Oh great.Our old Sunday school teacher bore witness to him smacking my ass. We share a look and start laughing, which dispels the embarrassment that tried to take over.
We reach the edge of the Ferris wheel and look up. Christine, Tagger, and the kids are in a car near the top. Beckett waves at us, so we both wave back.
Baylor produces two tickets, almost like he’d planned this all along, and hands them to the operator. The guy says, “You’re next. Get up on the platform and stand to the side.”
The ride comes to a stop. He unloads the car before welcoming us in and shutting the door. Sitting across from each other to balance it, I’m given full opportunity to stare at him. He takes advantage of the situation by staring at me.
His smile evokes mine.
His laughter tickles mine out of my throat.
But it’s when he sits forward and takes my hand that I lose my breath. Rubbing his thumb over my knuckles, he asks, “You ready to get out of here after this?”
“I’ve been ready since I saw you in that hat.”
CHAPTER 20
Baylor
“Doyour parents know you’re up this early?”
Beckett follows me as we trek to my dad’s truck. “Sometimes I think my dad knows everything.” He doesn’t make that sound like a positive.
“Parents are like that, but they need to be at your age.” I pull open the door and climb into the cab of the truck. He climbs in on the opposite side. “Seat belt.” I start the engine. “In a few years, you’ll be venturing out on your own more, so you don’t need to grow up too fast. Let him enjoy being your dad while he can.”
“Won’t he always be my dad?”
“Good point. Yes, he will be. Just like my dad is mine.” I look toward the house to see him rocking on the front porch. “Wave to Grandpa.”
We both wave before we start for the feed store. “What’s on the list to get, buddy?”
He pulls his paper from his pocket and begins naming what we need to start on the fort. We’ve had a good conversation during the drive. He’s a smart kid, but he’s also ready to spread his wings. He can run around the ranch, but I think he has alittle up-to-no-good streak in him, just like his dad and his favorite uncle.
“Baylor!”
Damn, I’m literally two steps into the place. I don’t know how she had time to spot me. I turn to the left and see her hightailing it toward me. I pull Beckett to my side, and reply, “Hi, Maple. How’s it going?”
“So good to see you. I only got a few glimpses of you at the festival yesterday before you’d disappear.”
Maple’sokay.She’s always been nice enough, but she doesn’t get a hint at all. Or she’s ignoring them. I still don’t tell her that I caught her following me no less than two times and ducked through the back of vendor tents to throw her off the scent. “Oh, wow. I didn’t see you at all. I was with my sister and her family.”
“And Lauralee Knot by the ring toss when I saw you last. Are you two a thing?”
Beckett looks up at me now with the same question lingering in his eyes.
“You know she’s my sister’s best friend?” I ask, playing dumb.
“Sure, everyone knows. It’s also Lauralee,” she says as if that is all we need to know. She’s right. It’s all I need. Throwing her arms up, she laughs. “Stranger things have happened. Like your sister and Tagger Grange.”
I look at Beckett, annoyed he had to hear that. “It’s not so strange. They’re great together.”
“You know what I mean.”
Beckett wiggles out from the arm I had loosely around him, and says, “Don’t talk about my parents.”
Maple’s hand goes to her chest as her mouth hangs open. “I didn’t mean to upset you little fellow.”
“I’m not so little, and soon, I’ll be big.”
