Chapter 29
Archer
I sit on the dunk board, looking at Juliet through the netting as I shake my head. “I can’t believe I’ve agreed to this.”
She’s beaming from ear-to-ear, so I can’t be too upset.
“Relax,” she says with a wave of her hand as she secures the backing once more to the target at my left. “It’s just until my dad gets here. Anything for Autumn Ridge, right?”
“Sure,” I say. Although, I’d much rather declare, “Anything for Juliet Monroe.”
I keep those words in mind as the line to dunk me grows. I only hope most of Autumn Ridge are terrible throwers.
“You ready?” Juliet asks, still staring at the target. She’s avoided looking at me ever since I took off my shirt.
“I’ve changed my mind,” I say abruptly. “Let’s wait for your dad.”
Her eyes snap to mine, exactly as I was hoping they would. “I thought you were up for it?”
She studies my face, but the quick drop of her eyes down my torso is all I need.
“I am. Just wanted to freak you out a bit.”
She frowns, propping her hands on her hips. “Just for that, I’m signing up to dunk you.”
She walks away, flipping her thick braid over her shoulder. I watch the sway of her hips before the first person steps up and launches three balls at the target.
I’m tense as I laugh through each misfire. At least a dozen people fail in a row as Juliet gathers the balls for each new contestant. James comes by at one point, taking a small break from running the farm’s booth with Aunt May.
“I don’t think you should be allowed,” I call out, sitting above the water, my bare feet just out of reach of the cold pool.
James is a good throw—at least better than the kids who’ve gone before him.
“This is for when you got me stuck in that maple tree!” James returns.
I chuckle, but I’m relieved when he misses, too.
More kids try and fail, but Juliet makes them feel better by giving them free vouchers for popcorn, hot chocolate, and cider.
“I’m invincible up here,” I cry out, swinging my legs back and forth as two more men miss next.
My skin’s covered in goosebumps, but it’s all worth it as I glance beyond the line to see Juliet once again ripping her gaze from mine.
I’m beginning to think she did something to the target to make it more difficult for people to hit it, which I’m not ungrateful for. Wet jeans hardly sounds appealing.
Another person steps up, and Juliet hands them a ball at a time, her gaze flicking to mine between each try.
“Why don’t you give it a go, Juliet?” I suggest as she collects three more missed balls near me. “You said you would.”
“You know I don’t have the arm for it.”
“You’re probably right. Your pumpkin tossing was a right mess.”
She narrows her eyes.
“What?” I say innocently. “I’ve seen the way you mount a horse, too, ma’am, and it ain’t pretty.” I give a wink just for good measure.
A fire sparks in her eyes, and her lips thin. “Fine. I’ll take a turn just to wipe that smirk off your stupidly attractive lips.”
I throw back my head and laugh. I’m whittling her will little by little. I just wish I knew how to do the same with Mr. Mayor.
After a few more people throw shots and misses, they allow Juliet to cut in line.
She throws and misses her first ball.
“Ahhh, it’s the pumpkins all over again,” I tease.
She falls short again.
The crowd cheers her on.
“Get him dunked!” Ben Walker calls, having joined the gathering crowd a few minutes before. His expression is full of amusement. “He deserves it!”
I think I’m praying just as hard as everyone for her to succeed, but the third ball falls short, too.
The crowd moans in unison, and I shrug. “Guess you just didn’t have it in you.”
She hardly looks disappointed as she moves to gather the balls again. But when she reaches me, she grips one of them firmly in her fingertips, flashes a daring look up at me, then shoves the ball toward the target, dropping me into the cold water before I know what’s hit me.
My mouth opens in surprise, and water fills my mouth. The crowd is still cheering as I emerge, sputtering out water and wiping it from my eyes.
I whip my hair to the side, flinging the droplets away and facing Juliet with delight. “Cheater.”
“All for Autumn Ridge.”
She watches as I pull myself out of the water and seat myself back on the plank. Her eyes unabashedly trail across my front, the water spilling down my chest. “Enjoy those wet jeans.”
Then she walks back to deliver the balls to the next contestant.
I will enjoy them, if only because I know her eyes are stuck to me now.
I’m dunked twice more in the next fifteen minutes. By the end, I’m more than ready to dry off, though watching Juliet’s admiring eyes on me is worth any hypothermia I might catch.
Mr. Sharrow arrives for his allotted time at the dunk tank next, and I’m finally relieved of my duties. Nikki Baker takes over Juliet’s job, as well, so Juliet meets me around the back of the dunk tank with a large, thick towel.
“Thanks,” I say, scrubbing it over my hair and face before wrapping it around my neck and holding both sides of it in my hands.
Her eyes flick down my front, then back to my face. “Sorry for dunking you.”
I laugh. “No you aren’t.”
“You’re right. That was the highlight of my day.”
Our eyes catch, and the warmth in those oceanic depths makes me forget all about the cold breeze against my soaking wet skin. Leaves from the maples above gently rustle, and the voices and laughter around the festival fade.
The only person to exist now is Juliet.
“Thanks for helping us out,” she says, her voice soft. “I think they really enjoyed having you up there.”
“I’m more interested in how you felt having me up there.”
She tips her head to the side. Her eyes wander across my face then my chest, and she opens her mouth to respond. I hold my breath, hoping for more insight.
But a deep voice sounds behind her. “Juliet?”
She swings around as Mr. Monroe comes up to us. “Dad, there you are.”
He eyes my shirtless state with a deep frown. “This is a family event, Mr. Kade.”
He’s one to talk. I open my mouth to make a comment about his missed timeslot for the dunk tank—was it because he was making out with one of the ladies he’s dating?—but then I remember I’m supposed to be getting his approval.
“Yes, sir,” I say, swallowing every ounce of pride I have left. “Just trying to get dry.”
“He was doing the dunk tank, Dad.”
“I didn’t know he signed up.”
“He didn’t. He stepped in when no one could find you for your time slot.”
His eyes dart to Juliet’s. “My slot isn’t for another half hour.”
“No, it was a half hour ago. Didn’t you get my messages?”
He pulls up his phone, and his features fall. “I...I’m sorry. I must’ve mixed up the times.”
“Preoccupied?” Juliet asks with a glance in my direction.
Mr. Monroe scrubs a hand across his graying scruff. “Yeah. I got caught up with—” His words break off, and he clears his throat. “They needed my help with some things. Anyway, I’m here now. Can I sign up for another slot?”
Juliet motions to the front of the dunk tank. “Rosie’s somewhere around here. She’s got the signup list. Someone else might’ve fallen through. You can take that slot if they can’t make it, but you’ll have to check with her. I’ll join you in a second.”
He clearly hesitates, then leaves me alone with his daughter.
“Where do you think he was?” Juliet whispers as he walks away.
“I can do some sleuthing.”
“You’d better not. No point in making him hate you even more. How are you going to get his approval now after this no-shirt debacle?”
“I have my ways.”
“I hope you do.”
“Do you?”
She nods. “Yup.” Her eyes linger on my torso, and I try not to flex.
“Why?”
“Because I kinda want my crush to have a resurgence.” She leans forward. “Don’t let me down, Archer Kade.”
She walks away without another word, leaving me breathless and wanting more—just like always.