Page 110 of Perfect Harmony

“You getting tired?” Gideon said.

“No,” she said. “You?”

“Hanging in there,” he said with a smallgrin.

“You’re doing pretty well for an old man.”

He laughed. “With a remark like that, ifyour ass didn’t already have my handprints on it, it would by the end oftonight.”

She blushed again and Gideon’s flirty smilemade heat blossom in her belly. God, flirtatious Gideon was friggin’ irresistible.

“Okay. You ready?”

He had stopped in front of the Ferris Wheeland she swallowed hard as she stared up at it. “You want to ride the FerrisWheel?”

“Yes,” he said. “I want to ride it with you,Princess.”

“I want that too,” she said.

“Good.”

They stood in line. It was surprisinglyshort despite her suspicion that ninety percent of the town folk were at thecarnival tonight. She supposed the short line had something to do with thefireworks starting in less than five minutes.

They moved steadily forward, and Gideonhanded their tickets to the ride operator before stepping back. “After you,Gracie.”

She walked toward the metal bucket, feelingweirdly apprehensive. She sat down and Gideon wedged his big body in next tohers. The operator locked them into the bucket and returned to the controls.

She made a small ‘eep’ when the ride startedwith a jolt.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” She smiled at Gideon as the ridestopped and two people sat down in the bucket in front of them. “Weirdly nervous,for some reason.”

“Have you been on rides before?”

She shook her head. “No, but it’s not likeit’s a roller coaster or something. It’s just the Ferris – oh shit!”

The wheel jerked to life again and shegrabbed at Gideon’s leg when their bucket swayed. He took her hand and linkedtheir fingers together as the ride slowly turned bringing them closer and closerto the top. She stared with delight at the expanse of the fair ground, theglowing lights, and the tiny people walking through the midway. “It’s sobeautiful.”

Around and around they went, Grace discoveringsomething new to look at every time they were at the top. She knew it was justa simple ride but as she sat next to Gideon, his hand wrapped around hers, sherealized it really was one of the happiest moments of her life. Gideon washappy too, she could see it in his face, see it in the way the tension that alwaysseemed to lurk within him had disappeared.

She could get used to this. And maybe, justmaybe, if she gave him a bit of time to adjust to the idea, he could as well. Convincinghim that they were meant to be together, that Kira would be happy for them,suddenly seemed a lot easier. He loved being with her and she loved being withhim. This could work, she just needed to be patient with him.

He tugged on a soft curl. “You okay?”

“Better than okay. I’m really happy,Gideon.”

“Good.” He studied her before smoothing astray strand of hair from her face. “I want you to be happy, Gracie.”

On the fifth time around, the ride groundto a halt when they were at the very top.

“What’s wrong?” she said. “Why have we stopped?”

“They’re letting riders off,” Gideon said.“Enjoy the view for a couple of minutes, Princess.”

She leaned back in the bucket, the way itswayed sent excitement to her belly rather than fear, and stared around theentire fairground. “It’s so pretty up here.”

“It is,” Gideon said.

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