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“She deserves better than she’s gotten. She was left in a bad state last time.”
“I carry that regret heavy on my shoulders every day. If I would have known—”
“Don’t let it weigh you down too much. I was right here and . . .” His gaze goes to the ground between us, and for the first time in my life, Paul looks . . . regretful. His body slumps. “We can’t change what’s happened.” The dark of his brown eyes hold more than memories but are still optimistic. “I know you well enough, Jason, to know you’ll make things right by her. But if you don’t, we own two shotguns, and Lorraine and I aren’t afraid to use them.”
“I’d forgotten how you never messed around.”
“My days are long, but there never seems to be enough hours. I don’t have time to beat around the bush.” He reaches forward, and we shake hands again. “Since you’re hanging around, feel free to come give me an afternoon off here and there,” he jokes.
“I will.”
Sitting atop the old tractor, he says, “Make sure to say hello to my wife, or she’ll give me a hard time. She’s not home right now, but she’s been dying to see you.”
Delilah is fortunate to have them nearby. They care about her. They were there for her when I wasn’t, and I’m thankful she has them in her life. “She could have come over anytime. Both of you. You’re always welcome. You know that.”
“Eh, I told her to give you and Delilah some time to grow together. I see it worked.”
Chuckling, I reply, “It sure did.”
24
Jason
“Welcome to the Freeland County Fair and Rodeo.”
The greeting screeches through the speakers as I park the truck in a field of cars and get out. I scan the area, but it’s massive.
One main ticketed entrance.
One gate to exit.
Too many ins and outs surrounding this place.
I hate large events because danger lurks everywhere. The lack of safety here is disconcerting, and I’m supposed to walk my girl right in there like it’s not. So much can go wrong quickly. Reminding myself that I grew up coming here and the people are good, I try to believe it’s safe. It’s not the locals I’m worried about. It’s my past showing up. Shit can get crazy fast without warning.
Pushing these thoughts down isn’t going to be easy, but maybe that’s yet another penance I’ll pay for living the life I have. Delilah’s a reminder of the good in people. Don’t I deserve the good for the bad I’ve seen?
When I come around, Delilah slips out. The short skirt of her dress slides up while her boots land on the gravel with ease. Long, tan legs teasing my dick. As always. Looking around, I’m tempted to take her here. There aren’t many people around, but enough that we might be noticed since it’s only six o’clock, and the sun is still high in the sky.
I settle on a compliment. “Have I told you how sexy you look in that dress?”
She’s blushing when she looks at me from under the brim of her cowboy hat. “We’re not having sex here.”
My hands go up in surrender. “I wasn’t going to suggest it.” Damn, she’s got my number.
“I know you, Jason Koster. I can see it on your face, and the way you’re looking at me.”
Grabbing her around the waist, I pull her against my hard-on. “I can’t help that you do things to me.”
Her hands slide under my shirt, her nails scraping lightly against my stomach and arousing me even more. “I’ll tell you what. You win me a prize, a big prize, and we’ll fulfill that fantasy of yours.”
“The one with you bent over the hay bale?”
“That’s the one, cowboy.”
Fuck yeah, I’ll win that prize.
Her pupils dilate. With a mischievous smile on her face, she runs her tongue over the corner of her mouth and then bites her lip. Fuck. My cock hurts from being restrained in these jeans.
The sexy confidence she had when we dated has returned. She’s so damn tempting and maddening when she teases, but the reward when I’m deep inside her is worth the foreplay. She makes it to the end of the truck bed and turns back. “Well, c’mon now. We have a prize to win.”
I shift the best I can within the confines of the denim.
“Let’s get a move on.” She saunters off, but then looks back and winks. “Good times await, stud.”
I’m competitive, to say the least.
With the offer she made on the table, there was no way I was going to lose. I don’t care how much money I had to spend on these carnival games, but I feel set up. She doesn’t want the biggest stuffed panda from hitting rigged milk bottles or the pink Care Bear tossing darts at balloons. Nope. Delilah Rae has set her sights on the grand prize—$500 cash—in the county sharpshooting contest.
