Chapter 26 Elliot
It was a fight neither one of us saw coming, and the truth is, I felt bad for snapping at Madelina.
My guilty conscience tormented me until Madelina showed up at my door last night.
The morning sun peeks through the small cabin windows, bringing some light into the usually dim room. I stretch my arms above my head to wake myself up, feeling the cotton sheets slide down my naked body. Beside me, the bed feels achingly empty.
I open my eyes to see Madelina isn’t beside me. With a sudden need to find her, I pull on my boxers and step outside the room to hear her voice on the deck.
Madelina sits cross-legged, wearing my favorite baseball tee, her fingers gently scratching the chin of the wandering pug.
“So, what do you think, Margaret Anne?” She’s speaking as though the dog can offer her advice. “Do you think I should go all in? What do I have to lose, right?”
I cross my arms beneath my chest, tilting my head in a mix of curiosity and confusion. “Go all in on what?”
Madelina’s eyes widen in surprise as she places a hand over her heart, dramatic as usual with her mannerisms. “First of all, you scared the bejesus out of me! Second, good morning.” She jumps up to wrap her hands around my neck, the gentle brush of her kiss spreading warmth across my entire body and straight to my dick.
Goddammit. I muster all my self-control, knowing she’s sore from last night.
Slowly, she pulls back with a grin. “And third, I’ve got this idea for a bookstore in town. ”
“A bookstore? But there’s already two in Cinnamon Springs,” I point out, raising an eyebrow at this sudden idea of hers.
Her enthusiasm for this hour of the morning is palpable. She leans forward, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Yeah, but my idea is something entirely different. A romance-only bookstore. It’ll be a place where anyone is welcome, and it will feel just like home.”
My curiosity remains as I take a seat beside her. Madelina loves to read, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise, though she hasn’t mentioned it before.
“When did this all come about?”
She bites her lip, her gaze drifting thoughtfully. “I’ve been toying with the idea for a while, but yesterday I saw a ‘for lease’ sign go up next door, and it felt like the universe was telling me something. Like a sign, literally.”
Madelina takes the few steps into the kitchen, then emerges to hand me a steaming cup of coffee. I bring it to my mouth, eager for my morning caffeine hit, and inhale the aromatic scent of freshly ground coffee beans.
“So, does this mean you plan to stay in Cinnamon Springs?” I ask, the question tasting bittersweet on my tongue.
Madelina softly gazes down at Margaret Anne, as if they share some secret between them. Margaret Anne usually abandons me after a few minutes of scratching time, but appears to have grown fond of Madelina. Again, this doesn’t surprise me at all. Everyone falls in love with Madelina Beaumont.
“Yeah, it’s home, you know?”
A wave of panic washes over me, tightening my chest. I shift uncomfortably, reminding myself to mask my feelings.
Madelina possesses an uncanny ability to sense my turmoil.
If she makes Cinnamon Springs her home, then inviting her to stay with me in Paris will be a big fat no.
So, what would that mean for me? I give up Paris to stay here?
“Hey, I think I’ll head into the café now,” I blurt out, eager to disrupt my spiraling thoughts. “Billie mentioned the country fair attracts a lot of people, so I expect we’ll have a busy day. Luckily, I prepped some extra dough last night.”
“I’ll join you. Eva and Aston are arriving soon,” she informs me, her enthusiasm unwavering.
She returns her gaze to Margaret Anne, who’s lapping up all the attention.
“You know, I’m seriously considering adopting a pet.
I think it’s time. Would you come with me to look once I figure out where I’ll be living?
I can’t stay in Eva’s apartment forever. ”
Another choice looms.
Another decision awaits me.
The timer is running out.
“We’d better get moving then,” I sidestep, eager to escape the weight of the conversation. “These donuts aren’t going to make themselves.”
We quickly get ready, and despite our display of affection last night, I don’t bother Madelina while she showers.
Instead, I pace the boat, biting on the skin of my knuckles, trying desperately to calm my anxious thoughts.
I need a distraction; being alone with Madelina is fucking with my rationality.
The whir of my bike leaves little room for chatter as I ride us into town.
True to Billie’s prediction, the country fair has brought in a significant number of out-of-towners.
The café thrums with energy, everyone excited to spend the day and evening with their families at the fair.
Young kids are weaving in and out of tables, eagerly waiting for their parents to finish their coffees.
I don’t blame them for wanting to savor the caffeine.
It looks like they’ll need it to keep up with these kids.
Even Eva, who came into town to meet the contractor for the final inspection, has rolled up her sleeves to help out. No matter how many times I warn her to take it easy, it always ends up with us arguing. The final straw is when she reminds me it’s her café and to back off.
Again, another reason why my life here is temporary.
As the early evening greets us after a long day, all of us stroll across town to the fair. It’s a long walk, but on a nice night like tonight, the warm air makes it enjoyable.
The normally vacant field is buzzing with energy.
Twinkling lights adorn the park, casting a dazzling tapestry of colors that mix with the amusement rides.
Everywhere my eyes land, something grabs my attention.
From the rows of game booths beckoning their next victim, all for an oversized stuffed toy, to the aromas wafting from the food trucks.
It’s been a while since I’ve attended such an event.
My stomach has grown accustomed to the delicate and curated palates of France, yet all I can smell now is deep-fried junk.
Corn dogs, giant roasted smoked turkey legs, and every other greasy or sweet comfort food you can imagine are in front of us, begging to be eaten.
Groups of children run around, laughter and excitement evident on their faces. I suspect it has a lot to do with the excess sugar from all the fair food.
The girls talk nonstop about all the desserts they plan to eat tonight. Just hearing them makes my stomach queasy.
Madelina is wearing a brown cowboy hat, a short pleated denim skirt with a cropped tee that says “Rodeo Groupie.” Once again, I question where on earth she finds these tops, but nevertheless, she looks damn sexy in anything she wears.
She claps her hands with excitement. “Okay, where to first?”
“Food trucks,” Eva chimes in eagerly. “Give me all of it, and the spicier, the better.”
Unlike Madelina, Eva is modestly dressed in a simple blue dress that accentuates her stomach. I’m not sure if it’s my imagination, but she’s really popped this last week. It’s bittersweet to see my baby sister become a mother.
Aston rolls his eyes, a playful grin spreading across his face. “Does that mean I have to eat the same thing? Your deep-fried cravings might bring on my dad bod.”
I snicker at his remark. “Good luck with that. How about amusement rides first? That way, I won’t have to hold anyone’s hair back.”
Madelina shoots me an annoyed glare. “I feel attacked. But okay, let’s do the Ferris wheel.”
“We’ll catch up with you later. This baby is totally starvation central,” Eva says with a laugh. “Billie, you coming with us?”
“Yeah, don’t want to be the third wheel with the lo—”
I warn her with a steady gaze to keep her mouth shut, and she catches herself, hastily correcting, “Losers. Besides, I’m hungry, too, so I’ll join you guys.”
Madelina motions for me to follow her to the ticket booth.
Only one family is lined up ahead of us, making this one of the less busy rides.
Once the others are out of earshot, Madelina leans in to admit, “That was a close call. Maybe we should just tell them. This lying is exhausting. I don’t know how Aston and Eva did it for so long. ”
“Let’s talk about it later,” I rush, careful not to show Madelina my hesitation. “It’s time for something exciting.”
“Exciting?” Madelina tilts her head with a laugh. “It’s just a Ferris wheel.”
“Yeah.” I nod, a smirk spreading across my lips. “And you look extra sexy in your cowgirl outfit.”
As we approach the Ferris wheel, the ride attendant opens a carriage for us without delay. We climb inside, taking our seats as the ride slowly begins to ascend, the ground dropping away beneath us.
“Exciting things can happen on a Ferris wheel. Just wait until we reach the top,” I tell her with a teasing tone.
Madelina’s eyes widen as we began to crest the highest point, the carriage swaying gently with the evening breeze. It’s a perfect summer night, but fall isn’t too far away, and the temperatures have slowly begun to drop.
My arm lies across her back as I lean in to whisper, “Glad you wore a skirt, Bugs.”
Without hesitation, I slide my hand between her thighs, slipping under the fabric of her panties. She freezes, caught between thrill and anticipation as I press a finger inside her, whispering in her ear, “How many fingers to make you come?”
Madelina bites the corner of her lip, teasing me so effortlessly. With a hitched breath, the words barely escape her lips. “One… no, two.”
“Hmmm,” I murmur, inserting a second finger. “I think three.”
Beneath my jeans, my dick is so hard I’m this close to exploding right here. I slide in a final finger, rhythmically moving them in and out as her legs spread wider for me, the carriage rocking gently in sync.
“Be quiet,” I whisper, the thrill of the moment intertwining with the roar of laughter below. “And come for me now.”