Page 51 of A Love Like Candle Light

"Bobby is a meddling gossip." I chuckle and rub the back of my neck.

"Oh." Her hold on my arm loosens, which feels all kinds of wrong. "Anyway, what are you up to?"

"You know, just walking around, making sure everyone behaves." I make a vague gesture at the fair, which couldn’t be more peaceful. The greatest offense to maybe happen today is one of the dogs stealing a sausage from the hot dog booth.

"Mind if I join you? I mean, not working, because obviously I'm not a cop, but..." Her grin widens. "I am great company."

"I mean, I can't stop you." Her face falls. Smooth, Erik. "And I wouldn't want to." Her smile slowly returns. "Where's Abby?"

"Hanging out with Kieran and Dick." Her lips purse into an adorable pout. "Damn traitor likes Dick more than me." I bite the insides of my cheeks to keep from chuckling as I start walking. "Oh, hell no, that sounded wrong. In my head, the two of them are besties, not romantically involved. At least I hope so.”

She’s so adorable and the way her face turns into a shocked grimace is too cute to keep my laughter contained any longer.

"Is everything alright, Kylie?" I press out. There’s a straw of hay stuck to her hair. I try to pluck it out, but it’s woven into her hair, so it takes me a moment. "Are you tipsy?"

"I might have had a cider." She clears her throat ever so subtly leans into my touch. "Or five. Why, is it that obvious?"

"Yes. Yes, it is. You're cute when you're tipsy." I hold up the straw I freed from her hair.

"Only when I'm tipsy?" Our eyes meet, and the air between us crackles.

"No," I mumble and let the straw fall to the ground. "Not only when you're tipsy."

"That, Erik, is the correct answer.” She holds my gaze, pulling her lip between her teeth, searching the answer for an unspoken question on my face. “Come on.” Her eyes dart to my arm she’s still holding. “Let's get a churro. I've been smelling these all day, and I'm dying to get my hands on one."

We stroll to the food truck, following the churros’ scent. Aunt Molly’s booth is packed, what must be twenty people checking out her and her booth partner’s items, so I only greet her with a quick wave.

Once we arrive at the food truck, Kylie stops in her tracks and pouts.

"Oh wow, the line wasn't this long before."

"Let me try something." Skepticism is written all over her face, but she lets me pull her along.

I know the guy who runs this food truck. Javier. He also owns a restaurant two towns over. Whenever my job brings me remotely close, I make sure to pay him a visit. It's a mix between a café and a diner, and the churros are, without a doubt, the best thing he has on his menu. His food truck is regularly booked out for weddings, school events and birthdays, so truly, Wayward Hollow should be honored he keeps the autumn fair dates open.

He even decorated his truck with pumpkin stickers all over and fake leaf garlands around the window he operates out of.

"Javi!" I shout once I see his familiar black-haired head. His head shoots up and he searches the crowd until he finds me. "How's Maria doing?"

"Erik, my man!" He exchanges a quick sentence with his employee, then jumps out of the food truck, appearing from behind it with a smile rivaling the late afternoon sun. "Maria, man, she's doing awesome. You know, she got past the morning sickness, and now she's all glowing." He talks a lot with his hands, motioning towards his face. "And, we're having twins. Can you believe it?"

"Congratulations." I clasp his shoulder and give it a squeeze. "That's amazing. Get ready for a lot of sleepless nights."

"It’s okay, I'm excited." Then he notices Kylie and directs her attention to her. "And who's this beautiful woman?"

"I'm Kylie." She lets go of my arm to shake his hand, and I already miss it. "Lovely to meet you. I’ve been salivating over the scent of your churros for the past six hours." He lets go of her hand and darts back into the truck. When he turns back to her, he’s got tongs in his hand and narrows his eyes.

"You look like a cinnamon kind of person." He points the tongs at her. When she doesn’t disagree, he turns to the fryer.

Before Kylie knows what's happening, she's got a paper bowl with a bunch of cinnamon and sugar sprinkled churros in her hand.

"How did you—"

"Please, be careful, they’re fresh out of the fryer. And Erik, knowing you, it's chocolate as always, yes?"

I raise my hand to offer him a fist bump. "Please, Javi. I've been dreaming about your churros."

"And I'm pretty sure Maria's been dreaming about your pretty face." He bursts into laughter, meanwhile I feel my cheeks turning as hot as Kylie’s churros. "Here you go."