Page 54 of Always the Baker

“This is rigged,” I muttered, tossing another ring that bounced uselessly off the bottles.

Billie giggled beside me. “Told you. It’s impossible.”

I narrowed my eyes as determination set in. One more try. I took a deep breath, visualizing the toss like I was aiming for a perfect guitar riff.

The ring sailed through the air and settled neatly around a bottle neck.

“Holy shit. Yay!” Billie cheered, clapping and jumping up and down.

The teenager looked as shocked as we were, robotically handing over the stuffed penguin. I presented it to Billie.

“Your prize, sweetheart. And yes, I’m your man. Are you my woman?”

She hugged it to her chest, beaming up at me.

“My hero… and my man.” The pure joy in her voice made my heart skip a beat. “Yes. I’m your woman.” I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. “Thank you, pooh.”

“Anything for you,” I murmured, meaning it more than I’d ever meant anything in my life.

The Ferris Wheel loomed above us, its colorful lights twinkling against the darkening sky. I glanced at Billie.

“Wanna ride?” I asked, nodding toward the wheel.

She bit her lip, looking nervous. “I’m not great with heights.”

I squeezed her hand. “I got you. Promise I won’t let go.”

As we climbed into the carriage, Billie clutched her new penguin tightly. The wheel creaked to life, and I felt her tense beside me.

“You okay?”

She nodded, but her knuckles tightly gripped the bar. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close and placing a kiss on her temple.

“Look,” I said, pointing toward the stars. “It’s beautiful up here.”

Billie’s breath caught.

“Wow,” she whispered. “I’ve never seen it like this before.”

As we reached the top, the wheel stopped, leaving us suspended in the night air. Billie turned to me, her face inches from mine.

“Brax, thank you for today. For everything.”

I cupped her cheek gently, drawn in by those captivating eyes. “Billie, I…”

She closed the distance between us. Her lips were soft against mine. The world fell away. The fair, the music, everything but her disappeared. My fingers tangled in her braids as I deepened the kiss, savoring her warmth, her sweetness.

When we finally broke apart, both breathless, I rested my forehead against hers.

“That was…” I trailed off, at a loss for words.

Billie grinned.

“Yeah.” She agreed. “It really was. And so are you.”

16

Billie

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