"Gideon, Alli, how goes the competition?” Randall put his arms around both of them, and Gideon breathed a sigh of relief. Saved by the ex-roommate. “I’ve let Matt know how annoyed I am that we aren’t in the same small group.”
Alli scoffed. “That was only for the one night, and it’s not like you and Cassie have been going out of your way to talk to us.”
“We talked with you up on St. Ambrose. Though this guy was off hiking through the underbrush.” Randall dropped his arms. “Since you’re here, I assume you and the hot ginger made it back to town?”
Gideon bristled. “Her name’s Megs.”
“Hot?” Alli said at the same time. “I thought you and Cassie—”
“Hey, if you don’t look once, you’re not a man, am I right?” Randall stepped back holding out his fists for a bump. Both of them left him hanging. He laughed. “See you two in with themaïs.”
Alli shook her head. “Was that French or Spanish? He hasn’t changed one bit.”
“In college that all seemed less pretentious.”
Alli grinned as Matt’s voice rang out, "Alright, everyone! Gather round!” The contestants did as he said, and Matt’s team started snapping pictures as they circled up.
Gideon glanced to his left looking for Megs, but didn’t see her there. He wanted to turn and search for her, but didn’t want to be too obvious.
Matt rubbed his hands together. “I saved this for last because in this novel, this is the moment. This is the scene that every reader is dying to get to because our main characters have been going back and forth, will they, won’t they, and then here at this fall festival—not this one specifically—they finally do.”
“Your characters get it on in the corn maze?” Randall asked.
“No, Randall, this is a low-spice romance. Theykissin the corn maze.”
Randall looked more than a little disappointed as Matt went on. “So, let's grab some firewood and—”
A kerfuffle broke out behind their group, and Matt craned his neck to see what was going on.
A woman with lovely gray hair put her hands on her hips. “I’m telling you, Deb, I made these arrangements ahead of—”
“Oh what arrangements. You harangued Megs here to do your dirty work for you!” A taller women who looked to be slightly younger pointed at the woman accusingly.
Megs stepped between them, and Gideon sucked air through his teeth at the sight of her.
A few years ago, he’d gone on a trip with his brother to Thailand. They’d forced themselves to eat everything like the locals, which meant his mouth had been burning from sun up to sun down. But, at the beginning of the week, it had taken half his meal to heat his tongue and lips to the point that they were uncomfortable. By the end of the week, a single bite sent his skin burning.
After repeated exposure, instead of calming down, his body had been sensitized and started overreacting at the first taste of those Thai chilies.
He clenched his hands into fists as his skin flushed watching Megs. He’d had enough exposure to Megs, his body knew exactly what she meant for him, and he couldn’t cool the heat simmering in his veins.
Megs took control. “Okay, ladies, I think it would be best if we—” She glanced up as if just noticing Matt and all the competitors staring at them. The two squabbling women straightened and primped before smiling demurely.
Megs’ eyes flicked to and away from Gideon’s so quickly, he thought he imagined it. “Oscar, these are the Sugar Mamas.”
Gideon stepped back to see there were five other women standing behind Megs and the two mother hens. If it would’ve been physically possible, all seven of the older women would’ve had literal hearts in their eyes. Each of them held one of Matt’s books to their chests.
Matt lit up. “I’ve heard about you ladies, but I don’t believe I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting you in-person.”
The women tittered and gawked as Matt approached and clasped each of their hands, then signed the dedication pages of their books. Gideon watched Megs as she faded back behind the old bitties. She grinned as she watched them, and Gideon was transfixed. He knew he should look away, that at any moment she could look up and catch him gawking, but he couldn’t help it.
He had to talk to her. Had to apologize and ask her if she was all right.
“No, the Mamas can’t stay long,” Megs said in response to something Matt asked.
“Well, that’s too bad.” Matt sighed. “I was hoping you ladies would be able to join us for the fall festival.”
The first woman’s eyes went wide as saucers. She turned to Megs who Gideon could’ve sworn was subtly shaking her head, then turned back to Matt. “Well, Oscar. We’d simply love to.”
