Page 31 of Fierce-Michael

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yep, sorry. A funny thought entered my head and I didn’t want to laugh but ended up coughing.”

“Are you going to share that thought?”

“No,” she said, but felt the flush fill her face.

“That’s fine,” he said, smirking. She wasn’t sure if he could guess and decided it was best not to know.

They got in his SUV and drove to the fairgrounds. It was already pretty packed when they got there close to one as he drove around for a parking spot.

“Are you hungry?” she asked.

“Starving,” he said. “You said I couldn’t eat anything.”

She gave him a tiny shove and he didn’t budge. Not that she thought he would. She’d never dated anyone as big as he was and she kind of loved it.

She felt safe and secure around him.

“I don’t know that I said youcouldn’teat anything,” she said.

“True. Maybe I read into it that way.”

“But now you’ve got lots of room for food. We can try all sorts of fattening and greasy things. I wore pants with stretch and worked out this morning.”

He turned to look at her in the car, his eyes moving over her legs and up to her face. He was grinning.

“What do you do for a workout?” he asked.

“I walk on a treadmill. They’ve got a gym at my apartment complex. I’m not running. Never could do that. If I don’t get on the treadmill then I ride one of the bikes. I’m not one for lifting weights. I always wanted to try, but I’m intimidated by it or the men coming over to give advice. It’s best to be the little lady on the exercise equipment sweating through my clothes.”

“I’ve got a home gym,” he said.

“You own a home?” she asked.

“I do,” he said. “Had an apartment for years. When Ty came about, I knew it was time to get my own place. I needed the space and didn’t want to be that guy with a screaming kid in the building.”

“There is always someone that has to be it,” she said, laughing. “If not that, then a barking dog they shouldn’t have or cigarette smoke that isn’t allowed.”

“Very few follow the rules,” he said. “But I bet you’re a rule follower.”

“Actually,” she said. “I’m not sure I am. I try to be, but sometimes, it’s fun to break a rule too.”

“I’ve been known to do that a time or two.”

“Good,” she said. “Let’s see if we can break a few things today.”

“Things or rules?” he asked.

She shrugged. “No clue. Just felt like the thing to say.”

He bought their tickets to get in and she was annoyed that he wouldn’t let her pay since it was her idea to come today.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward a bunch of food vendors. “Hot dogs or corn dogs?”

“Hot dog,” he said. “With meat sauce.”

“Yes!” she said, doing a fist pump. “Can we have two hot dogs loaded with meat sauce please?”

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