Page 109 of No Rings Attached
“We can miss the opening ceremony.” I hid my smirk beneath my arm.
Her gasp of outrage was so indignant it made me laugh. She jabbed mercilessly into the ticklish spot under my ribs, and I howled with laughter.
“You’re not fighting fair, buttercup!”
“Exactly the point.” She flopped down against me, still giggling. Her hair tickled my chest and she smelled of apples and soap. I pulled her in tighter to breathe her in.
“This is my favorite way to wake up,” I murmured.
“Mmm, me too.” She snuggled in closer.
“You showered without me.” I grumbled.
Ellie popped up on one elbow, nearly crushing my bicep. “Get uuuuup-puh!”
I cracked open one eye. “Not until I get a kiss. Like that cursed princess, it’s the only thing that’ll wake me.”
Her lips pressed to mine, quick and sweet. But not nearly enough. I caught her hips before she could move and rolled her on top of me. She shrieked, clutching my shoulders as her thighs fell naturally around my waist.
Bad idea. My body was already interested. So was hers, judging by the soft moan she didn’t hold back.
“I need to be strong enough for both of us,” she huffed, wiggling just enough to make us both gasp.
“What about a quickie?” I asked, half pleading, half joking.
She shook her head. We both knew if we started, we’d never crawl out of bed.
Reluctantly, I pressed a lingering kiss to her lips and sat up. “Good morning, beautiful.”
Her cheeks flushed, and her “Morning,” came out breathless enough to make me want to drag her back down to the bed with me.
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll be ready,” I promised.
“Perfect. I’ll make us breakfast burritos to eat on the way.”
I kissed her forehead—the habit had become comforting and grounding. “You know there are about a hundred food vendors waiting for us, right?”
She squealed, bouncing. “Oh, my God! I forgot. Doughboys, fried Oreos—Do you think they’ll have fried pickles? I need to check my fanny pack to make sure I put my money in there.”
I chuckled. “Babe. I’ve got it.”
Her head jerked up at this new term of affection. My chest tightened.
That wasn’t fake-boyfriend talk, and we both knew it.
I cleared my throat. “Everyone here assumes I’ll pay. Glamma would roast me if I didn’t. You’d be saving me from public humiliation.”
Ellie arched her brow. “We’ll see.”
I grinned.Challenge accepted.
The shuttle dropped us off at the Town Common, where the residents of Ruby River were already buzzing. The air carried the warm, greasy perfume of kettle corn, fried dough, and cider. Booths ringed the gazebo like a patchwork quilt of color.
Small business owners and neighbors hustled through last-minute prep. The Millers stacked honey jars into a pyramid they’d definitely regret if the wind picked up. Sam Johnson coaxed his old cider press into cooperation, swearing at it loud enough to make a kid giggle. The Lewis twins argued at full volume about scarf placement while customers, already lined up, waited patiently to shop.
Ellie squeezed my hand as she turned in a slow circle, her face shining. Seeing it all fresh through her eyes made me remember what I loved about this day.
“Drew Kingsley!” a female voice boomed. Old Mrs. Fawcett ambled over from her jam booth. “You finally brought a girl. Thought maybe you were holding out for the mayor.”
