The fairgrounds are supposed to be closed at night, but as we pull closer, I notice lights beyond the gate. And someone standing there, waiting.
Kai parks the Mustang and comes around to open my door. I slip out, my hand finding his automatically, curiosity burning through me.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“You’ll see.” His eyes are bright with excitement. “It’s a surprise.”
“I do love surprises,” I admit.
He squeezes my fingers and leads me toward the gate. A man I don’t recognize hands Kai a set of keys, exchanging a few words I can’t quite hear. Something about everything being set up, about locking up when we’re done.
Then we’re through the gate, and it swings shut behind us, and?—
Oh.
Oh.
The fairgrounds have been transformed.
Fairy lights are strung everywhere, draped across the rides, wound through the trees, outlining the paths in a soft golden glow. The main lights are off, leaving the grounds bathed in shadow and sparkle, like something out of a dream. It’s beautiful and eerie all at once, a fantasy world created just for us.
“Are we completely alone?” I whisper.
Kai nods, his smirk illuminated by the twinkling lights. “You’re all mine.”
Something flutters in my chest. “You know this is the setup for about a hundred horror movies, right?”
He chuckles, nudging me with his side. “Trust me, doll. If anyone shows up, I’ll be the monster they should be terrified of for spoiling a night meant just for you.”
We stroll deeper into the fair, and I can’t stop looking around. Every ride is outlined in fairy lights, creating silhouettes against the dark sky. The Ferris wheel rises like a glittering crown. Shadows pool between the attractions, adding depth and mystery to the scene.
It’s magical, like stepping into a snow globe filled with stars, and I absolutely love it.
Then I hear the faint tinkle of merry-go-round music drifting through the night air. We round a bend, and the carousel comes into view.
It’s huge, one of those two-tiered antique kinds, with a sweeping staircase leading to the upper level and ornate horses prancing on both floors. Every light on the carousel is blazing, turning it into a beacon in the darkness. The music is coming from within, that old-fashioned carnival melody that sounds both nostalgic and slightly haunting.
And in front of the carousel, there’s a table with a proper dining setup, two high-backed chairs that look as though they belong in a palace. A golden tablecloth. A vase of flowers in the center. Silver domed covers over what I assume are plates of food.
“Oh, Kai…”
He’s grinning now, that infectious smile that lights up his whole face. He takes my hand and leads me closer.
“I wanted to take you out to dinner tonight,” he says. “Just you and me. But it had to be special. Not some ordinary restaurant, that wouldn’t do for you. So I created something you’ll never forget.”
My throat is tight. My eyes are stinging.
No one has ever done anything like this for me. Not Tanner, who thought romance was letting me pick the movie. Not anyone before him. I’ve always been the one making the effort, planning the surprises, trying to make other people feel special.
And here’s Kai, this wild, reckless cowboy with a reputation for trouble, creating a literal fairy tale just because he wanted our first real date to be memorable.
“I feel like I should have dressed for the occasion,” I manage, laughing to keep from crying with happiness. “Something like a gown.”
He pulls out my chair for me, his hand warm on my lower back. “You are spectacular exactly as you are. This is about us. There’s no one here to judge us having a quiet moment together.”
I sink into the chair, still overwhelmed. The place setting in front of me is elegant with white porcelain plates that have gold trims, crystal glasses, golden cutlery that catches the light.
Kai moves around the table, lifting the silver domes one by one, and my breath catches.
