“And that’s a problem?” I lift my chin, trying not to notice the way his presence makes my pulse skip.
“Guess not,” he leans in, slow and unapologetic. The scent of his cologne hits me first—rich, reckless, and entirely too good. “If you like your men soft and dull.”
I glance at the mountain of food in front of me again. “You didn’t have to get all this, you know…”
He tips his hat, grinning wider. “Part of the date, little lady. You get a bite of everything.”
I blink at him. Somehow, in the chaos of fried food and funnel cake sugar, I realize… he’s actually nailing this. I’m having a lot more fun with him than I expected. The man is smooth, I’ll give him that, even if he irritates me to no end.
"Okay, this barbeque is better than I expected," I say, taking another bite. The taste of the tangy sauce blends perfectly with the tender meat, and it’s good—almost good enough to distract me from the man beside me.
His gaze drops to my fingers, glistening with sauce, and I glance around for a napkin.
"You always this much of a mess, or is that just an effect I have on you?" he asks, voice low and lazy, like he’s got plenty of time to get under my skin.
Before I can shoot back a retort—or find a napkin—he snatches my hand in his. Then, without breaking eye contact, he brings my finger to his mouth. His lips wrap around it slowly, tongue trailing along, licking the sauce like every last drop is worth savoring.
My breath catches—sharp and involuntary.
His eyes are still locked on mine, big and golden and brimming with mischief. It feels like there’s this inexplicable connection forming between us despite my best efforts to be cautious. The way his mouth lingers on my skin, the slight drag of his teeth as he pulls away, it's all too much. I’m all too aware of his heat, the sheer presence that Trouble commands without even trying.
Trouble just leans back in his seat, all lazy confidence and sin in denim, a half-smirk toying with his mouth. “You can’t waste the sauce.”
I force words out before I combust. “Maybe try a napkin next time?” My voice comes out steady, but only because I’m hanging on for dear life by the thinnest thread. Inside, every nerve is lighting up—embarrassment, confusion…and something a whole lot more dangerous.
His gaze dips to my mouth before returning to my eyes. “Where’s the fun in that?”
I scoff, because if I don’t joke, I’ll start thinking about the heat still lingering on my finger. “You’re insufferable.”
He smiles. He already knows what he’s doing to me. It’s that cocky, ruinous grin that probably gets him out of felony-level trouble. It should piss me off. It does. But it also makesmy stomach drop and my pulse trip, though I will absolutely refuse to admit it. Not to him. Not even to myself.
"And yet, here you are," he drawls, "still sitting next to me."
"Only thing keeping me here is this barbeque."
"Sure, that’s it."
I force a nonchalant shrug, but my hands betray me, shaking ever so slightly as I reach for my last bite.
“And now… this next part? It’s gonna be your favorite.”
“Oh really?” I say, raising an eyebrow. “Better than the barbeque. What is it?”
He tilts his chin toward the glowing Ferris wheel. “That.”
I blink. “That’s the big finale?”
“That Ferris wheel right there? It’s magic.”
He stands, holding out a hand. “Let me show you.”
A guy at the gate opens it for us. Trouble shakes his hand like he owns the place. “You got me, Arlo?”
Arlo grins. “For you? Always.”
We take our seats, the world slipping away as the ride starts to lift. When Arlo changes the music, the carnival tunes are replaced by something soft and romantic that makes my chest squeeze in the best way. Trouble slides his arm around me, and those evil little butterflies in my stomach start flapping like they’ve gone mad.
“So… is this where you make the big move?” I tease, looking up at him and those long lashes of his.
