Page 54 of Lead Me Knot


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I burst out laughing. “Because you’re utterly incorrigible. That’s why.”

“No lie detected when it comes to how I feel about you.”

Is it in my head, or is he getting more charming by the hour? I glance around, and when I see the coast is clear, I sneak attack a kiss to his incredible mouth. Biting my lower lip, I drop back on my heels and ask, “Where are the others?”

“Ferris wheel.” Offering his elbow, he asks, “You want to take a spin?”

I hook my arm with his before I realize how this will look to everyone. Hiding what feels natural is already annoying. I slowly pull away and nod. “Guess we should keep some space between us.”

“What impression do you think us walking together will give?”

I shrug. “Not sure, but I don’t want to find out either.”

“That’s fair, but one day, my beauty queen is going to be right where she should be. On the throne of my arm for the whole world to see.” As if he hadn’t already made me swoon, there he goes again. His expression turns serious, and then he says, “I have something important to talk to you about.”

Although we’re walking, my feet start to drag. Is this when I wake up from the dream I’ve been living with him? “What is it?”

“You admitted yourself that my face is perfect?—”

“Oh God, here we go.” I laugh. “Go on and get it out of your system now so I don’t have to listen to it all night.”

He’s already chuckling. “Hey, it’s not every day you hear how attractive someone thinks you are . . .Oh wait.”

Shaking my head, I laugh again. “Yeah, exactly.” Throwing my hands up in surrender, I add, “I’ve learned my lesson to never feed Baylor Greene’s ego because I know I’m not going to hear the end of it.” I eye some pink and blue cotton candy up ahead.

He nudges me with his elbow. “Ah, come on, Shortcake. If it makes you feel better, you’re the only woman who I care feels that way about me.”

“Sadly, that does make me feel slightly better.” I keep teasing, but to know that’s what he thinks does make me feel special in a way I didn’t before. He likes that I find him attractive the same as I like that he feels that way about me.

What’s not to love about a man I’m insanely attracted to finding me sexy, struggles to keep his hands off me, and likes to spend time with me like last night in the kitchen when it’s purely innocent. Just the two of us talking and getting a job done. But I need to keep him on his toes, so I joke, “As much as I love talking about your face, your ego, and everything else about you, I might need some cotton candy if this is going to continue.”

He veers off to the stand to the left. “Pink or blue?”

“Pink, please.”

He looks as proud as a peacock when he presents it to me. “As you wish.” He’s so cheesy that it’s adorable. Does he act this silly in New York?

I have a feeling he doesn’t, which makes me treasure him more. “Thank you, sir.”

“I like the sound of that.”

Opening the bag, I reply, “I bet you do.” I hold it out to him. “Want some?”

“It’s all yours.”

“You would have thought eating three cupcakes for lunch since I was too busy to break away from the cart would deter me from more sugar. Guess not.” I laugh, but he doesn’t. When I glance at him, he seems to be deep in thought. “What’s on your mind, stud?”

A smile breaks free when he looks at me. “Sorry, I was just thinking about you and me.”

“I like this topic.”

The tips of his fingers graze my wrist. It’s barely felt, and I’m sure no one could see, but his touch shoots right through me like electricity. “Me too.” He stops, shifting in front of me, his eyes setting on mine again, and asks, “Remember how I mentioned you coming to the city?”

Not sure why I suddenly feel shy, but I whisper for only him to hear, “I remember.”

“Would you consider helping me?”

“Is it illegal or illicit?”