealand?

“I’m not—”

“Besides,” she interrupted, and Kyle wasn’t sure whether he saw a smile tug at her mouth. “Don’t you know that only angels are meant to have wings.” She turned and disappeared into the crowded room.

Luke gawked at Erick with a slap-me-silly, I-just-died look. “Who. Was. That?”

“Anjelica Joergensen. But we call her Angel.”

“She’s gorgeous.” Luke turned to Kyle and raised his brows. “Isn’t she?”

Kyle recognized that twinkle. He and Anjelica were in trouble—Kyle more so than her, for only a few hours earlier he’d mused about God sending him an angel from heaven. His Maker certainly had a sense of humor. And impeccable timing.

But it would take bucket loads of divine intervention to fix his rocky start with this Angel. Didn’t angels normally introduce themselves to shepherds with words like “peace be with you,” or “don’t be afraid”? From the introduction they’d had, Kyle felt neither fearless nor peaceful.

He should apologize. But would she believe him when he told her he didn’t mean what he’d said—that he was only joking?

“Excuse me.” Leaving Luke and Erick to nurse their drinks, Kyle took off after her. He searched all over, but she had vanished.

~*~

Anjelica punched her pillow. She should’ve ignored what she’d overheard. Gritted her teeth and let the comment slide. The first night together and already she’d had a run-in with one of the men. Not just any man either.

Why did it have to be Kyle Sheppard?—one of the world’s best wingsuit pilots. And that stupid remark about him going back to his sheep? His surname made him as much a shepherd as her name made her an angel. What must he think?

For weeks, Erick had talked about his friend from down under, this brilliant flier from the other side of the world. Of course, she knew of Kyle Sheppard. She’d heard about him in the wingsuit community, read about him in the media—although he kept his private life very private.

She’d watched countless YouTube videos of his death-defying falls in the most impossible locations. Speculation from the Norwegian team for their Friday attempt at the largest unlinked wingsuit-bigway was that the New Zealander would fly lead.

She’d been anxious to meet him and hoped to have an opportunity to learn from him over the next few days. Anjelica scrunched her pillow into a bundle. She’d met him all right. He wouldn’t want to teach her anything now.

Still, one of the world’s best or not, his comment was inappropriate. Pink skies! The skies were often pink, and far more beautiful than anything a cloudless blue day could ever offer. She and any other female wingsuiter had as much right as their male counterparts to own the skies.

Anjelica switched off the bedside light and hoped her roommate wouldn’t disturb her when she returned. She needed to calm her mind and rid herself of her frustration. The only way she could do that was with a good night’s sleep. And prayer.

Lord, please don’t let me bump into this man again this week. If You could, just make sure that I’m on one side of the formation and he’s on the other.

With a hundred and nine other participants on the ground and in the air, that should prove easy enough. Shouldn’t it?

2

The wake-up call came at five AM.

Anjelica bounced out of bed, ready for this day. Two envelopes had been pushed under the door overnight. One for Anjelica, the other for her American roommate, Brandy, who’d obviously lived up to her name the night before.

She slid Brandy’s note onto the table between their beds, gripped her own and opened the balcony door.

The candy-stripe cushioned chair outside beckoned. Sitting down, she propped her bare feet up against the balustrade. The envelope trembled in her hands. For several moments, she gazed across the ocean. These familiar butterflies—how she hated them.

Anjelica took a deep breath and ripped the envelope open, removing the single sheet of paper from inside. She blinked at the diagram showing her position in the formation and those of her teammates. This was unexpected. Dropping the paper to the floor, Anjelica swept her hands through her hair. She was flying lead? She was flying lead!

“Good news?”

Anjelica recognized the accent.

Kyle Sheppard.

She leaned forward and looked up. Kyle peered down from a side window set in the right tower of the hotel.

“Maybe,” she answered. If she gave him the satisfaction of knowing why she was smiling, he’d probably just pass another sexist comment. He’d know soon enough anyway.

A head popped out beside Kyle’s. His fair-haired friend…Duke? With a broad smile, he waved. “Morning, Angel.”

Anjelica pursed her lips and frowned. Erick had told them her name? Her nickname? Perhaps he called all women Angel. Wasn’t it a common phrase for some foreigners?

“Did you get your envelope?” Kyle’s friend continued. “Where’re you placed?”

She remained silent.

He leaned further out of the window. “Oh, and just in case you don’t talk to strangers, I’m Luke. And this is my very good, very talented, and very single friend, Kyle.” He ruffled Kyle’s hair, messing it up a little more. “We’re from New Zealand, and no, surprisingly, we’re not sheep farmers.” Luke pushed Kyle’s head forward. “Say hello.”

Kyle smiled. Raising his hand slightly, he gave a brief wave. “Morning.”

“For the record—” Luke leaned a little further out of the window, and Anjelica held her breath, hoping he didn’t fall. “—he didn’t mean anything by his comment about the pink skies…and he does feel bad about making it.”

Then why did he not apologize?

“So, gorgeous, where are
you
placed in the formation? Are you our angel at the top of the tree?”

Our
angel? This Luke wasn’t only persistent, he was downright forward. Anjelica felt a little sorry for Kyle, having him for a roommate. His impudence must get tiresome.

“You can tell us, we’re practically neighbors,” he droned on.

Anjelica bit her lip to stop a smile. “And spoil the surprise?” She walked back inside her room. Time to wake up Brandy. They had to be outside on the lawn in thirty minutes. She couldn’t wait. Those two Kiwis were in for a shock.

~*~

Kyle smacked Luke on the back of his head. “What was that all about? ‘Very single friend’?”

“Just trying to help.” Luke rubbed his head then grinned. “Is she gorgeous or what?”

Kyle had to agree. And it was refreshing to meet a woman who didn’t fall all over him. In fact, he was certain she disliked him. Immensely. Not that he could blame her.

He removed the battery from the charger and placed it back inside the recording device before tucking it in the side pocket of the backpack housing his wingsuit and chute.

Luke hovered, waiting for a response.

“She
is
gorgeous. But it makes no difference. You know my standing on the feminine gender.” Kyle slung the backpack over his shoulder, grabbed his helmet, and made his way to the door. He’d be toast if he gave Luke any indication that he found this woman intriguing. “Besides, she totally does not like me, so no point going down that road.”

“That’s exactly why you
should
go down that road. The fact that she’s not into you is just what you want. And need.”

His friend knew him far too well. “We’re only here for a few days, Luke.”

“That’s why we have to move fast.”

“We?”

“Of course. I’m your wingman, aren’t I?”

He returned Luke’s grin. “That you are, Maskil, in more ways than one. I’ll see you downstairs.” He closed the door.

Kyle needed time alone before the others converged on the grass out front. Time to prepare his chute and gear; time with God. He’d ask at reception later if anyone knew of a nearby church he could attend tomorrow.

Despite the early hour, the sun was already high and the morning air fresh. The designated gathering spot was still deserted. Not for long though. Hopefully he’d see Anjelica before the area became too crowded. He needed to apologize. In person.

His heartbeat quickened at the thought of her. He should get to know her. After all, they’d be part of a team for the next week, and maybe their paths would cross again at future wingsuiting events.

He breathed in slowly, trying to calm his racing pulse. What if his interest was more than casual? It would go against the choice he’d made. But she seemed different. He hadn’t been this confused in a long time.

Kneeling on the grass beneath an old oak, he unzipped the backpack, removed his wingsuit, and spread it out facedown. The black suit lay like an ominous shadow against the green background. Only the red inserts tattled that the bird shape was no shadow at all.

Lord, give me an opportunity to tell her I’m sorry. I really meant no disrespect. Oh, and please keep us all safe this week
, he prayed as he attached his parachute to the suit.

Kyle looked up as wingsuiters emerged from the hotel. First only one or two at a time, then larger groups. With each new arrival, the patch of green grew smaller. Time to suit up. Disappointment wrapped around Kyle. He’d yet to see the one person he’d been watching for.

Erick’s unzipped wingsuit flapped around his legs as he walked across the grass. Finally, one Norwegian he knew.

“Morning.” Kyle scanned the area behind Erick as he pushed his arms through the wingsuit sleeves. No sign of her. He’d stick close by his Norwegian friend. She had to arrive soon and would be looking for her team leader.

“Kyle. You left early last night.”

“I had some stuff I needed to do.” He picked up his backpack and walked beside Erick. “So, my friend, where’re you placed?”

“Second row, right.”

“That’s cool—beside me. Luke is positioned between us in the next row. We’re like the three flying musketeers.”

Erick laughed. “Three flying musketeers…I like that.”

“Isn’t it awesome to be flying lead for our teams in this event, representing our countries?”

“It is. But I’m not the only person representing Norway. I’m flying lead for the team from Stryn. The team from Kjerag is placed elsewhere in the formation. Bjørne Svensson is their leader. You know him, don’t you?”

Kyle nodded. “I’ve heard of him, but we’ve never met.” For a moment, Kyle was quiet. “So there are two Norwegian teams? Tell me, Anjelica…which team does she fly with?”

Erick stopped walking. He turned to Kyle. His smile had vanished. “Why the interest?”

Why the unfriendly face? Would there be a problem if he was interested?

“I’d like to apologize for my joke last night. I think I offended her.”

The Norwegian’s face lightened. “Ah…”

As they walked the rest of the distance to their positions up front in silence, Kyle mounted the recorder into his suit, just below midriff. His team was already waiting for him.

“Bro, where’ve you been?” Luke bellowed. “You left long before me.”

“Just been setting up my rig and gathering my thoughts.”

“You mean you’ve been praying.”

Kyle winked. “You got me.”

“Nothing wrong with that. I’m actually glad Someone’s got our backs while we’re up there.” Luke grinned as he pointed to the sky. “Did you see your lovely lady yet?”

“My lovely lady? You’re getting a little carried away, aren’t you?” Kyle looked around at Erick. How would he react to Luke’s comment?

His face remained deadpan. Perhaps he hadn’t heard.

“Don’t tell me that you haven’t been watching out for her. Despite what you say, I know you better than that. Heck, I probably know you better than you know yourself.”

Kyle clipped the back of Luke’s head with his hand. “Yeah, right.”

“Angel.” Erick waved his arms and gave a we’re-over-here whistle. He wrapped his arms around her the moment she was within reach. He held her tight for a moment before kissing her lightly on each cheek. “I’m so proud of you. Nobody deserves this more than you.”