Page 92 of Fairground

When I finally break away, my chest heaving, I’m greeted by the sound of Lawson’s low chuckle and Colt’s shit-eating grin. Even Regan is smirking like I’ve won the lottery.

“Hell, Cash, could you at least pretend we’re not here?” Colt teases, but I don’t give a damn. My focus is solely on Rae, whose lips are swollen and wet from our sloppy kiss.

She leans in close, her voice low and trembling with something that sounds a lot like relief. “I’m staying,” she whispers. “No matter what happens with the election in a few minutes, I’m not leaving. I’m staying, Cash. I decided last night.”

The knot in my chest dissolves instantly, replaced by a heat that spreads through me like wildfire. “Fuck, yeah,” I growl, pulling her mouth back to mine. This kiss is harder, hungrier, and I can still taste that whiskey lingering on her tongue.

In the back of my mind, I make a decision: later tonight, I’m going to fuck her senseless, pour another shot into her mouth, and taste her all over again—this time mixed with my seed. That sounds like the perfect blend to me.

Regan’s voice cuts through the haze. “Hey, shouldn’t someone turn on the TV?” She spins toward the corner and flicks it on without waiting for an answer. The election results are being announced, but I don’t care about them anymore. Rae’s staying. She’s mine. That’s all that matters. We'll make this work.

The door creaks open again, and Molly slips inside, moving behind Colt’s desk to settle herself on his lap. His arms wrap around her protectively as they both fix their eyes on the screen and the announcement.

Meanwhile, I’m still wrapped up in Rae. My hands dig into her thighs, pulling her closer, and my mouth is on hers again. We’re making out like two teenagers who don’t give a damn about curfews or consequences.

“I love you, baby,” I whisper against her lips.

She pulls back slightly, her green eyes searching mine. “I love you too.” And then I kiss her harder. I lose track of time until I feel a gentle squeeze on my shoulder. I glance up to see Molly and Regan smiling down at us, their eyes warm with approval.

“Congrats, Rae,” Molly says softly, her voice filled with genuine happiness. “We’re so glad to have you as our new mayor—and have you here with Cash.”

Rae pulls back slightly, her lips still brushing mine as she lets out a shaky breath. Her eyes lock on mine, and there’s something raw and vulnerable in them that makes my chest tighten.

“I won,” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I grin, brushing my thumb over her cheek. “You won, baby. The town chose you.”

Her smile spreads wide, brighter than I’ve ever seen it, and I know in that moment just how much this election meant to her. Before I can say anything else, she kisses me again, hard and deep, and I can’t help but chuckle low in my chest.

When we finally come up for air, I'm smiling like a fool. “Look who’s the newMrs. Whitewood Creek. You going to take my place at high school sporting events? Start having the older gentleman of this town pass out from your beauty?”

She rolls her eyes, but her smile doesn’t waver. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah,” I admit, pressing another kiss to her lips. “But I’m yours. And you’re mine. Forever.”

Chapter 39: Rae

Four months later…

“He’s been weird lately,” Regan says.

I stretch my legs out in front of me before sliding down onto the hard wood floor of Molly and Colt’s living room, staring up at the high, exposed wooden beams on their ceiling and feeling the slight buzz of the two tequila shots that I just took with Regan settle deeper into my blood stream.

“What kind of weird?” I ask.

“Like, I don’t know… picking up extra shifts, volunteering to be on call at the last minute, stuff like that. He’ll even tell Rhett to have him on call for emergencies when we already have plans to hang out and Rhett could easily assign someone else. It’s just getting kind of ridiculous. I feel like the relationship isn’t a priority to him anymore.” Regan huffs and crosses her arms. “The other night, I drove all the way out to Meadowbrook where he lives—at his request, mind you—and ten minutes into dinner, his phone rings with an‘emergency plumbing issue,’ and offhe goes. Meanwhile, I’m sitting there, eating alone in his house feeling like a total idiot.”

“Okay, that’s definitely odd. Maybe he’s struggling financially and needs the extra hours?”

Regan shakes her auburn hair, her curls bouncing as she frowns. “Nope, not it. His grandma just passed away, and he went out of his way to tell me she left him a ‘very large sum of money.’ His words, not mine.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Molly joins us on the floor, setting down a bowl of almonds. Ever since she found out that she's pregnant with her and Colt's child, she's been on this weird nut craze. Said that they are supposed to be good for the baby’s brain or something. She nudges them toward me, but I shake my head. Almonds and tequila don't mix.

Regan grabs a handful, tossing them into her mouth as if it’s the only way to keep from spiraling further. Who would’ve thought I’d go from moving to this town without a single friend to my name, to now having a tight little girl gang? Molly, Lydia, Regan, and me have started these girls’ night as a new tradition.

“Maybe he’s going to propose?” Molly suggests, popping another almond into her mouth. “You know, some guys get all weird and cagey when they’re planning something like that. Maybe he's nervous.”

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