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“Three grand.”
He coughed on the bite he’d just taken. “I’m in the wrong business.”
“And free granola bars.” She waggled her eyebrows.
She took a bunch of selfies, checking the camera after each one and moving an inch to the right or left. At one point, he thought he caught her taking a picture of him, but couldn’t be sure. Rather than fight it, he sat on a stump and ate jerky until she finished.
Bobby hadn’t called, so they found the fair to kill some time.
“Scones and elephant ears for dinner,” she said. “Yes!”
“I’m gonna get me some brisket,” he said, the smell drawing him like a magnet.
They indulged in fair food, walked around the 4-H barn, and then headed to the rides. On the way, they passed the games, and she begged him to win her a giraffe at the shooting game.
“This is rigged,” he muttered when his shots continually missed the targets. “I’m an expert marksman and should be hitting these all dead center.”
“You can do it,” she said, cheering him on. It took him forty dollars to figure out the “gun.” If he aimed two inches low, he hit everything square on.
When he finally earned enough points to get her the stupid giraffe, she celebrated like he’d won a million dollars. She hugged him while jumping up and down, yelling how fantastic he was.
“Everyone’s staring at us,” he said, trying not to laugh. “Calm yourself.”
“Oh, but Noah. It’s the most wonderful giraffe in the whole world,” she said dramatically.
“All right, all right. I thought you wanted to ride the Ferris wheel. Let’s go.”
She looped her arm through his and bounced her way to the ticket booth. “We’d like tickets for the Ferris wheel, please,” she told the man.
“Ten bucks,” he replied, stone-faced.
Undeterred by his gruffness, she pulled out a ten and slipped it halfway to him. “How about ten dollars and a smile?” She gave him a silly grin that had him huff out a laugh and shake his head.
“You’re nuts, lady.” He handed over the tickets.
“I hope you have the most fabulous, exciting night,” she said, waving goodbye and skipping off toward the ride. Yes, skipping.
Noah noticed the man checking her out. No doubt her hotness let her get away with all sorts of nonsense. He bit back a laugh as he followed her to the ride.
They stopped every thirty seconds to reload the buckets, and when they paused at the very top, he looked over at Daisy. Night had fallen, and the flashing lights from the rides lit up her beautiful blue eyes. A soft, melodic country tune drifted up from a live band playing off the midway.
He saw the moment she decided to kiss him. And damn if he could stop himself from letting her. It was simple. She just leaned over and planted her lips on his. But that was all it took to ignite a fire in him. He gripped her head and kissed her fiercely. Her hands snaked around his neck as she melted into him.
The wheel started again and jolted the common sense back into him. “Shit.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “That was my fault. Sometimes I get carried away, living in the moment. It gets me in trouble.”
“That can’t happen again,” he said. “I work for your dad. I’m supposed to be protecting you, not kissing you.”
“Yes, I agree. Never again,” she said. But the mischievous glint in her eye belied her commitment.
As they exited the ride, Noah’s phone rang. It was the garage. Saved by the bell.
“Sorry about the delay,” Bobby said. “Long story, but the car’s finally done. I’ll leave the keys under the mat. You can do the same with the truck. My wife’s comin’ to take me home, so it don’t matter when you come back.”
“What about the bill?”
“I’ll leave it with the keys. Did your friend find you?”
