Page 17 of Searching for Sadie
Next to her, Lucas took a slow calming breath. "Call me cheesy, but I love the sight of Mystic Falls from up here. If you look over that way, you can almost see the waterfall."
Sadie turned her head, following where he was pointing. "It's beautiful up here."
When she took a moment to look down, she noticed his hand fisted in his leg before he flattened it against his own leg. "It is."
The last seat had just filled, and the Ferris wheel started its journey around and around. As the wind blew her hair around, she tucked it behind her hair. When she looked up at him the wind was ruffling his blond hair, and he had a smile stretched wide across his face. A giggle bubbled up as they crested the top causing her hair to blow in the other direction. Moments like this made her forget about the reason she was here, and it gave herthe courage to just forget about it, even if it was just for tonight. Maybe she could let herself have fun with her new friend and experience what this wonderful little town had to offer. If the tarot cards were correct, this would be her new home, and right now that felt pretty incredible.
After a few minutes the ride slowed, and it was their turn to get off. The bench rocked beneath her as Lucas stood and got off before offering her a hand as other held it steady as she got off. Her heartbeat just a little quicker at the feel of his strong callused hand in hers.
"Where to next?" he asked.
"I think I might need some cotton candy."
"Let's do it," Lucas said as he guided off the line and through the crowd of people.
There was something about the feel of his gentle yet strong hand on the small of her back that somehow managed to calm her but also shot little sparks of desire all over. She needed to make sure she kept her feelings in check. Everything was still so raw from the show.
Not only that, but she was probably making something out of nothing. He was just being nice. This whole town was just being nice. She didn't really belong here. She was an outsider.
"Is everything okay?" Lucas asked as they got in the line for some cotton candy.
"Yeah, why?"
"You just looked about a million miles away for a second there."
Before she had a chance to take that in, they were in the front of the line.
"One cotton candy," Lucas said as he reached for his wallet.
"I can buy my own cotton candy," she protested.
"I'm sure you can," he said as he handed the money over to the cashier taking a cone of cotton candy.
She bit back a smile as she looked up at him through her lashes. The sun was setting in the background and the pink glow of everything made him look soft and safe, and once again Sadie found herself reminding herself to be careful where this man was concerned.
They made their way through the crowd as they rounded the town square to the side with all the carnival games.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" said a man who looked vaguely like Lucas... only a little more polished.
"I'm Derek. The older, more attractive, Fipp brother. How are you settling in?"
"Shut up," Lucas said.
“I’m settling in nicely, thank you.”
"I hope Lucas here is showing you around," he said.
"He sure is.”
"What do you say about a little brotherly competition?" Derek said as he nodded his head over to a strength machine.
"Derek, it wouldn't be fair," Lucas said with a smug smirk on his face.
"We'll see," Dereck said as he walked over and picked up the large wooden hammer.
"If we must," Lucas said following him.
Sadie watched as this cleaner cut, thinner version of Lucas raised the hammer above his head and brought it down. The marker did move up to the top quarter of the gage.
