Page 6 of Skully's Property

Three for three? It is rigged for failure. Unless you’re a basketball player, which I definitely am not, you don’t stand a chance. And as soon as my first shot misses, I’m only irritated further, begrudging the fact that Jeff was right. Not only that,but he didn’t even try for me. The least he could do was act like a decent boyfriend and try to win me the bear. Try to do something romantic for me.

My next shot misses, and now I don’t even have a chance at the stupid plastic duck. The third one doesn’t even make it close to the basket, but I wasn’t aiming for it anyway. I was just tossing it to save face. Though, I doubt Jeff is even watching. He’s probably taken off with his buddies to go ride all the fast rides.

“Which one were you going to get if you’d won?”

The deep voice comes out of nowhere, startling me. A giant of a man steps up to my side, leaning his hip up onto the counter, invading all of my personal space with his huge frame. I turn my head to ask if he minds moving, but not a single word gets past my lips. My knees nearly buckle as the world seems to stop. My thoughts and entire existence drawn in. A flutter jolts in my stomach like I just got on one hell of a fast ride, spinning me dizzy the longer he stares.

He’s the most incredible man I’ve ever seen. The exact opposite of Jeff. From his dark spiked hair to his leather jacket, everything about him screams bad boy. Jeff has a pretty-boy face and is clean shaven with rounded cheeks; a typical teenage heartthrob. But this man… He’s been cut from a rough stone. A rigid jawline covered in scruff. Ink painted over his neck and chest, covering every inch of skin that’s exposed. He screams danger. And yet, his eyes are too kind. But his stare is unnerving.

Now, I finally understand why girls always fall for the bad guys, because they don’t just ooze sexiness, they’re drenched in confidence. And judging by the knowing smirk that’s forming on this man’s face, he is one hundred percent sure of himself, and one hundred percent amused by the fact that I was just checking him out. At least I didn’t let the drool slip from mymouth, or that really would’ve given me away. But I can still feel the heat burning in my cheeks.

“Looks to me like there’s something else you’d rather have instead of one of those stuffed animals.”

His brow cocks in question, and I’m finally snapped out from under his spell. He just fed me a line. Definitely looks to be the smooth-talking type. Dishing out pickup lines everywhere he goes, and I bet women fall to his feet. He’s so good looking. So strong and tall. Dominant and confident. Girls probably beg for his attention. But not this gal. I don’t fall for strangers. Though, with the way he keeps staring at me, like I’m the most irresistible thing he’s ever seen, I finally understand why some women aren’t opposed to one-night stands. No one’s ever looked at me the way he is. Like he wants to devour me.

My pulse races faster, and my mind is growing dizzy. It’s like I’m on the Gravitron and my center of gravity is him. The butterflies are multiplying by the hundreds, and it suddenly feels so hot out.

“I’m trying to win one of those bears.” I finally find some words. I’m glad they were the right ones. “I can assure you there’s nothing I’d rather have instead.”

His smile tips even wider and my irritation grows heavier, along with a feeling low in my gut. Lust. It’s a feeling I don’t think I’ve ever had before. At least, not like this. Even when I saw Jeff for the first time, I didn’t feel like this. My first crush, my first boyfriend, my first kiss. Nothing ever came close to this feeling.

“So, what would I get if I won you that bear?” His question reminds me that he’s trying to hit on me, work his way into my pants tonight, but I’m not going to be giving him anything. He’s a complete stranger. And a dangerous-looking one at that. He might try to haul me off and dump me in the woods. I’ve heard when there’s a one percent patch on their jackets, it meansthey’re criminals. But I saw that on TV, so I don’t even know if that’s the truth.

Even if he is a criminal, there’s something about his eyes and the way he’s looking at me that doesn’t give me the impression he wants to hurt me. He definitely wants something from me though. And the butterflies start buzzing like crazy. I wonder what it would be like to have sex with a complete stranger. To throw caution to the wind and run on wild instinct and raw desire. I bet it’d be hot. Hotter than the basic boring sex I have with Jeff. Jeff, my boyfriend. I almost forgot I had one.

“Sorry, bucko! I’m not giving you anything, so you can move along before my boyfriend sees you trying to tread on his territory.” I turn to the man running the game and pull out another ten. “Can I try again?”

“Boyfriend?” The flustering man moves in closer, filling my lungs with his sexy cologne. There’s a hint of motor oil and the outdoors underneath that has me breathing in deeper, trying to take in more. He even smells manly. Jeffrey smells like potpourri and gym socks most days. I think his cologne is way too sweet, but he refuses to give up his signature scent. This man though… It’s heady.

“You mean the asshole who refused to take the most beautiful girl up on the Ferris wheel?” I turn my head, meeting his stare again, feeling my knees wobble when I see how dark his eyes have grown. “The boy who didn’t march right over to the cotton candy stand and get you as many bags as your little heart desired? The selfish jerk who refused to spend a dollar of his trust fund to try to win his pretty girl the bear she wanted? You know what his biggest mistake was?”

I swallow hard, gasping for oxygen and grasping for the counter. I need something to hold me steady. His voice drops even lower, his face moving in so close I can see little flecks ofgold and brown in his eyes. “His biggest mistake was leaving you alone. There are too many guys with bad intentions roaming around here, and a girl as beautiful as you are is a prime target. You deserve so much better, babe. You deserve a real man. One who knows exactly how lucky he is to get to call you his.”

I’m frozen. Mesmerized. And I realize he must’ve heard my entire conversation with Jeff. He must’ve been watching me from the moment we arrived. A fact that should probably be terrifying, knowing that he stalked me over here and has invaded my personal space, making his interest known. But I’m not scared. I’m dizzy from the flutters and excitement coursing through my body. My skin is growing warm and flushed as he holds me under his stare. Making me feel light-headed from the weight of his words.

“If I win you that bear, will you let me take you for a ride on the Ferris wheel?”

His voice is softer now, sweeter. And I’m struggling to find mine. My answer should be no. If I were smart, I’d run and find my friends. If I were wise, I’d tell the man he’s a creepy stranger and should leave me alone. But I don’t want to run. And I don’t want to tell him to get lost. I want to stand here and savor this moment. Savor the fact that this gorgeous man finds me attractive.

The way he’s looking at me makes my heart race. Goose bumps prick across my skin, and my breaths are pumping in faster and faster, shallowing into a pant as his eyes drop down to my mouth. His tongue sweeping across his lower lip like he’s imagining a taste.

A familiar voice comes from the distance, pulling me from his hold. I turn to the sound. Jeff and the guys are standing right where I left them. They haven’t gone on any rides yet. They’ve been distracted by a group of girls. A group of girlswho are flirting with them. And what is my boyfriend doing? Winking at one of them as he sweeps her hair off her face and tucks it behind her ear.

“He’s the biggest idiot in the world.”

My head lifts as the stranger’s whisper coasts over me. There’s a kindness in his eyes. A sincerity that doesn’t feel like this is part of his game. It doesn’t feel like a line.

“Just one ride on the Ferris wheel. The views are pretty spectacular from up there.”

I always thought love at first sight was a ridiculous notion, but the longer I stare into his eyes, the more it doesn’t feel so farfetched. There’s a force so strong hovering between us. Like a current. The power of it is dissolving all rational thought. It makes me forget what the right response should be. Instead, I go with my fluttering gut on this one.

“Good luck winning that bear.” I bite down on my smirk as his cheeks tip up into the cutest smile. He has dimples. I’m a sucker for dimples. And apparently, bad boys with muscles, ink, and smooth charm because I’m crossing my fingers that he can win that bear.

“You ready to go, Madsters?”

“Oh, um…yep.” I’m yanked back from the past, feeling like I’d just passed out for a moment. It was so heavy, it felt real. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

3

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