Beckett smiled and looked at Sloane. “I heard you, Sloane. I just didn’t want to be interrupted.”
Marnie jerked her head in Sloane’s direction, coming out of her stupor. She noticed that Jax and Colt had wandered back over to the pellet guns, where they were engaged in a battle of who could knock down the most wooden ducks.
“What I was saying,” Sloane said good-naturedly, “was that you should take Marnie on the Ferris wheel. She likes it, but heights make me want to barf. Emmitt and I are going to try out the Tunnel of Love.” Sloane wagged her eyebrows and winked at Emmitt.
To say that Sloane was a handful was an understatement. She was wild and full of adventure, but she had a heart as big as the ocean. She also wasn’t the least bit afraid of heights, and Marnie shook her head at her friend in warning. Sloane wasn’t known for being subtle.
“Your brothers are going to kill you if you go into the Tunnel of Love and they find out about it,” Beckett said.
“I guess you’d better not tell them then,” she said, cheekily. “I know how much you love me. You’d miss me if I were gone.”
“You’re right,” Beckett said, and then he looked at Emmitt. “Which is why I’m comfortable telling Emmitt here to keep his hands to himself so the police don’t have to hunt for your body parts. The O’Haras are protective of their sister.”
Emmitt swallowed and nodded frantically, and Sloane rolled her eyes and looked at Emmitt in disgust. It didn’t take a vision for Marnie to see that Emmitt would be flying solo before the night was through.
“Don’t put Beckett on the spot, Sloane,” Marnie finally said, and then she turned to face Beckett. “There’s no need to keep me company if you’ve got other things to do. I don’t mind being on my own.”
“I like Ferris wheels,” he said. “When you get to the top you can see all of Laurel Valley. I’d like to show you.”
A riot of emotions sizzled through her body. Before the vision it had only been her imagination. She hadn’t known what it felt like to be kissed. She hadn’t known what it felt like to be pressed body to body, skin to skin. But the vision had given her a small glimpse of ecstasy, and being with him now was a mix between ultimate pleasure and pure torture. And she agreed with Sloane. When the time came to have sex she was going to enjoy it. The little rebellion against her father made her giddy with anticipation. She’d take her freedoms in small doses until the one year and three days was over.
“What do you say?” he asked, holding out his hand.
She smiled and placed her hand in his. She couldn’t imagine a night ever being more perfect than this one. Sloane winked at her as Beckett led her away and nervous anticipation had butterflies dancing in her stomach. She wanted to remember every detail—every sight and sound. She wanted to be able to recall every precious moment once she was alone. She could do that. Bring back sights and sounds and tastes once she’d experienced them.
His hand felt good in hers—right—and he didn’t seem to mind that anyone could see them. Her shoulders straightened proudly as classmates took notice. She’d never been noticed before. She always flew right under the radar of everyone’s attention, especially when she stood next to Sloane. Marnie didn’t mind it, and she didn’t begrudge the attention given to her beautiful friend. In fact, she preferred to go unnoticed. Going unnoticed meant no one asked questions about her family, how she got the bruise on her collarbone, or why she’d had to miss a week of school while she let the bruises heal.
“Those must be some deep thoughts,” Beckett said, smiling down at her. “Is everything okay?”
She forced away the thoughts that had clouded her mind and smiled. “Sorry, I was just letting my mind wander.”
They got into the line for the Ferris wheel, but their hands stayed joined. Beckett held the teddy bear under his other arm. A little girl passed with pretty blond pigtails, each one adorned with a big white bow, and he handed over the teddy bear, much to the girl’s delight.
Beckett used his tickets for both of them and handed them over to an older man with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. The attendant held the metal bar back for them and she slid into the seat first. The seats weren’t large, so when Beckett scooted in beside her they were pressed thigh to thigh. If possible, her heart thudded faster in her chest and heat infused her body. And then the car jerked as they began their ascent into the air.
The space was confined, so he raised his arm and put it across the back of the seat. His fingers toyed absently with the strap of her tank top and she looked straight ahead as they rose higher and higher, praying he’d never stop.
“Whenever I see you and Sloane together it always seems like you’ve got plenty to say.”
“You make me nervous,” she said.
“I’ve been told I have that effect on people,” he said soberly. “You might be more nervous to know I’m not all that fond of heights and if I pass out you should just ignore it and pretend I was manly and tough for the duration of the ride.”
Marnie laughed. “I’ll do my best to pretend. As long as you don’t throw up on me or pass out in my lap.”
“I’m a gentleman,” he said. “I’ll make sure to pass out in the opposite direction. College has taught me well.”
“Do you miss it?” she blurted out. “Your friends there, I mean?” And then she closed her eyes and wished she could fall into a hole. Could she have asked a more stupid question?
“Nope, not at all. It’s a necessary evil.” He shrugged. “The ranch is in my blood. I’d rather be there working and getting my hands dirty than sitting in a classroom. But it’s going to be mine one day and I’ve got to learn how to keep it profitable and expand it in any way I can. It’s my legacy.”
Marnie thought about that for a moment and wondered what that might feel like—to have a legacy. Once she graduated from high school she’d be on her own. Starting a new life with a new beginning.
“You’re destined for it,” she said softly. “You’ll sit through the classes and the lectures because you love what will one day be yours. Even though you hate your statistics professor.”
His grin widened. “Hey, how’d you know that? That’s cool. There have always been rumors you could read people’s minds. Wish I could do it. I’m not sure I’d have that kind of control. My mother said men don’t start making good decisions until they’re close to fifty. And she said when they’re with other men that they never make good decisions, so it’s probably best you’re the one with the powers.”
She forced a smile, but felt the blood drain from her face. She’d completely let down her guard.
