“What’s fry bread?” Brynlee asks, turning around. “Does it taste as good as it sounds?”
“Come on, inexperienced one,” I say and hold out my hand to take her back from Darla. “Let’s get you a fry bread taco. Just be warned, there are veggies on it. Not exactly healthy, but they’re not fried.”
Taking my hand, she bounces next to me as we stand in line. “Inexperienced one, huh?”
“It’s your first time at a fair, sweetheart.”
“Is that all you mean by that?” she asks, standing on her tiptoes to say it into my ear.
I groan as my jeans tighten, and she giggles. There’s nothing I can respond with that won’t get me into trouble, but now I can’t stop picturing her in my bed. She’s much more forward than I’m used to, but I like it.
Getting our food, we sit and eat, and she digs right in. What Jake said last night about girls and eating in front of men plays in my head. Brynlee doesn’t have any qualms about eating in front of me, but she held my hand and made a suggestive comment after confessing she hoped this was a date. Is his logic wrong, or is Brynlee the exception to his supposed rule?
“This is amazing,” she says, drinking from the straw she suggested we share. A straw that’s already been in my mouth.
“I could watch you eat forever,” Darla says, sitting down in front of us. “Do you not eat food that tastes good? Just bland, healthy nothin’?”
It takes all my strength not to reach across the table and strangle her. She has no filter. “Darla…”
Brynlee just laughs. “For the longest time, I had the most boring diet. I hated it with a passion I can’t even describe to you. When I quit it, I gained ten pounds. None of it went to my boobs or hips like I hoped.”
I can’t stop myself. I know I shouldn’t look, but mentioning her boobs makes it impossible not to look at her chest. And I can confirm she needs zero adjustments.
Formulating the apology when I see her catch me looking, I’m stunned when she winks rather than scolds me. “I think you look perfectly fine.”
Her hand flies to her heart and she gasps at Darla. “Just what every girl longs to hear. Her date telling her, ‘Hunny, you look perfectly fine.’”
I look at Carter for help, but he laughs along with Brynlee. “That’s not how I meant it.”
“Yeah? How’d you mean that comment, Rhett?” Darla asks.
I glare at her, and I wish for just a moment she’d catch on fire. Nothing serious, but enough to shut her up for a second. “You’re supposed to bemyfriend, remember?”
“Oh!” Brynlee cries and bounces in her seat. “They have those old-time photo trailers! We should do that. All of us. Outlaw gunslingers with two brothel ladies, or whatever they’re called.”
Her excitement is nothing short of contagious, and I just want to make her happy. Even if I have to spend my entire paycheck tonight, I’m going to keep that smile on her face.
“Aren’t those kind of… expensive?” Carter asks.
“I’ll pay. Please? Pretty please? I’m not above begging.”
The mere thought of Brynlee on her knees forces me to think about baseball stats. The problem is, I don’t actually know any baseball stats, but I have to do something to stop myself from completely humiliating myself when I stand up. “You don’t have to pay,” I say.
“Hey, if she’s offerin’,” Carter says, and Darla smacks his arm. “Fine! We’ll do it.”
“He’s not normally this difficult, I promise,” Darla says. “He just really hates the fair. And his wife. He’s makin’ me work for it.”
Tossing our plates in the garbage, I choose to ignore what she said and walk over to the trailer with Brynlee’s hand in mine.Whatever issues are happening with Carter and Darla don’t need to come out on my first date with Brynlee.
The photographer looks over and gasps when he sees my date, and I know what he thinks. What everyone who sees us thinks. Normally, it would bother me, but right now, I don’t care. She’s with me tonight, and I’m choosing to focus on that.
“Men, you stay here. Ladies, follow Gloria to the changing area,” he says. Once the girls disappear, he nods his head as he hands me a gunslinger belt. “Way to go, man!”
A smirk spreads across my face, and Carter slaps my arm. “Told you so!”
I say nothing and just finish putting on the items they give me and taking the shotgun he holds out. Brynlee and Darla step out in their dresses and take seats on the bar top. Carter and I shift, letting them move us into the correct positions.
Two photos are taken, one serious and one smiling, and then we take couple photos.Holy crap, I have a picture with Brynlee. Sure, we’re dressed up like Westerners, but still!
