Page 7 of A Simple Life

She frowned. “Should I be worried?”

“No. It’s normally a safe place. Just stick to the lighted areas.”

She looked over my shoulder. “I might just go home.”

The words were out before I could stop them. “I can walk around with you.”

She paused, then smiled. “Great.”

We strolled the midway, walking around families, couples, and other individuals. Most of the time, I walked behind her, a silent shadow. I didn’t make eye contact with many people, not really wanting to talk to anyone. I had already done the circuit earlier, but something in me didn’t want to leave Quinn alone. I felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness for the woman, which surprised me. It wasn’t normal for me to feel anything for anyone outside my family.

She was a talker, pointing out things I had never noticed before. How the lights glimmered in the dark. The sheen of the rides as they whizzed by. She noticed people’s shoes, their hats, whispering in mock horror over the long talons teenage girls seemed to like these days.

“I would poke my eye out,” she confessed.

I noticed her nails were short, buffed, and nude. I didn’t tell her I preferred the natural look. It seemed too personal somehow.

But I did find her amusing, and I had to admit, her droll comments made me smile more than once. I couldn’t recall smiling that much in a long time.

Quinn pointed out a few craft stands, and we stopped and watched the rides for a moment.

“Did you want to go on one?” I found myself asking.

“No. I just like to watch.”

“Hungry?”

She laughed. “No. I’m good.”

She stared at the game booths, laughing as a guy tried to win a teddy bear for his girl. She eyed me up. “I bet you could hit the bell.”

“You want me to try?” I offered.

She hesitated. “Really?”

“Sure.”

We joined the group in front, and I wondered how I’d gotten there. Standing in line, waiting to swing a mallet and win a stupid bear for a woman I didn’t know. It was almost as if I wanted to impress her.

Inwardly, I scoffed at the idea.

At the head of the line, the ticket taker handed me the mallet. “Good luck.”

I lifted my arms and swung, the weight almost hitting the top.

“Oh, so close!” he yelled.

Plunking down the money for another swing, I stepped back, sliding my hands to the end of the mallet and focusing all my energy. Again, I swung, this time the weight rushing up the post and hitting the bell loudly. The crowd cheered, and I let Quinn pick the bear. She opted for a pink one wearing a tutu. I felt something akin to pride as I handed it to her—like a warrior giving his queen the prize for winning the war. Which made me want to punch myself in the face for such a stupid thought.

She clapped, grinning, and her beauty in that moment stunned me. Her eyes glowed, her dark hair rippling over her shoulders. Her smile was incredible, the dimples deep divots in her cheeks. She glowed with happiness, and she hugged my arm as we walked away.

I felt the stirring of desire growing. The want to pull her into the shadows and kiss her so strong, I almost stumbled. I looked down, finding her eyes on mine. Time seemed to stand still as our gazes locked, the heat becoming a living, breathing thing between us.

Then her phone rang, breaking the spell. I stepped back, shocked to see how close I’d been standing next to her. I frowned as she answered, hearing the deep timbre of a man’s voice. She furrowed her brow, turning her back. With the crowds around us, I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but a dull feeling of anger rolled through my chest. A sense of déjà vu hit me.

Hanging up, she turned to face me. “I have to go. My daughter⁠—”

I cut her off. “Daughter?”