Page 29 of Jonathan

He knew the exact moment she arrived. He had been idly having a conversation with some of the visitors who had come from the neighboring town and keeping an eye out for her.

Some locals had been hired to act as valets. In order not to create a gridlock and having people park their vehicle wherever, a designated section in an empty pasture had been cleared to use as a temporary parking lot.

He saw when she alighted the vehicle, noticed the admiring looks and the whistles and abruptly put an end to the conversation, by excusing himself and making his way towards her.

Ignoring the people trying to stop him for a conversation, he lengthened his strides, not stopping until he got to her. Giving the group of men surrounding her, a hard look, he took her arm and drew her to him.

“Hi.”

“Wow.” Lifting her face, she gave him a smile that blew his composure to kingdom come. “Just one look and they scattered. You have got to teach me that trick.”

He laughed, simply charmed and delighted by her. The perfume she had on was sliding through his senses, the perfectly made-up face, the curve of her lips wearing that shimmering orange lipstick, made him weak with need. “It’s a gift.” Tucking her hand through his arm, he started forward.

“What do you want to do first?”

She looked around in fascination. People – and she had no idea there was going to be such a crowd! They were milling around, most of them giving her and Jon curious looks.

There were children racing from one end of the wide-open area, some stopping to grab treats from various tables set up to theside. In the middle, a roaring fire was sending sparks shooting upwards.

Several men were showing off their skills with ropes, lassoing a mechanical bull. A few were bobbing for apples, and even more were on the dance floor doing some sort of two step dance.

“This is…,” she waved her free hand to encompass the various activities. “I have never seen anything like it. Is the entire town here?”

He drew her hand up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. He wanted the entire town to know where he stood with her and did not give a damn about the message he was sending. She was his or she would be before very long.

“Yes,” Keeping his hand over hers, he walked towards the cotton candy stand. “It’s an annual event to bid goodbye to summer – reluctantly of course and to hail the coming fall weather.”

“I am not eating that.” She shook her head and started to pull back. “It’s pure sugar.”

He gripped her hand and stopped her from escaping. “You’ve never tasted anything like this before. Hey Steve.”

“Boss.” The bearded man gave him a nod and smiled at Kamilah. “Pretty lady.”

“We want your special.”

“Coming right up.”

“You cannot make me eat it.”

“I bet I can.” He sent her a teasing smile that had her heart doing somersaults. The man was positively lethal, that slow sexy smile, the dip in his chin, the wavy ash blonde hair which was combedback from his intelligent forehead, and he knew how to wear a leather jacket.

“I watch what I eat.” She protested and watched in fascination as Steve wove his magic with the spun sugar. He handed her the first pink and green one. Hesitating slightly, she reached for it and kept it in her hand as she waited for Jon to get his own.

“Thanks Steve.”

“Righto, boss.”

He guided them away from the table and stopped beneath a tree to give them a modicum of privacy.

“Aren’t you going to take a bite?” He asked mildly. His body was shielding her from curious eyes and was close enough to have his warmth caressing her senses.

“No. I just did not want to offend Steve by dumping it.”

Before she knew what he was about, he plucked off piece and plopped it into her open mouth. When she tried to spit it out, he closed his hand over her lips, forcing her to chew and swallow. He watched the blaze in her eyes turned to wide open wonder and had to smile.

“Still want to dump it?” He asked as he removed his hand.

“I don’t appreciate you handling me…! Okay, it’s delicious. Not sticky sweet, but with a sort of whimsy that stays on the palette. Does he sell this thing?”

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