To participate in the culinary adventure, each entrant bought a raffle ticket. This year, the proceeds went toward the animal shelter in Primrose Valley. The ticket provided entry into the mystery food competition. The “sizzle” derived from each food being deep-fried in hot oil. But the “surprise” element was the thrilling part.
The participants had to guess the base of each battered morsel—half a dozen in total. The person who got all six correct won a week’s worth of free groceries from Mac’s Mercantile.
The foods changed annually, but always ranged from unusual, like deep-fried Jell-O, to downright unpalatable, like deep-fried caterpillar. Sometimes Mac left clues. Penny suspected the sixth item in the lineup belonged to the pepper family, considering a suspicious-looking stem protruded from the ball of fried dough. She’d have to make sure Colt steered clear of that one.
At the thought of Colt, her stomach fluttered. She had so much to tell him, starting with the arrangement she’d made with his mother yesterday. In doing so, she’d taken a huge risk, and she prayed he would appreciate the gesture.
Her breath stalled in her throat when she caught sight of him heading toward her. He looked so calm and carefree striding through the swell of townsfolk and tourists in his American flag board shorts and white tee. In fact, he appeared to be intoogood of a mood, all things considered. Almost as if their breakup hadn’t crushed his heart into a thousand tiny pieces as it had hers.
Apprehension pulsed through her veins, leaving her light-headed. Had she made a mistake talking to Maggie? Maybe she should cut her losses and move on. Clearly, Colt had.
Sucking in a breath, she squared her shoulders, unwilling to let her fears and negative thoughts overwhelm her. She’d come too far to give into them now. Regardless of the outcome, she wouldn’t be left wonderingwhat if.
“Hi.” Colt stood two feet in front of her, his turquoise-blue eyes shining with… what? Excitement? Exhilaration? Hope? She wasn’t sure. But she found the way his intense gaze bored into hers unnerving, to say the least.
“Hi,” she answered, her voice wobbly.
“I have our raffle tickets, but first—”
“I have something to say,” they blurted in unison.
“Sorry.” Penny’s cheeks flushed. Could she be more of a bumbling mess?
“Mind if I go first?” Colt ran his fingers through his hair, a mannerism Penny had come to recognize.
Was it possible he was just as nervous?
“Sure.” She cast a self-conscious glance at Mac, who sat in a camping chair inside the booth, observing them with open curiosity. Her cheeks heated hotter than his frying oil, but she turned her attention back on Colt, choosing to ignore their captive audience.
Colt met her gaze with an earnest tenderness that made everyone around them disappear, and her heartbeat stilled when he reached for her hand. “I have a confession. All the crazy adventures I’ve had, it’s what I thought my dad wanted for me. And I never questioned it… until you.” His gaze fell to their entwined fingers and Penny shivered, either from his words or the way his thumb caressed her skin. He locked eyes with her once more, this time with a stirring soulfulness that stole her breath.“The world has never looked more beautiful to me than when I see it through your eyes. And the only adventure I want is a life with you.”
Weakened by his heartfelt admission, Penny struggled to find her voice. “Wh-what exactly are you saying?”
“I’m saying… I’m not going anywhere. I’m all in. With you. This town. And all the little things that make this place our home.” He glanced at the row of chafing dishes. “Starting right here, with the final item on our list, but the first of many more adventures to come.” Plucking the fried glob by the stem, he brought it toward his lips. And before Penny could stop him, he popped the entire thing in his mouth.
She watched, in horror, as he chewed, his eyes bulging in shock. His entire face contorted, his cheeks flaming bright red as tears streamed down his cheeks.
Mac sprang from his seat. “Is he okay? I knew ghost peppers were hot, but he looks like he might pass out.”
“I’m fine,” Colt croaked hoarsely, in visible pain. When he finally swallowed the offending pepper, he whimpered, “Although, a glass of milk would be nice.”
On impulse, Penny popped onto her tiptoes and kissed him deeply, releasing a short gasp as the pungent spice hit her lips. After a long, languorous moment, she pulled away, murmuring, “Did that help?”
“Much better,” he moaned softly. “One more time should do the trick.”
With a breathy laugh, she eagerly obliged.
Chapter 30
The sweetness of Penny’s kiss mingled with the fiery spice of the pepper, alleviating some of the burn. Although, Colt had to admit, the tingling heat heightened the sensation of her lips against his, and he wouldn’t mind exploring the phenomenon a bit more.
“I think my mouth is numb,” Penny breathed when their lips finally parted.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He flashed a devilish grin, and she laughed, shooting a rippling warmth through his entire body.
Oh, how he’d missed that sound.
As her laughter subsided, she gazed up at him, her coppery eyes filled with wonder. “I still can’t believe you’re staying.”
