Page 53 of Bring me Back

I smiled. Of course, even at a Carnival, Dad wouldn’t just eat anything. He was a creature of habit, and he loved the things he loved. With a last kiss on my temple, he said goodbye to the rest of the crew, leaving us just one couple away from our turn.

“What’s up, Cricket? Are you afraid of heights?” Daniel taunted, taking me away from my thoughts to fix it all on him once more.

When he smiled, the corner of his eyes wrinkled in the most handsome way. His body was so big, I wondered if I could fit perfectly just under his chin. I stepped closer, craving Daniel all of a sudden. Maybe it was Daniel’s family who was so easy to get along with, or how happy I was because people liked my costumes. Whatever it was, when I breathed in and out, I wanted to wrap my arms around him.

“You look worried,” he observed, serious once more.

“I’m not.” And I laid a hand over his heart.

I never touched him before. His warm body burned through the clothes, and I looked at his chest, fascinated by how it felt under my fingertips. Deciding it wasn’t enough, I stepped closer again, and as if we did it one hundred times before, he enveloped my body in a hug.

I inhaled deeply his warm scent that was all wood and male. He rested his cheek on top of my head and I wrapped my arm around his waist. My heart thumped as he lazily stroked my spine up and down. Up and down. It was the best hug of my life.

“Do you have a death wish, Dan?” Mark asked behind us.

I tried to move my head, but Daniel kept me in place. “Shut up, Mark.”

“He’s going to kill him, Abs,” Mark told his wife, and then louder again. “He’s going to kill you.”

“Who’s going to kill Uncle Dan?” April wanted to know.

“Hallie’s daddy of course.”

“Is that true?” she asked me, and this time Daniel let me move away from his body to answer his niece.

I chewed the side of my cheek. “Maybe.”

The little gate opened as soon as the Ferris Wheel stopped, and two people left the cart. I sat quickly on the further side instead of being the one who decided which child was going to follow me first. I was sure Abby would come with a solution.

I slid in, immediately looking up, my gaze following the highest point of the Ferris Wheel, where we were going to be soon. I gulped. I was asked twice if I was afraid of heights and until now, I was pretty sure the answer was no.

A warm body slid in a second later, taking me away from my newest fear. I turned, surprised by the size of my companion, definitely not a small child judging by the strong, warm thigh plastered to mine.

My eyes followed the denim-clad legs up to the thick plait shirt to finally meet Daniel’s gaze as the Ferris Wheel jolted into move.

“Did you steal a child’s turn?” I asked, looking behind him to find the family still in line.

He smirked. “Abby thinks is better this way. Less fighting. You don’t mind, do you?”

“I guess I will survive your company.” I grinned right when we halted at a stop and swung just enough for my lips to melt into a cringe.

“Are youreallyscared of heights?” He sounded worried.

I squeezed my eyes shut. “It might be my new thing.” He chuckled, and I peeled my eyes open when the Ferris Wheel started to move once more. “Distract me, Dan.”

“I love when you call me Dan.”

His boyish smile made my stomach flutter. His gaze was intense and attentive. His arm brushed on mine, the muscles straining the fabric of his shirt. I bit back a pathetic sigh. The Ferris Wheel stopped once again, and I closed my eyes out of instinct.

“So tell me, Cricket. How do you think your dad is going to kill me?”

“He will not kill you.” I told him, opening one eye.

“Shot? Boulder?”

My close my mouth in a line. “He’s not going to kill you.”

“Do you think so?”

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