Page 61 of Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

Kai’s voice breaks through the sounds of shattering glass. “Are you having fun?”

I swirl around in happiness, my dress floating in haze around me. “Crazy fun. I haven’t felt this good in years.”

Kai’s eyes light up at my response. “Me too,” he says, grabbing my hand, causing a heat wave in my stomach. “What do you want to do next?”

Kiss you, I think before answering out loud, “The mirror mansion.”

“Okay.”

“Should we carry the stuffed toys to the car?”

He nods, and we head to the car. My nerves intensify as I see a group of rowdy teenagers causing a commotion in the parking lot. Kai seems oblivious to them. Or perhaps he’s aware but chooses not to acknowledge their presence. The group starts to converge toward us. My heart races and my fingers tingle.

Shit.

I was having such a beautiful evening. We were connecting. But I have no control right now. Quickly, the troop turns into a crowd that wants to pass by us to get to the Ferris wheel.

Parking next to the pathway was a mistake.

The crowd rushes between my car and a smelly old Chevrolet pickup like it’s the only option. Too many people, too close. My breath runs out; my vision blurs.

People dart by us until Kai shoves a guy so hard he stumbles and falls. Then he grabs my arm, pulling me to the passenger side before pressing me against the car, allowing the rest of the group to pass. I put my hands on his chest so I don’t get crushed.

“It’s okay, Marianne; it’s okay,” he reassures me in a husky voice.

I simply exist in this moment with him—his arms around me, sheltering me from a turbulent world. I breathe in his fresh citrus andcedar scent and let myself get lost in it. The chaos and noise of the group fade away, and I’m at peace. I allow my forehead to rest between his collarbones, and my heart returns to a normal rhythm.

At this moment, with Kai, I feel protected.

Safe.

I want to stay like this forever.

If I raise my head, will he kiss me?

He sighs and backs off. I’m disappointed, even more so than I thought I would be. But intense relief spreads through my heart when he intertwines his fingers with mine.

We return to the fair after putting the stuffed toys in the car. The fun returns in a flash.

Running around with the enthusiasm of children, we explore the many attractions. The spooky manor, the cotton candy stall—all a riot of fun. Everywhere we go, Kai has a slight glow of positivity, and his eyes are alive. It’s a lovely sight to behold.

“Ferris wheel?” he asks.

We wait in line, light as feathers. I let go of his hand as we sat in a gondola.

“Tell me something funny about your childhood,” Kai asks.

My childhood was filled with disappointment and loneliness until my father dropped me off at Corey’s. By then, I was a teenager.

But the man in front of me seems to read me better than anyone I know because he adds, “My childhood wasn’t fun, either.”

The Ferris wheel starts its round, and my fingers grip the handlebars automatically.

We have no reason to lie to each other. “When I was ten years old, Richard missed my birthday for a golf tournament.”

“Who’s Richard?”

“My father. In revenge, I put dye in his shampoo. The next day, he had a neon-green head and beard. It was hilarious. He was so angry.”

---