Page 50 of Where the Wattles Bloom

‘I am a laughing clown ninja.’

Her expression morphed into mock sternness. ‘That’s a serious claim, mister. You better be able to back it up.’

She might be teasing, but it seemed suddenly very important to Lachlan that Rowena knew he could back up any claim he made. Their eyes locked as Lachlan’s expression turned resolute. ‘Oh, I can back it up.’

Several beats passed before she nodded. ‘Bring it.’

Thirteen

Two hours later, with one bright orange gargantuan teddy bear in tow, Rowena looked up at the Ferris wheel. Night had settled in and the fireworks were moments away. Lachlan had suggested the best view in the house was at the top of the wheel.

‘Not quite as big as the one at The Royal Easter Show, huh?’

She laughed. ‘Not exactly, no. On the other hand, probably perfect for you.’

He winced, sucking air in through pursed lips. ‘Ouch,’ he said good-naturedly.

Rowena hadn’t met a man like Lachlan McCabe before. They’d spent two hours in sideshow alley, playing everything from the clowns to pluck-a-duck to hoop shooting and balloon burst, and he was utterly unconcerned if she bested him.

In fact, he seemed to revel in her competence.

The men she’d been with in the past—not that she was with Lachlan—were hardly Neanderthals, but they certainly had easily dented egos. Not him, though. As they went head to head, Lachlan was her biggest cheerleader.

She trounced him in the hoops and he absolutely smashed her in the shooting gallery. She left him for dust in the balloon burst and he put his superior strength to good use by hitting the bell on the high striker when she could barely get it to move a foot. But he’d been cheering for her the whole time, giving her tips on where and how to strike the base.

He hadn’t felt the need to prove himself on anything, which made Lachlan McCabe a refreshing change.

Of course, they could have done without his high striker prize. The giant tangerine bear had seemed funny at the time. Like the ultimate cliché in teenage girl/boy sideshow alley relations. But now, contemplating the Ferris wheel, it was a little impractical.

‘Well, come on, then,’ he said, ushering her to the guy taking the tickets and running the wheel. ‘The fireworks are about to start.’

There was no line as everyone else appeared to be either at or heading to the centre ring, so they walked straight onto their gondola. It swung a little underfoot as Rowena claimed the seat on the right.

‘Here.’ Lachlan stopped and fished in his pocket. He pulled out his wallet and handed over a fifty to the young guy who’d taken their tickets. ‘Stop us at the top so we can watch the fireworks?’

His eyes lit up at the note. Nodding eagerly, he took the money. ‘Sure thing, dude.’

Rowena’s heart fluttered a little. She had to admit, had they been a couple instead of two people who’d had a one-night stand they didn’t talk about, it would have been a terribly romantic—if a little clichéd—gesture. But somehow, without even discussing it, they’d become, well … friends.

Heart flutter notwithstanding.

With his bribe taken, Lachlan also stepped onto the carousel. He, along with every other country person at the show, was in his best boots, best jeans, best button-down shirt beneath his fleecy jacket and shiniest belt buckle. It flashed in the light now as he plonked the bear on the seat opposite before taking the seat next to her, the carousel rocking under his weight.

The seat was big enough for two, but only just, and she shimmied over as much as possible. Still, it was a cosy fit, their arms and thighs pressing together.

‘Hope you don’t mind?’ he murmured, as he removed his hat and finger-combed his hair. ‘No way can anyone other than a small child share with the bear.’

‘True that. Typical man.’

‘Hey,’ he protested, amused rather than annoyed. ‘How do you know it’s a bloke?’

‘Are you kidding? Look at that man spread. Definitely a dude.’

‘Oh, yeah.’ He nodded. ‘Good point.’

‘We could leave it behind?’

He feigned horror. ‘And risk someone stealing Colin?’