Her hand slips into mine, and we walk to the admissions booth. “I can pay for this,” she offers.
“It’s a date, so it’s on me.”
Even if this is just a short-lived fling, I want to make it as memorable as possible to look back on. To be able to say that for a short while, I was with the only woman who has ever left me short of breath just by being in her presence.
The woman stamps our hands with a bored expression, and Brynlee bounces like a little kid next to me. “How does this work? Do we buy tickets for the rides? Can we buy tickets to go on just a few, or do we need one of those wristband things I heard about on the radio?”
“I think we can do either. Do you like rides?”
A flirtatious look crosses her face, and she just shrugs. “I don’t know. These aren’t the types of rides I’ve ever been on. Though, I might not want to eat anything before going on anything that spins. Just in case. “
I laugh and intertwine our fingers together. She slipped that little coy comment in there. Before I can respond, I hear arguing behind us. “Sounds like Carter and Darla have arrived.”
“What?” she asks, and I turn her around to see the couple in a lively debate. “How in the world did you hear that?”
“Years of conditionin’.”
“Everyone knows the back roads are the fastest way to get anywhere around here,” Carter snaps.
Darla rolls her eyes. “Not when we had a freak storm at two in the mornin’, they aren’t.”
“Hi, guys,” Carter says. “Welcome to my personal hell.”
Brynlee looks up, unsure how to react, and I just laugh. “And this is normal banter for the couple who have been married for over a decade. Dated even longer than that,” I explain to her.
“You look adorable!” Darla says. “You’re shorter than I thought you were.”
“Darla!” I scold.
Brynlee giggles. “I can do a lot in heels, but something like this would be only if I had to.”
“Well, this is your first time here. What would you like to do?”
“Food!” she says, her bright blue eyes shining and wide. “Anything fried. Nothing healthy.”
“You could use some meat on those bones, that’s for sure.”
“Darla!” Carter and I both snap.
My date just laughs, and I realize how much I like this idea. My date.
“Trust me, the city girl diet is so last year. I want hips.”
“Stick with me. I got you,” Darla says and wraps her arm around her shoulders, forcing me to release Brynlee. “Come on, boys.”
For someone wanting this to be a double date, she sure is being a cockblock. I frown at my empty hand as Carter and I fall in step behind the women who chatter like they’ve been best friends for years. It gives me a chance to study Brynlee from behind, and she may not think she doesn’t have decent hips, but from where I’m standing, she looks really damn good.
Carter elbows me. “See? What’d I tell you?”
“Shut up. We both know it’s temporary.”
“Whatever, dude. She passed over Tim for you last night. She was attached to your side. And as your friend, I can promise you that you’re not all that interestin’, so it wasn’t because of your rousin’ conversational skills.”
Forcing a chuckle, I roll my eyes. “She doesn’t know anyone. And thanks, asshole.”
“She was freakin’ Miss Utah, or whatever. You think that girl doesn’t know how to work a room and make friends? Look at her, man. She digs you, and you gotta get out of your own way because that woman will give you the most amazin’ lookin’ babies.”
Just the thought of Brynlee entertaining me long enough to let me into her bed sets me on fire. For some reason, the image of her with a ring on her finger and baby bump pops into my mind, and it’s one more thing to long for.
