Page 83 of Seduced By a Billionaire

He sat on the stool chattering away with the cute girl wielding the face paint, sitting patiently while she worked her magic. She finally stepped back and grabbed a mirror so Finn could see the transformation. Clapping his hands with glee he said, “Thanks, wait til my dad sees me! He will be shocked.”

“Great job! Thanks,” Ella handed her a very generous donation and they followed in the direction Kyle had been heading.

“Ella!” She turned toward the familiar voice calling out her name.

“Artie! I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Not staying long. Too many people for me and Ralph. Where have ya been? I was beginning to wonder if you were dead.”

“Paddle boarding has kind of been put on the back burner lately, but I’ll be out soon.” Finn was petting old Ralph whose tail wagged slow but steady.

Kyle appeared and Ella made the introductions. “This is my old friend Artie, a real pirate.”

“I live on my boat; I’m hardly a pirate, but I am the son of a sailor.” he said shaking Kyle’s hand.

Ella thought she caught a glimpse of Lindsey in the crowd, “Hey Kyle isn’t that Lindsey over there?”

“Where?” he looked to where Ella was pointing but if she had been there, she’d been sucked up by the throngs of people.

“It might not have been her, but a strong resemblance anyway.”

“Nice to meet you Kyle, I think I know now why I haven’t seen Ella out on the water lately. You’re one lucky man.”

Kyle slipped his arm around Ella’s waist. “Don’t I know it.”

“Hope to see you around.”

“Count on it,” Kyle said.

“Bye Ralph,” Finn said ruffling the dog’s head.

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Ella had picked up a festival pamphlet with the activities and booths listed. “Finn it says here that they have a bounce house. Would you be interested in trying that?”

“Yes! For sure. That girl that painted my face told me about it.”

“According to this map it’s back by the club.”

“Come on let’s go!” Finn tugged at their hands, pulling them both along.

“We’re coming.”

Kyle bought the ticket and watched as Finn disappeared into the gigantic inflatable room. He could see Finn tentatively jump up and down. After a few minutes he was leaping into the air and flopping around like a rag doll. He had already made a friend and they were laughing and bouncing together.

He put his arm around Ella and held her tightly against his side. “Back to our earlier conversation, was that just an obligatory response to my declaration?”

Suddenly feeling bashful she couldn’t meet his intense gaze. “No, I was planning on talking to you tonight when we got home.”

He faced her, tucking her hair behind one ear, “You were? What were you planning to talk about?”

“Us.”

“What about us?”

“You know, stuff.”

“Can you elaborate?”

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