No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells (Mystic Cafe Series) (15 page)

“
Candy apples sound good to me. If you’d like, I can get us some.” He gestured over his shoulder.

“
Um, no, I have to meet friends.” Mary Jane started to walk away, taking a few steps backwards. “Nice seeing you again.”

At least she hadn’t taken him up on the offer, although I was sure she wanted to. With my chaperone now gone, it was up to me to make intelligent conversation with Rory for the rest of the evening.

“
The candy apples are really good. Mary Jane will miss out.” He smiled.

I couldn’t help but grin. The tingly feeling had returned.

“
Come on. What are we standing here for? Let’s get a candy apple.” He motioned for me to move forward with him as he took a few steps.

My stomach danced as I realized this was like a real date. Not that it
was
a date, but it was
like
one. He called it a date, but I didn’t. I couldn’t call it a date unless I fixed all that was wrong first, then it could be called a date.

The laughter and screams from the thrill seekers on the roller coaster, and children playing games around us, was intoxicating, only adding to the excitement.

We walked up to the concession stand. The smell of cotton candy and funnel cakes lingered in the air.

Rory turned to me. “Would you like caramel or candy?”

“
I’d like caramel with nuts, please.” Why not go for the messiest, right? I’d already embarrassed myself around him where food was concerned.

“
Two caramel apples, please.” He held up two fingers to the young girl behind the counter.

Rory smiled as he handed me my apple. The way his dimples appeared on each cheek made my insides light up. “I’m giving you the one with the most nuts.”

There was something to say about that comment, but I wouldn’t go there.

“
That’s sweet. Thank you. Here, let me pay for mine.”

I dug around in my pocket, pulled out a couple crumpled dollars, and pushed them toward him. He brushed them away.

“
It’s on me. You want to take a walk around and check out the sights? That’s if you don’t mind eating and walking at the same time?”

“
I think I can handle it.” I chuckled.

We strolled along with the crowd, men and women yelling at us to try to win a prize as we passed the booths.

“
This brings back memories. My dad and I went straight for the caramel apples first thing when we came to the fair. My mom always got the cotton candy, but my dad ate most of it because she’d never finish it.” I took a bite of my apple.

“
I always hit the biggest, meanest-looking roller coaster when I came.” He laughed.

I hoped he didn’t want to hit the meanest-looking one next. My face probably blanched at the mere mention of it.

“
So, you hesitated earlier when I asked you out. Did you not want to come with me?” Rory asked.

He really got to the point; I liked that. Maybe he didn’t hide his feelings like my ex. Rory was probably the type of guy who liked to get things out in the open. Too bad I was doing the exact opposite. I should tell him about the magic right here in the middle of the county fair next to the House of Mirrors.

“
No. I mean, yes, I mean no.” I attempted to wipe caramel from my chin.

He scowled.

I took a deep breath and tried again. “I mean, I didn’t really hesitate. And I wanted to come here with you tonight. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here.”

“
I thought maybe Mary Jane was here to give you an out in case I turned out to be a creep.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a sexy grin. “I’ll try my best to be a perfect gentleman.”

“
No, Mary Jane was coming anyway. She was worried about running into us and being a third wheel. That’s why she took off when you offered the apple. If you were a creep, I’d just take off and leave you here.” I took a bite of my apple, dropping little pieces of nuts on my shirt.

He laughed a hearty laugh again. “Sounds like you got a great emergency exit plan.”

I brushed off the bits of peanut. “It may not be foolproof, but it’s a plan.”

We continued our leisurely walk around the midway, eating our candy apples and making chitchat between bites—mostly talking about the sights of the county fair.

“
You mentioned your father. He brought you to the fair a lot?”

“
Yes.” I nodded. “He brought me every year. Sometimes we’d go to the surrounding county fairs, too. My dad had this crazy knack for winning prizes. His favorite was tossing pennies into the little dishes. He was fantastic. Unfortunately, word spread quickly and they hated to see him coming.”

Rory chuckled. “I bet. I’m sure he wanted to impress his little girl.”

“
Maybe so.” I grinned.

We walked in silence for a few seconds. With memories of my father in my mind, I felt the need to share some of those thoughts with Rory. He seemed to care. Ray had never been all that sympathetic with the mourning process.

“
I lost my dad several years ago,” I said.

“
I’m sorry.” Rory looked down as he said, “My father recently passed, too.”

“
I’m sorry,” I said softly.

“
Do you mind if I ask what happened to your father?” Rory asked.

I shook my head. “He had a heart attack. My mama was always on him to eat better, but he liked his fried food
extra
fried. What about your dad?”

“
Actually, it was the same thing.”

“
Really? I hate to hear that. I plan on making the food at the café as healthy as I can make it. Southern food doesn’t have to be bad for you. There are a lot of alternatives to frying and fat.”

Well, I’d wanted to make the food healthy, but now I wasn’t sure I’d get a chance to do anything if the café was closed.

He smiled softly. “I think that sounds like a wonderful idea.”

“
Thank you. The only problem is convincing people that it
is
a good idea. Some people think it couldn’t possibly taste good unless it’s the full fat version. But enough talk about the café.”

“
Where is your mother now?” Rory asked.

“
Um, she’s still in Mystic Hollow, although she’s not here now. I haven’t seen her since I came back to town. She’s in Ireland. She’s been planning this trip for six months. My parents used to travel a lot, so a year after my dad died, mom decided to keep doing it. I think it makes her happy, as if he’s still with her. She feels closer to him, sharing something they loved, you know?”

My parents had shared something special. Something I thought possibly unobtainable for the average person. But maybe I hadn’t met the right person. I’d felt I settled on Ray just because I hated dating. The whole routine of it put me off.

“
What about your mother? Is she in Kentucky?”

“
No, she lives in Texas. That’s where I’m originally from. She’s in the Austin area. My father wanted to buy a farm here, so I agreed to come with him. Not long after we got here is when I lost him. My brother’s been here a few times to help and I have people who work for me now, so it’s going well, so far.”

“
What did you do in Texas?”

“
I worked with him there. He sold the farm because he wanted to work with thoroughbreds in Kentucky.”

“
Do you like it here? Sometimes moving to a small town and being the outsider can be tough.”

“
I do.”

“
Are people being nice to you?”

“
They’ve been very kind. Some more than others.” Rory glanced over his shoulder. I knew he meant the women who followed him around the fair. “I like it even better now.” He smiled at me.

“
What made you decide on Mystic Hollow?” I asked.

“
I’m not sure. It was my father’s idea. He found the farm and within a few days he’d bought it.”

“
You don’t work all the time, do you? What do you do in your spare time?”

“
Well, let’s see, I like to read. Stephen King is my favorite. I love old horror films like Bride of Frankenstein and Dracula.”

We neared more booths. The blinking lights and music lured us closer.

“
Hey, let’s play. What do you say?” Rory pointed at a booth.

I tossed the apple core in the trash and nodded. “Okay, but I must warn you, I’m not very good.”

He placed his hand on the small of my back, steering me toward the booth. “You aren’t trying to trick me, are you? I bet you’re an expert marksman.”

Rory handed the attendant the money and we picked out our water guns. I selected the red one and Rory picked blue. The bell chimed, indicating the game had started. Rory and I pushed the triggers at the same time. We laughed as we both raced to get the little figure to the other side.

“
Yes!” I exclaimed. “I won.”

Was it all right to brag about beating the guy I secretly had the hots for when he was standing right next to me?”

“
You’re good. See, I knew you were trying to fake me out. You are your father’s daughter.”

“
I did no such thing.” I crossed my heart. “I got lucky.”

“
Don’t forget to pick out your prize.” Rory smiled and gestured toward the stuffed animals.

“
Anything from down here.” The attendant gestured to the bottom section of toys.

“
All that effort for a tiny toy?” I picked a little yellow bear and we headed on our way.

“
That’s a great bear.” Rory inspected my new stuffed friend.

“
Yeah, he’s kind of small, though.” What could I expect for a few dollars?

“
Do you want a big one?”
His words slipped out with a sexy southern drawl.

I coughed, almost choking.

Chapter Twenty
-Two

“
What? Oh, you mean a stuffed toy.” Heat rose in my cheeks.

“
Come on, I’ll win you a bigger one than that.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me along. Even my toes tingled from his touch.

Considering I’d just beaten him, I wasn’t sure another game was a good idea. Embarrassing my non-date when he didn’t win me the biggest stuffed animal at the fair was probably bad dating decorum.

He pointed at a game with a huge hammer. “There’s one.”

“
That looks really hard.”

“
I work on a farm. I’m used to lifting heavy things.”

Judging by his muscular arms, I was sure Rory was strong, and I hoped he didn’t think I was insulting his manliness. But these places have been known to rig the games.

“
Okay, let’s see what you got.” I followed him toward the game.

While Rory paid the man for the chance to cause permanent injury to his shoulder, the sensation of being watched swept over me. When I glanced over my shoulder, I noticed several women standing behind us, staring at Rory’s backside. Talk about uncomfortable. They stared, barely blinking an eye, definitely unconcerned with my presence.

Rory flexed his muscles and flashed his perfect smile. The somewhat predictable macho insecurity was making a tiny appearance, but I expected as much from any man. Rory paid the attendant and lifted the huge hammer. He glanced over his shoulder at me and winked. I think my knees wobbled slightly.

He swung the hammer and I thought the little bell at the top might rocket on into the night sky. A few people standing around clapped. Rory had proved his manliness. But I hadn’t needed a stuffed animal to know he was all man.

“
Congratulations,” the attendant said, “which one do you want?”

I must admit I almost swooned at the whole scene. Knowing Rory wanted to win me a stupid stuffed animal bad enough to almost pull his shoulder out of its socket was invigorating. I picked out the biggest brown teddy bear on the wall. It was almost as big as I was.

As I clutched it in my arms, I smiled at Rory. “Thanks, but you didn’t have to do that.”

“
I wanted to.” His gaze met with mine, then traveled down to my lips.

I didn’t know for sure, but I sensed he wanted to kiss me. The desire to press my lips all over his pulled at me, calling me like a Carnie lures fairgoers to play their overpriced games for cheap prizes. I wanted Rory to kiss me. There was no denying it.

But with the crowd standing around, I didn’t think it would happen. Not to mention the gang of women of all ages who’d been following us all night. I worried I’d need a stick to beat them off. If need be, I’d use the giant stuffed bear.

The feeling of being watched swept over me even stronger this time. Probably the buffet line of women following us, but perhaps it was nothing more than the fact that there were a ton of people standing around. Rory didn’t linger, maybe he felt the stare, too.

“
It’s such a beautiful summer night. I love the smell of food from the fair carrying across the air, although it looks like there are some storm clouds moving in.” Why was I blathering on about the weather? I needed an on-off switch for my mouth.

“
How about we go on a ride?” Rory beamed as if this was his first trip to the fair. His eyes sparkled under the blinking lights.