Page 65 of Mountain Hero

“We definitely need to check that out.” Enzo turns to me. “If you’re okay with it?”

“Of course. And maybe after, we can play some of the games?”

Tucked in the back corner of the park, there’s a spot set up with an assortment of carnival games. Just from a quick glance as we passed by, I noticed balloon darts and water gun races and a pond filled with hundreds of colorful rubber ducks.

“Anything you want, hun.” Enzo gives me a gentle squeeze. “Do you want me to win some prizes for you?”

I raise my eyebrows at him. “Don’t you mean I’ll win some prizes for you?”

He grins. “Winter. You know what I did in the Army. Do you really think you can beat me at water pistols?”

Hmm. He has a point there. “Well. There’s the duck pond. And the ring toss. I bet I can beat you in one of those.”

Alec laughs and claps Enzo on the shoulder. “You weren’t kidding when you said she’s competitive.”

I pin Alec with my gaze. “Are you offering to play against me, too?”

“Absolutely. I’m going to head over to see Knox first—he’s doing free consultations over by the library—but then I’ll meet you guys over there.”

“Sounds good,” Enzo replies. Then he flashes me a cocky little grin before turning back to Alec. “Just look for Winter holding all the prizes I win for her.”

But as we head across the grass toward the line for Blissful Brews, Enzo’s expression shifts to something more serious. “I was joking before, Winter, but I want you to know. I have no doubt you can beat me in anything you put your mind to. And I’m okay with that. I’m not one of those guys who gets all pissy when his girlfriend beats him at something. I think it’s awesome that you’re competitive. And that you never give up.”

Aww.

I go all warm and oozy inside.

Stopping, I stretch up to kiss his cheek. “I don’t care about losing to you. Not really. And I would love it if you could win me one of those giant stuffed animals.”

And he does, several times over.

After half an hour of games, my arms are full of all the prizes we’ve won, including an enormous stuffed giraffe from the ring toss, an adorable plush bear Enzo won after winning the water gun game ten times in a row, and a large stuffed duck from my own victory at the duck pond.

As we trek across the park back toward Main Street, Enzo takes the giraffe and duck from me, then takes my hand with his free one. The contradiction of him—tall, muscly, very much all man, and the stuffed animals he’s unashamedly carrying—makes my heart feel all funny in the best kind of way.

“Are you sure you don’t want to play more games?” he asks. “We can drop these off at the car and go back.”

“That’s okay. I think I’m good.” I hug the bear to my chest. “We should probably leave some prizes for everyone else.”

“I suppose so.” Smiling, he adds, “I think you surprised Alec at how good you were. Especially at the duck game.”

“My parents used to take me to the fair. So I’ve had some practice, although it’s been a long time. That was always my favorite. The water pistols, not so much.”

“I think you did pretty well,” Enzo replies. “Your aim is great, and so is your grip. If you were in the Army, I bet someone would have talked to you about sniper training.”

Warmth expands in my chest. While I could never have imagined being complimented on my aim while holding a gun—or a water pistol, in this case—coming from Enzo, it feels really good.

Not that I want to rush off to become a sniper, but still. It’s pretty cool.

“So where do you want to go next?” We’ve just stepped onto Main Street, which is closed off for the day, each side lined with food vendors and local artisans. Enzo lifts his chin in the direction of the church. “I think they’re having a book fair there. Or we can find something else to eat. Sit down for a while?”

I perk up. “A book fair?”

“Ah, I thought you’d be interested.” Enzo kisses my cheek. “Do you want to look for some books?”

“Yes, please.” I’m already envisioning the books I’ll add to the new bookshelves Enzo installed in the office. “And then we could get some more food?”

No doubt I’ll be full for a week after this, but it’ll be worth it. Coming here, I’ve gotten to try all the restaurants and diners I didn’t get a chance to before, and I’m eagerly anticipating visiting them again.

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