CHAPTER 4 #2
I thought she was gorgeous every time I’ve watched her from afar. Now up close?
I’m in trouble.
Big fucking trouble.
“Still,” her hand lands on my arm and we both freeze. She pulls back from me and points toward the game. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
“Ladies first,” I say when I hand over some cash to the guy running the booth and nod toward Ezra.
He hands the rings over and I swear the man is close to drooling when he looks at the woman standing next to me. I glare at him and when he looks back at me, he straightens up and looks away quickly.
Yeah. That’s for the best.
“You have six rings. One out of three is a small prize. Two out of six is a big prize. Same if you get it on the gold bottle,” the worker informs us.
When I look at the bottles, there is a gold one in the center of the field. While I’m eyeing it, I’m surprised when Ezra shoves three rings into my hands. The moment her skin touches mine, a feeling shoots through my arm; a zap.
She sucks in a sharp breath, and I have to wonder if she just felt the same thing I did. My mouth goes dry, but I force myself to look away from her. Even though it’s the last thing I want to do.
“You’re up, Teach,” my voice is husky.
Her eyes darken slightly before she shakes her hands out and bounces on her toes slightly. “Right,” she chirps.
Fuck, she’s adorable.
She stretches her neck one way and then the other. The carnie is grinning and looking at her like she’s some sort of revelation. It makes me want to slit his throat.
The first two hit the tops of the bottles, but don’t fall into place. “Damn it,” she breathes out.
When she eyes me, as if she’s expecting me to roast her or something, I hold my hands up. “You got it this time. I can feel it,” I encourage her.
A blindingly bright smile fills her face and, fuck, it does something to me. She looks at me differently.
Not the way her dad looks at me—like I’m a criminal he can’t wait to arrest. As if I’ll ever let that shit happen.
And not the way most women look at me—like I’m a prize to be won. That’s not happening either. There’s no way I’ll let a patch chaser get their claws in me.
My Nana would never let me hear the end of it either. She’d make her displeasure at me bringing home that kind of woman very well known.
“Okay,” she whispers more to herself than me, her eyes locked on the bottles.
She shakes out her hands and takes a deep breath before letting it out slowly. The fact that she’s treating this ring toss game like a professional sport is endearing in a way that hits me in the center of my chest.
I swear I hear the tinkling of a bell. It’s a sound I heard before, recently, but can’t place it.
“I’ve got this,” she mutters.
“Fuck, yeah, you do,” I encourage her while almost bouncing on my toes because her energy is infectious.
Ezra licks her lips and my eyes flash down to take in every second of it. Her lips are plush, pink, and kissable. When was the last time I thought that about a woman?
The ring tips off the top of the bottle and Ezra’s body slumps. She waves her hand like a magician, indicating that it’s my turn, but she has a bratty as fuck pout on her face while she does it. I try to hide my smile, but one side of my mouth twitches.
I don’t make any of the tosses either and reach for my wallet, the thrill of being that close driving me. Just like it always does when it comes to this damn game. Every fucking year.
Ezra’s hand covers mine and my entire body stills. Not with fear or even surprise. But with a knowing I can’t explain and don’t entirely understand. I focus on her entirely. Entirely.
“Damn games are rigged,” I grumble and she grins up at me.
“Thanks for the rings, but I need to get back to the kids,” her voice is soft.
I find myself looking into her blue eyes. I’m closer to her than she’s ever let me be before. I’m not sure if how much I like it is a good thing or not.
She smells like citrus and cloves. It’s something I never would have noticed if I weren’t this close to her.
“If for some reason,” my eyes dart over to the tent where the kids are still chatting with people, “they fall a little short, let me know.” Her eyes widen and I’m quick to add, “The club would be happy to sponsor the trip.”
“That’s really sweet.” She smiles at me and squeezes my hand before letting go. “I’ll see you around, Ryker,” her eyes linger on me a moment longer before she turns away.
Titus.
I almost say it. I almost correct her. But I don’t.
“There you are,” I jolt a little as Playboy slaps my shoulder. He holds out an elephant ear. “Got you one. It’s where I found the happy couple,” he chirps and nods toward Snake and Graycie.
Snake arches an eyebrow and looks between me and where Ezra has disappeared into the tent. But I keep my face neutral. At least, I hope I do.
But we’ve also known each other our entire lives.
Sidewinder steps up and looks around, confused. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, nothing,” Playboy’s tone is full of amusement, “we just walked up on our Prez here talking to a certain teacher who also happens to be the daughter of a certain law man.”
“Why are you talking like you’re in an episode of Murder, She Wrote?” I grouse at the man, ignoring what he’s implying because it’s the only way to deal with his antics. He blinks at me before barking out a laugh.
Graycie gushes, “I need to go bid on the weekend trip to Chattanooga. One of the kids was telling us about it in the grocery store. He was really selling it.”
“I’ll take you for a weekend away,” Snake tells her and she looks up at him with so much love.
She bats her eyelashes at him and coos, “I already told you. I’m taking Opal if I get it and she’s taking me if she gets it.”
When I start to laugh, I cough to cover it, and Snake shoots me a glare. Graycie starts to walk away, and Snake is right on her heels.
I hear him whine, “I’m not sleeping without you for two nights, Graycie-girl.”
Playboy shakes the elephant ear in his hand while practically stuffing another one in his mouth. His eyes are dancing with amusement. I flip him off while grabbing the fried dough. As we start to walk away, I can’t help but think about Ezra.
Not only did she let me get close to her, which was new, but she approached me. To thank me.
I think about the close call I had and how unsettled I’ve felt. Maybe Rector was right.
The truth of the matter is that I want Ezra. I’ve always just put her in the box of being the sheriff’s daughter, but I don’t believe I ever really thought it was that simple.
I want her. I’m just not sure I can have her.
Before I can get too far, Snake is there and gripping my shoulder. I look back over toward the tent where Ezra is.
Worry lines my voice, “What’s going on? Everything okay?”
“Look brother, I’m only going to say this once,” he pauses and the look on his face tells me he’s weighing his words.
Smart. “Graycie and Ezra are friends, and my woman doesn’t have many of those.
I saw the look on your face as you watched her walk away.
Just know that if you go after her, it could bring a bunch of shit down on our heads.
” He glances toward the sound when Graycie laughs.
“And my Graycie-girl could lose a friend.”
“Snake,” there’s a warning in my voice.
I’m not going to dignify his bullshit with a response. He studies my face for a moment, and we share a long look.
He nods once and holds up a hand. “Just checking, Prez.”
Then he goes to pant after his Old Lady. A pang of jealousy hits me before I push it away. I’m happy for my best friend.
I just want it for myself too.