Chapter 33
Piper
When Holt kissed me at the ticket counter, I had to stop myself from physically swooning.
Part of me wanted to pull away, because—HELLO there are people around!
I decided that I was going to just let this happen, but I didn’t want to have to see the pitying looks around town when this blew up in my face and it ended.
I kind of wanted to keep this on the down low so that I could tend to my wounds in private.
Holt was so confident and good looking. Charming. The total package. He could have his pick of any woman in High Ridge. I am just considering myself lucky that I get to have this little piece of him.
I made a critical mistake picking the Pharaoh ride first, he pulled me so close that I was practically on his lap. The next ride I chose was the bumper cars— we each had our own seat. I was a chicken, but I needed a little bit of space. It gave me a few minutes to breath.
When we got off the bumper cars Holt grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the food tents.
“You need food, you haven’t had anything since this morning,” he said authoritatively and gestures to the tents letting me choose.
I find myself torn, but decide to go with the award winning apple fritter and some apple cider. The perfect fall treat for the afternoon.
Holt gets the same thing, pays again—despite my offer— and leads us to a picnic table under the trees.
I shouldn’t be shocked that he sits next to me on the picnic bench instead of across from me. Holt doesn’t seem to know the term ‘personal space’. I can’t say that I mind— my stomach flutters.
I take a bite of the fritter and almost moan. The sticky sweet dough is like a party in my mouth. I look next to me and see that Holt is staring. He hasn’t touched his food.
“Well, go ahead— you won’t regret it,” I say jokingly as I take another bite. Holt takes a bite and groans. The sound does strange things to my lower stomach. I feel my face turn red again. I take a sip of the cider to occupy myself and another bite of the fritter.
We finish our food in silence. I wipe my hands on the napkin and turn to look at him. He has finished his food and is looking at me.
“What ride do you want to go on next,” I ask him.
He smirks and his hand reaches out to cup my cheek.
His thumb brushes my cheek a few times and he dips his face close to mine.
His lips touch the corner of my mouth and I feel his tongue flick out.
Then he moves to take my mouth in his fully.
His tongue slipping inside like a thief in the night. His teeth nipping my lips.
He pulls away again. His hand still cradling the side of my face.
“So sweet,” he murmurs. Then he gets up, takes my trash and throws it away in the trash can that is a few feet away.
He comes back to me, and grabs my hand. Pulling me off the bench and in the direction of the ferris wheel. He doesn’t let go of my hand.
The afternoon crowd is starting to arrive and I notice more people looking at us. We get to the ferris wheel and stand behind the small line. I try to covertly pull my hand away so that I can check my phone.
I check to see if I have any messages, even though I know I don’t, and take a minute to scroll through my social media.
I notice I have a message request from an unknown account and plan to check that later at home.
I slip the phone back in my purse, and Holt goes to grab my hand again. I pull away and look around.
“Embarrassed to be seen with me,” Holt asks me— an amused tone laced through his words. I take a deep breath and cover my face with my hands. He pulls my hands down so that he can see my face.
“It isn’t that, and you know it. If anything it should be the other way around,” I say. His eyes glint almost dangerously.
“Enlighten me then, Piper,” he says seriously. The light tone that he normally uses is gone and it is replaced with a darker tone—one I haven’t heard before.
I look around again, not sure if I am looking for an escape, but knowing that I don’t want to have this conversation with a lot of people around.
“Stay here,” he says to me and stalks up to the ride attendant.
I’m frozen, not sure what he is doing. He has a few words with the attendant, who is nodding enthusiastically in agreement.
Holt then makes his way back to me, but stops and talks to the 3 people in front of us in line.
They also nod in agreement and then disperse.
“Let’s go,” he says as he grabs my hand and pulls me up towards the ferris wheel ride entry gate.
“Holt, what is going on,” I ask. I try to pull my hand out of his but he tugs me forward, gently.
“Remember, keep her moving,” he says to the ride attendant as he herds me onto the ferris wheel seat. He pulls the bar down over us and the ride begins.