Unafraid (Beachwood Bay) (9 page)

But even that’s no defense when Hunter flashes me a smile that takes my breath away.

“
Baby, I got all night.”

We stroll the fairgrounds until sunset, and, as promised, Hunter does everything he can to make this the ultimate date. We try out rides, eat hot dogs, watch prize ribbons get awarded to pies and piglets alike. I know I shouldn’t let myself be fooled by all this innocent fun, but slowly, I feel my defenses slip. I let the laughter and crowds wash over me, sinking into the simple joy of the moment and Hunter’s fingers twisted casually in mine.

Is this what it’s like? I wonder. For normal girls, like that blonde Trey ditched me to marry. For the first time, I’m walking in their shoes, and the simple, safe, happiness of it is almost overwhelming. Do they get to feel this way all the time, like the center of the universe, and not some lazy afterthought?

Imagine how different like would be with someone holding you like this every day, doting on you. Caring. You could do anything, knowing you had a partner, somebody to rely on.

I’ve only ever been able to rely on myself.

“
You need a prize.”

“
What?”

Hunter pulls me out of my thoughts. He’s eyeing the shooting range with a determined gleam in his eye.
“
I need to prove my manliness in a show of skill and weaponry,” he proclaims, pounding his chest.

I smile, taking in the row of prizes on offer. “Sure. Nothing says manly like a three-foot pink teddy bear.”

“Oh
ye of little faith.”

Hunter hands a strip of tickets to the guy behind the booth. He takes the fairground rifle and lifts it to his shoulder. Squinting, he aims, and then fires his first shot. It goes wide, ricocheting off the back panel.

“I’m still waiting on the manly.” I tease.

Hunter doesn’t take his eye from the sight. “Hush you.” He fires again, and this time the bottle smashes to the ground, followed by the rest in quick succession.

He lowers the rifle and blows the barrel, like he’s blowing smoke.

“
Real smooth,” I say, applauding. He sees my look.

“Let me guess, you could hit all five?”

“
Maybe.” I admit. “Ray Jay taught me how to shoot before I learned to ride a bike. Just another chapter in my redneck childhood,” I joke, but I suddenly wish I hadn’t said anything at all. Good, blonde, normal girls keep quiet and let the guy take all the glory, I bet.

But Hunter doesn’t seem annoyed. He pays the guy for another round and hands me the rifle. “Show me, I want to see.”

“
You sure?” I check, reluctant.

“
Let’s make it interesting,” he decides, as I lift the rifle and take aim. “For every one you miss, I get a kiss.”

My hands falter. Which do I want more––to kiss him, or not?

Smash. Instinct takes over, and I hit the first bottle. Smash, smash, smash.
The whole row goes down.

I lower the rifle. Hunter gives me a crooked grin. “You lose, he says.”

And with a pang, I wonder if he’s right.

We claim our prize, a huge blue teddy bear with a ribbon round its neck.
“
He can keep you company at night when I’m not there.” Hunter grins, waggling the bear’s paws at me with such a cute expression I can’t help but laugh.

As we stroll on again, carrying the ridiculous toy, I see people glance at us as they pass. Older couples, young girls. I’m used to stares of disapproval and gossip, but this is different. They look affectionate, even envious. I sneak a glance up at Hunter, in the middle of telling some story about secret society initiations in college. He looks so solid and true, smiling that mischievous grin, I would probably be jealous of myself too, if I saw us in passing: the perfect guy, out with his girl.

They don’t know the truth. That he’ll never be mine.

“
So what’s next?” I ask, with a hint of sadness. Dusk is falling, and the lights from the fairground are starting to glow neon and bright against the darkening skies. I only have a little while left of this night of make-believe, before reality sets in again, and my perfect date is over. “Ghost house?” I suggest. “More manly shows of strength? More food?”

“
More?” Hunter widens his eyes dramatically.

“
Hey!” I laugh, shoving at him. He catches my hands, pulling me close against him, and my heart skips at the feel of his body, so hard and warm against mine. He dwarves my tiny frame, and it makes me weak, just imagining those arms braced above me; those rock-hard abs pressed down against my skin...

“
One more stop.” Hunter’s eyes sparkle. “Right here.”

I look up. The Ferris wheel.

“
For real? My voice is doubtful.

“
Come on, I know you’re not scared of heights, the way you hide up on that rooftop of yours.”

“
No, it’s fine,” I answer. “It’s just, kind of dull.”

“
Being alone with me is dull?” Hunter raises an eyebrow teasingly.

OK, scratch that. Not dull. Dangerous.

As if reading my mind, Hunter winks, teasing. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe?”

But who’ll keep me safe from him?

“Fine.” I agree, not seeing a way to say no without revealing my feelings. Better we’re up there in a tiny carriage than down here on solid earth, surrounded by dark corners to pull him into, and solids walls to get pushed up against… “Let’s do it.”

The line is short, and soon, Hunter is helping me into the small two-person seat. He chats to the operator for a moment, shaking the guy’s hand, and then settles beside me, pulling the safety rail down into place.

“
So you were really serious, about the ranch thing,” I say, as the wheel jerks, and then lifts us smoothly into the air. “I saw you, with that horse before... I didn’t know you could do that.”

“
My grandpa taught me, before he died. I always just had a way with them.” Hunter looks bashful.

“
So you bought her? The chestnut.” I ask.

“I couldn’t resist.
She’s a beautiful animal.” Hunter nods.

“She looked kind of wild to me.”

He nods, but with an affectionate smile. “It’s nothing. They left it too long to break her, so now she’s skittish even taking a lead, but once I’m through working with her, she’ll be good to work, compete, whatever.”

“
I never pictured you out on a ranch,” I say thoughtfully. “I figured you’d go be a lawyer or doctor or something.”

Something fancy
, I silently add.

“
You and my parents both.” Hunter laughs shortly, but I can hear a bitter note in his tone.

“I can imagine,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood. “A Covington, up to his elbows in horseshit. At least your brother is doing something respectable, right? He was always the good one.”

“
Something like that.” Hunter looks out at the view, the fairgrounds slowly getting smaller as we climb higher in the arc. “What about you? I saw your designs, the dresses. You’re really good.”

I fidget with the teddy bear, awkward. “Thanks.”

Hunter scooches a couple of inches closer to me, slinging his arm around the back of the seat. “You ever thought about going to design school, or sending your work out to any designers?”

I shrug. I don’t want to tell him about my stack of rejections, and what a failure I really am. “Maybe, one day.” I say instead, like it’s not my biggest dream. “I like to do my own thing.”

Hunter chuckles. “
You don’t say.”

I shrug again, not sure how to take that, but Hunter adds quickly. “It’s a good thing. Most people, they just do whatever anyone else wants. But you always go your own way. I like that about you.”

I feel myself blush again, and look down. We’re nearing the top of the Ferris wheel’s arc now, the fairgrounds twinkling below us. I force myself to let out a breath of tension, and relax.

You’re on a date. You’re on a date with Hunter, and you haven’t screwed it up yet.

I repeat it to myself for reassurance, trying to ignore the fact we’re pretty much alone now. I’ve kept it together so far, I just need to make it to the end of the night without doing anything stupid, and everything will be fine.

Suddenly,
there’s a shudder. The slow movement of the wheel comes to a stop.

“
What’s happening?” I ask, a note of panic creeping in my voice. I look down at the cars below us, but we’re all suspended, swinging gently in place.

“
Relax.” Hunter settles back, unconcerned. “Probably just a glitch. They’ll have us down safe in no time.”
He casually drops his hand from the back of the booth, and starts stroking soft circles on my bare shoulder.

The sensation that sparks through me is out of this world. If he’s trying to distract me, it works; suddenly, the frozen wheel is the last thing on my mind, not with the soft sweep of his fingertips sending a delicious ripple of electricity across my skin.

I shiver with longing.

“You’re cold.” Hunter notices my shiver. “Damn, I didn’t bring a sweater, I should have thought.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not. C’mon,” He pulls me closer, and even though my goose-bumps are nothing to do with the chilly night air and everything to do with his presence, I willingly move into the circle of his warmth.

It’s a mistake.

I realize right away, but it’s too late; his presence is overwhelming, and it’s all I can do just to absorb the feel of him, closer than he’s ever been before. His masculine heat radiates through the thin fabric of his T-shirt, and with his arm wrapped tight around me, I can feel the rise and fall of his every breath, the power coiled tight in those biceps.

God, I want him.

Desire snakes through me, and it’s all I can do to stay frozen in his arms, forcing my breathing to stay steady and not betray the dirty thoughts flooding my mind.

I want to tear that T-shirt from his body.

I want to lick my way down his chest.

I want to feel that weight bearing down on me, surrounding me,
invading
me...

“Better?” Hunter murmurs, oblivious to the X-rated movie playing in my mind. Of course he’s oblivious: he’s trying to keep me warm, and meanwhile, I’m using any excuse to be close to him.

“You’re such a gentleman,” I tell him, guilty.

And you’re such a slut,
the voice in my mind adds.

“I’m not.” Hunter answers.

I laugh. “Please. Taking me out, planning all this stuff. You’re like the dictionary definition of chivalry.”

“Don’t say that.” Something hollow in Hunter’s voice makes me lift my face to see him. He’s got a twisted look marring his face, a shadow in his eyes.

“I’m no gentleman.” he mutters darkly. “Believe me.”

“You are—”

He speaks over my protest. “If I was a gentleman, I wouldn’t have picked this ride, just to get you alone someplace you couldn’t run. I wouldn’t have slipped the guy twenty bucks to stop when we reached the top,” he continues, with self-loathing expression, “And I sure as hell wouldn’t be hard right now, crazy with wanting you.”

What?

I blink at him, my mind reeling as I try to process what he’s just said.

He wants me.

He wants me.

The words are like a lit fuse, igniting my ravenous desire. It’s more than I can stand. Before I stop to think, or even breathe, I reach across the booth and grab him by the shirt, pulling him across and kissing him with everything I have.

Hunter freezes against me, shocked, but it’s too late to take it back. His lips taste of cotton candy; forbidden and achingly sweet. I have to have it all. I run my fingers through his hair, kissing him hungrily, delving into the dark warmth of his mouth to drink him in deeper and tease his tongue with mine.

He breaks.

Hunter lets out a tortured groan, and then he’s yanking me closer, kissing me with a fevered intensity that blots the world from my vision and fills my mind with stars.

It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. My blood sings, pounding wildly in my ears as Hunter’s mouth devours mine. His hands rove across my body, clutching at my waist, my back, my hair, sending fresh waves of desire through me with every touch. I clutch at him, overwhelmed, dizzy with the sensation, but it’s not enough. I break away, kissing a trail down his jaw, licking daringly at the salty-sweat taste of his skin.

“Goddammit.” Hunter groans again, gripping my hips and lifting me so I’m straddling his lap. The safety bar of the Ferris car digs into my back, but I’m beyond caring. All I can feel is the sweet friction of Hunter, pressing hard between my thighs, and the blazing path of his mouth as he kisses down my neck and licks across the sensitive hollow of my throat.