12. Ranger
Chapter 12
Ranger
Sarah’s lips weren’t made for this earth with their softness and taste of sweet honey. If heaven ever existed, it was right here with this woman who smelled of powdered sugar and spice. My own special treat, like nothing I’d ever had before.
My hands shook as we came up for air. Her lids were heavy with the same emotion I felt taking hold of my entire body.
“Wow,” she whispered. “That was incredible.”
Pinching her chin between my thumb and forefinger, I tilted her head back and pressed my lips to hers once more.
So sweet .
Everything about her was decadent. I found myself overwhelmed by it all. It wasn’t supposed to be this good because simply kissing a woman never had been before. But Sarah was different. I was different when she was around and there was no more denying that. Hell. There was no more denying that I couldn’t stay away from this woman, no matter how scared I was that she was going to use me up and toss me to the side once she took longer than a moment to see who I truly was.
I stomped those thoughts out though because the fear didn’t matter anymore. Sarah lassoed my heart with that kiss and I’d follow her down whatever path she wanted to lead me.
“Ride’s over. Time to get off,” the attendant shouted a little too close and when he tried to unlatch the metal bar, I shot him a look that told him to think better of it. Eyes wide, he took a step back with his hands up.
I looked back to Sarah. “Ready?” I asked.
She just nodded with a smile that touched a part of my heart I wasn’t sure still existed. Wrapping my hand around the back of her head, I pulled her close to me and pressed my lips to her forehead before I reached to my right and unlatched the metal bar. I kept the cab steady as she made her way off the ride and towards the crowd.
She looked back at me, that smile broadening. “Come on.”
When I got to her, she slipped her hand in mine and I was sure nothing else had felt so right in my entire life. That voice in the back of my head told me to be wary. That this wouldn’t last long because nothing good ever lasted for people like me. There would certainly be something that stole her away from me and I would be left to pick up the pieces, just like I always was.
For this one night, I could give myself the freedom to enjoy it. Even if tomorrow meant she would wake up and realize the mistake she made in wanting me.
“What brought you to the fair tonight?” she asked as we wove through the throng of people dashing toward the rides and various game booths.
Normally, I would have made up some generic response, but those big brown eyes were filled with genuine curiosity and I couldn’t resist her. “When I was in prison, I made a promise to myself that, once I got out, I would make the best of my life. I wouldn’t sit around and sulk over the years I lost. If there was something that came along that I felt I wanted to do, I would do it.”
“Except go on a date with me.” She arched a brow and narrowed her eyes on me, making me laugh.
“Yeah, you got me there. I did deny myself a date with you.”
She stopped walking. “Why? Why would you break the promise you made to yourself?”
“Because you terrify me, Sarah.”
“Terrify you ?”
I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Yes.” I ground my molars together. “I don’t know what it is about you, but no matter how hard I try I can’t seem to stay away from you. Ever since I saw you at Deacon’s bonfire two summers ago, I’ve done everything in my power to keep my distance.”
“Why would you do that?” She grabbed my hand and held it to the side of her face.
“Because the thought of having you means there’s a possibility that I can lose you. And for some reason, the idea of losing you makes me feel fucking crazy. So, I stayed away for as long as I could. Letting myself admire you from a distance. But…”
“But you couldn’t stay away anymore.”
“Exactly.”
She stepped toward me and the entire world seemed to slow around us. Rising onto her tiptoes, she placed an open palm on my chest that sent a cascade of heat through my body. “I’m glad you didn’t stay away, Ranger,” she whispered, her lips grazing my ear. “And I don’t care what people might say about us because I want you too.”
When she nipped the edge of my earlobe with her teeth, I almost picked her up, threw her over my shoulder, and ran back to my truck. But I remembered what she’d said to Deacon a few weeks ago when I walked into her bakery. If she was telling him the truth about being a virgin, I was going to have to walk a fine line because there was no way in hell I was going to let myself ruin such an important experience for her even if my dick was straining so hard against my jeans I thought it might fall right off.
“It’s settled then.”
“What is?” she asked.
“This will be our first date.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Oh no. This”—holding my hand, she extended her arm and did a little twirl—“is not our first date, Ranger. This is a happy coincidence. If you want me, you’re going to have to take me on a real date.”
“Is that right? ”
“Mmhmm.”
The balls of her cheeks tightened as she bit her bottom lip, trying not to smile. She was so damn cute, I wanted to eat her up.
I tugged on her hand until she fell into me. When she was pressed against my chest, I slid my hand along the side of her neck, rubbing my thumb along the edge of her jaw.
“Sarah Williams, will you go on a date with me?”
A single, breathy word left her lips. “Yes.”
I pressed a kiss to her temple. “Now it’s settled.”
“Indeed.”
With a tilt of her head, those lips I dreamed of were merely an inch from mine. “And now it’s time for me to kick your ass in some arcade games,” she challenged before leaning away so I couldn’t kiss her.
“You’re going to be the end of me,” I groaned as she slipped her hand back in mine and we started walking.
“No, Ranger. I think I’m going to be your beginning.”
The flutter in my heart told me she might be right.
“I don’t understand how you’re so good at this.” I shot Sarah a questioning look as I handed the attendant a five-dollar bill.
“This time I’m going for the big tiger.” She’d already won five medium-sized stuffed animals that she traded in for an extra-large dolphin .
“There’s no way you’re going to win this one. Those clowns are all rigged.” She tossed the red ball into the air in front of my face before catching it again. This was the last game on her list and I knew from experience it was basically impossible to win. The balls weren’t nearly heavy enough to knock down the clowns that were filled with sand. It would take serious speed and hitting them in the exact spot to knock them over.
“Watch and learn, cowboy.” She winked at me before she wound up her arm and threw the ball like a fucking softball star, nailing the first clown pin just above where the neck tapered. It went down with a thud.
“Shit,” I muttered.
Within thirty seconds the other four clowns were toast. The attendant looked irritated, rolling his eyes at Sarah as he reached for the long pole to unhook the huge tiger hanging from the wall.
Sarah jumped up and down, clapping like a fiend as the attendant gave her the stuffed animal.
“See?” She waved the tiger back and forth. “Told you.”
I chuckled as I grabbed her dolphin from the counter and we started walking off. “Who taught you how to throw like that?”
“My older brother, Theo. Do you remember him from high school? I think he was in the grade right below yours.”
“Yeah. Blonde hair. Looks like a Viking giant?”
“Yup, that’s him.”
“I remember him playing almost every sport there was in high school. ”
She nodded. “He was good at everything. Still is. When he got into football and baseball, I was his throwing partner. He would get so upset when I couldn’t throw the balls straight to him. He taught me so he wouldn’t have to chase them all over the yard. When I got the direction down, he helped me gain some power behind the throws.”
“You’re full of surprises.” I draped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into me as we slowly walked toward the exit.
“What’s surprising about a girl throwing a ball well?”
“Not a thing. I think it’s sexy as hell.” She looked to the side with a demure tilt of her lips.
“I’m just surprised that it wasn’t your dad who was helping Theo with his sports training.”
The corners of her lips drew downward and her shoulders sagged under my arm.
I stopped, placing my hands on her shoulders, I turned her so she was facing me. “Hey, if there’s ever a question I ask that you don’t want to answer just give me the word.”
Familiar with the weight of other people’s assumptions and prying, I never wanted to make her feel like she didn’t have to appease me by responding. But I hoped she would trust me.
“No, it’s okay. I want to tell you.” She sighed as she twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers. “It’s just that I didn’t have the easiest relationship with my parents growing up. Actually…nix that. I still don’t have the best relationship with them.”
When she reached for my hand and intertwined her fingers with mine, something eased inside of me. And when she started walking toward the exit again, I followed.
“Theo was always an active kid. Like you said, he played every sport available and he was great at everything. But our parents had a plan for him and becoming a pro-athlete was not part of the plan. The only reason they let him play sports was because he made a deal with them. If he didn’t get straight A’s in every class, he was banned from playing altogether.”
“Damn. That’s a pretty intense stipulation to put on a kid.”
She huffed, her tiny nostrils flaring slightly. “You have no idea. I can still remember walking into his room in the morning and his face would be glued to an open textbook. He worked himself into the ground to uphold his end of the bargain.”
“I’m guessing they did the same thing to you?”
“They still do it. If they had their way, I wouldn’t be working as a bakery owner. Instead, I would have letters behind my name or I would be married with three children to someone who did.”
“You wouldn’t be happy living like that.” This was the first night we’d spent together and I already knew my statement was true. Sarah was sweet and kind, but I could see the wild behind those dark eyes—like a stallion wanting to run the plains.
“No,” she said with a breath. “I wouldn’t.”
“I can’t say I fully understand what you go through having parents who want you to be something you’re not. But I can tell you that there’s freedom in chasing after who you are and I hope you never lose sight of that.”
“Wow.” She smiled widely at me.
“What?” I laughed.
“I think I really like you, Ranger Adams.”
I swallowed hard and pulled her into my chest. I didn’t have the courage yet to tell her how much I liked her too because guys like me never ended up with girls like her. There was no disputing the constant reminder in the back of my mind telling me that this was fleeting and to hold onto her for as long as she’d let me.