Page 10 of Falling for the Maverick

Lucas realized they were holding up the line. “What do you want?” he asked her.

“Hot cider and a donut.”

Reaching into the pocket of his jeans, he took out a bill. “Two hot ciders and one donut.” He glared at Michelle when she started to open her crossbody bag. “Don’t.”

The single quiet word stopped her.

Lucas leaned close to her. “I don’t want you ever to open your wallet when you go out with me,” he whispered softly.

Michelle slowly blinked, her large brown eyes boring into his. “But I didn’t go out with you, Lucas,” she countered. “We just met here.”

“Same difference.” Reaching over her head, he paid for the ciders and donut. He pocketed his change, then handed Michelle her refreshment. “Let’s find a place where we can sit, then you can tell me all what to expect during the fall festival.”

They found a small round table not far from the pumpkin chucking contest. Lucas pulled out a chair for Michelle and waited for her to be seated before sitting opposite her.

She hadn’t worn a hat, and a slight breeze blew her unbound hair over her cheek. Before he could stop himself, he reached over and tucked the strands behind her ear. It was delicate with a tiny diamond.

* * *

Michelle forced herself not to react when Lucas’s fingers brushed her cheek. There was something so innocent yet so sensual in the gesture that she’d imagined his hand caressing her naked body.

You need to get a grip, Michelle, because you know that’s never going to happen. The man hasn’t hinted or even shown he’s interested in anything remotely romantic.

Spreading out a napkin, she placed her donut on it and broke off a small piece, watching Lucas intently as he stared at her. His eyes followed every motion as she put it into her mouth and slowly chewed it, before she picked up the cup of cider and took a sip. It was hot, but not so hot where it would burn her tongue.

If the donut was yummy, so was the man sitting across from her. His Stetson was rakishly dipped over his forehead at an angle that she found deliciously appealing.

“What’s up with throwing pumpkins?” he asked.

Michelle smiled. “It’s call pumpkin chucking. You hurl a pumpkin using slingshots, catapults, trebuchets, centrifugals, or a pneumatic cannon.”

“What’s the difference between a catapult and a treb­uchet?” Lucas questioned.

“The difference is the power source. Trebuchets use gravity from a counterweight, and catapults use elastic tension to store and release energy. Trebuchets are more powerful because they can launch heavier payloads farther with less structural stress on the machine itself.”

“Impressive. You’re knowledgeable.” He nodded at her. “So, if I enter the contest and want to hurl a larger pumpkin, then I should use the trebuchet?”

“Are you?”

“Am I what, Michelle?”

“Going to enter the pumpkin chucking contest?”

Lucas laughed softly. “Of course. I’ve never been one not to accept a challenge. After all, I am attempting to fit into my new hometown.”

“Oh, so you’re a risk-taker?” she teased.

“It depends on what’s at stake. Although I’d rather eat pumpkin than throw one. But this is something I need to experience at least once in my life.”

“I’d rather eat pumpkin than play games with them, too, even though all of the money they raise is for a good cause. This year, like last, most of the proceeds are targeted for the town’s restoration fund. Last year Luca Sanchez found some dinosaur bones that have helped Tenacity’s renaissance.”

Lucas took a piece of her donut and popped it into his mouth. “Hey, this is delicious. Don’t worry, beautiful, I’ll buy you another one.”

It was the second time Lucas had called her beautiful, and Michelle did feel beautiful whenever they were together. “That’s okay. You can have what’s left.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Lucas, I’m sure.”