Page 109 of Perfect Harmony

“Nothing,” he said. “Go upstairs andchange, Princess. We’re leaving in fifteen minutes.”

* * *

Gideon parked in the almost full lot and shutoff the SUV. He was nervous, his stomach a ball of tension and his palms slickwith sweat. Grace was staring silently at the entrance to the carnival and hecouldn’t read the expression on her face.

What if he was making a mistake? What ifbringing her to the carnival just upset her and reminded her that her parents wereassholes?

It was too late now. He’d made the decisionand he’d live with the fallout if it was a bad one. But the look on her face whenshe’d told him about her desire to go to the carnival as a child had stuck inhis brain and he couldn’t shake it loose.

He wanted to give her that experience,wanted to be the one who she could count on to give her everything she wanted.Everything she deserved.

Except you can’t be that man for her,and you never will be. Not unless you admit that you’re fucked up and need -

He drowned out the voice in his head. Hedidn’t want to hear it. Not tonight.

He wiped his hand on his jeans and reachedacross to take hers. “Grace?”

“You brought me to the carnival,” she said.

He squeezed her hand until she looked athim. “If you don’t want to go, I’ll understand but I hope you’ll consider it.”

She studied him. “I’ve never once gone tothe carnival.”

“I know, Kira mentioned it. Will you giveit a chance, Princess? I really want to do this for you.”

“Why?” she said.

“Honestly, I don’t know why, but I know it’simportant to me. You deserve to go, Gracie.”

Her eyes watered with unshed tears and she lookedaway. After a few seconds of silence, she faced him again and smiled. “Let’sgo to the carnival, Gideon.”

* * *

“Cotton candy is my new favourite thing.” Gracelicked her fingers clean of the sugary sweet treat.

“Watching you lick cotton candy from yourfingers is my new favourite thing,” Gideon said.

She blushed. “Gideon, keep your voicedown. There are people everywhere.”

He grinned at her. “There are, and I’ll besure to blame you when the whole town starts talking about the sheriff sportingan erection at the carnival.”

She laughed and tossed the now empty paperend from the cotton candy into the trash can. “Do you want to head back to themidway and play some more games?”

“And watch you kick my ass at whack-a-moleagain? I’ll pass. Thanks for winning me Clarabelle though.”

“Clarabelle?”

Gideon waved the stuffed pink unicorn at her.“She looks like a Clarabelle. Come with me. I have another surprise.”

They walked side-by-side through the fairgrounds. Gideon didn’t hold her hand or anything, but he walked close enoughthat his hip and arm brushed hers occasionally and each touch sent pleasanttingles directly to her pussy.

She stopped and waited patiently whenanother person roped Gideon into conversation. It had been like this all night,multiple people stopping Gideon to say a quick hello, or have a longer conversationabout a problem they wanted solved. Gideon was friendly and patient with allof them, and she was again struck by how involved Gideon’s job was.

He'd apologized a few times to her and eachtime she’d been quick to tell him she didn’t mind. She was proud of Gideon andhow well he did his job. She loved seeing how many people in their town jostledto talk to him, to be acknowledged by him with even something as simple as ahead nod. It was obvious that he was well respected and liked, and she wasnearly bursting with pride.

“Sorry, Grace.” Gideon pressed his hand againsther lower back, urging her forward, and she missed the warm pressure when he droppedhis hand. For a moment, she felt sorry for herself. Wished that she could kissGideon and hold his hand and show the entire town exactly how much she lovedhim.

She pushed away the melancholy. ThatGideon had brought her to the carnival, that he cared enough about her to wantto turn one of the worst moments of her life into one of the best, was enough forher.

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