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I think my girl is disappointed for a moment, but then she opens her hand to me, silently asking for another ticket so she can try again. I grin at her, loving the determination blazing in her eyes.
She lifts the hammer again, higher this time, managing to swing it up over her head and then crush it into the lever with all her might. The marker moves up, up, up… and stops just short of the halfway point.
“Want to try again?” I ask, chuckling when she shakes her head.
“How about you show me how it’s done, Mr. Muscles?” she quips.
I laugh out loud, and God, it feels good. She feels good. Everything about her.
I give the carnie a ticket and wrap my large, rough hands around the handle of the hammer. I take a deep breath and tense my back and thighs, squatting slightly to get more leverage. The hammer swings up and then smashes into the lever on the platform, sending the marker straight to the top.
The bell rings, and the lights flash, making Jordan squeal with delight. “You did it!”
“I’ve had some training,” I tell her with a wink. “Now, what do you want as your prize? Traditionally, people get goldfish in little plastic bags and spend way too much money on a tank and food, only to have the fish die a week later. But there are also stuffed toy animals.”
“Let’s not mark our first date with the death of a fish,” Jordan teases. “I’ll take that cute little porcupine toy,” she decides, directing the man running this game to what she wants.
He hands it to her, and she hugs it close to her chest, which about breaks my heart. I get the sense my girl hasn’t had a lot of love or gifts in her life. I hate that for her.
We continue to stroll through the different booths and games, pausing whenever Jordan looks interested in something. We end up spending our tickets on the ring toss, balloon darts, and a water gun target game I would’ve won if the games weren’t rigged to high heaven. But none of that matters as long as I’m here with Jordan.
My girl has her arm looped in mine as she leans into me. Sometimes, she tenses and snuggles closer, but the sense of wonder never leaves her sparkling green eyes. She wants to be free, to experience the world around her, but she’s still scared.
That’s okay. As long as I’m here, I’ll give Jordan everything, the whole world on a platter while standing by to ensure she’s safe and cared for. I won’t be suffocating like her father; I simply want to see her flourish.
Jordan’s phone buzzes, not for the first time this evening. She’s been ignoring it for the last two hours, but this time, she slips it out of her purse and peeks at the screen. Her shoulders drop, and I watch my sweet, curious girl fold in on herself as if she needs protection from whatever is on her phone.
“Everything okay?” I ask as I lead us back to my truck. Even if Jordan doesn’t want to go home right away, I can tell she’s a little overstimulated from this evening’s activities.
“Yeah,” she says too quickly to be believed.
“How about the truth this time?” I glance down at her, and she shrugs defeatedly. I loathe her father for making her feel this way, especially after she came out of her shell tonight.
We walk the rest of the way to the truck in silence, but Jordan still has her arm wrapped tightly around mine. It’s like she’s trying to keep me here, keep me from running away. She has no idea the lengths I’d go to for her. Nothing she could say or do would scare me away.
“It’s my dad,” Jordan breathes, her voice barely above a whisper. “I lied to him so he’d let me go out tonight. That’s why I had you pick me up at the coffee shop instead of my house.”
I turn toward my woman, gently guiding her to lean against the side of my truck while I cage her in with a hand on either side of her head. “Hey,” I murmur, trying to make my tone as soft as possible. “You don’t have to hide from me. I’m not going to judge you, Jordan. Ever.” Her deep green eyes blink up at me, and the hope I see swimming beneath the surface makes me more determined than ever to give this woman a better life. “Do I wish you didn’t have to lie in order to leave your own home? Of course. But I don’t blame you for doing what you have to do to survive. Trust me, that’s one thing I understand.”
Jordan nods, her nose brushing against mine in the process. The softest, sweetest smile spreads across her lips, and I know I can’t resist her any longer. Just a little taste.
I rub my nose against hers, then angle my head, pausing to give her time to tell me no. When she closes her eyes and rises to her tiptoes to meet me halfway, I know I have the green light.
Our lips meet softly at first, and I take my time teasing her, nipping her bottom lip and then her top lip before kissing her fully. She gasps, her mouth parting and allowing me to take what I need and give everything right back to her.
I stroke my tongue against hers, then tickle the roof of her mouth, groaning at the way it makes her tremble. She fists my shirt, tugging me closer as if she can’t get enough. God knows I never want to come up for air again.
My hands slide down Jordan’s curves, resting on her hips. She throws her arms around my neck, and I lift her, pinning her to the side of the truck while I devour her lips. She finally pulls away, gasping for air, but I keep littering kisses down her neck and across her shoulder.
Jordan stiffens in my grasp, and I immediately set her down on her feet, taking a step back, even though it physically hurts not touching her. I’d never forgive myself if I crossed a line and made my woman uncomfortable.
“Did I do something–”
“No, no,” she cuts me off. “It’s… I’m…” Jordan becomes flustered. She readjusts her hair so it flows over her right shoulder and presses her hand against her neck as if protecting a wound.
“Did I hurt you?” I exclaim, my stomach churning at the thought.
“No, not at all,” Jordan is quick to reply. “It’s…” She sighs and dips her head, letting her long hair cover her features.
