Page 79 of Flirty Fall Fling

“What if I manifested you?” he asks.

“Did you?”

“Maybe.” He laughs and takes a step closer.

A group of teenagers is arguing on the other side of the hay wall, close enough to hear us.

“I got your note,” he says, his voice gravelly.

“What note?” I play dumb.

He narrows his eyes at me, then reaches into his jacket pocket. Jamie pulls out the folded piece of notebook paper, then clears his throat before turning it around. “If you didn’t put this on my car, then who did?”

“Hmm. Sounds like you have an admirer.”

“I’m hoping so. But also, this is your handwriting.”

“Busted,” I say.

The teenagers come rushing toward us, only to find it’s a dead end. There are four of them, loud, passing a bag of kettle corn around.

One of the girls looks from him to me and back. “Are you making out in the maze?”

Her friends laugh, and then they turn around and go the other way.

Jamie loops his fingers in mine, and we take our time moving back into the maze. We walk. Lanterns hang from poles, lighting the way. The paths smell like straw, and it’s slightly damp. Kids sprint past us, laughing and screaming, as they chase one another in costume. When the path narrows, his fingers brush mine, and I let it happen.

The past five days, I’ve been swamped with working the festival and the storefront. But a day hasn’t passed where I haven’t thought about him.

“We should talk,” I say as we take a left. It’s another dead end with a scarecrow.

“Nothing good ever starts with that.” He leans against the hay wall next to the scarecrow.

“You never know.” I step in front of him so he has to look at me. “I want to spend the rest of October with you.”

“I knew that already.” His mouth curves upward.

“You said you want all of me. All or nothing. I’ll give you that until November first, like we agreed, but …”

He tilts his head. “But?”

“I have to work. This is my busiest season of the year. I’ve been at the shop nonstop, and the next thirty days won’t be easy, juggling it all.”

“Whatever you need, Blaire. I just want you without you holding back and running away. We agreed to a fling. That still stands. But this doesn’t have to be just a sex agreement. We can have fun. Enjoy life.”

He pulls me in closer, until I’m pressed against his chest, and then he kisses me.

“Is the Fling King always like this?” I ask after he leaves me completely breathless.

“Somewhat. Flings are like test-driving a car before buying it. I tend to give my all, then walk away when the deal expires.”

I lick my lips. “But most don’t want to give you up?”

“Correct,” he says. “So, is this us starting over?”

“Yes,” I whisper, hoping I’m not making a mistake. “All in.”

He smirks. “I love it when I get my way.”