However, I was ever alert for the tabloids, despite Jack shrugging it off. I remembered the hurt my sister had gone through when a photo of her and Max, splattered with paint in this very park two years ago, had appeared in the evening’s newspaper.
I didn’t worry so much about myself. Besides, I could take any crap that landed my way. And Jack didn’t seem to care what the papers said. Unlike Max, who hated the tabloids.
Then I became aware of the staring. Heads turned as we passed. Women—and some men, too. Why not?
No matter my frustration with Jack, I couldn’t deny just how gorgeous he was with those lean, sculpted features. He hadn’t shaved today, and dark stubble shadowed his jaw, concealing the slight cleft in his chin. Dressed casually in jeans and a faded navy t-shirt, hugging his ripped body, the short sleeves revealing his bulging biceps and tattoos on his right arm, he appeared like a GQ model heading into the festival for some sexy fun. All he had to do was cast those striking, pale eyes at a woman, and she’s go running. I’d seen it happen.
A sting of jealousy pricked me—man! I didn’t need those kinds of feelings joining the rioting ones already inside me. “Seems you’re going to have a fan club before the day’s over.” I couldn’t stop from slipping back to my snarky ways. Yup, attack was always my best defense when thrown out of my safety zone.
“Don’t really care,” he said softly, his arm brushing mine. “I only want you.”
My throat dried out. Yes, Jack wanted me. Without a doubt, he would fill my O-card, especially after that smoking-hot, mind-numbing kiss. But unlike a ONS with some stranger, Jack would still be around afterward because of the ties that bound us. Ila was my sister, and Max was Jack’s best friend. And given the new, disturbing feelings unfurling within me, I couldn’t risk using him.
Determined to keep him at arm’s length, I put all those thoughts back into my faulty mental box and shut it, then headed toward the entrance with its welcoming neon-colored buntings. The equally colorful and enormous banner above us declared the summer festival and flapped in the warm breeze. I was dead sure one could see it from space. It added a festive air to everything. Country music blared amidst the cacophony of chatter and yelling. The festival had started yesterday, but Saturday was the main day.
“Slow down, Ray.” Jack grabbed my upper arm and held on, probably to keep the crowd from jostling us. “What’s the rush? This is an event to be enjoyed at leisure, right?”
Yes, but I couldn’t explain my reasons, so I shut my mouth.
He ran his palm down my arm to clasp my hand.
“Wh-what are you doing?” I hissed.
His grip tightened on my wriggling fingers. “It’s easier this way. So we don’t get separated. Or I could put my arm around you?”
At his wicked grin, I bit back a groan. He was enjoying this a little too much.
“Why fundraisers?” he asked as we navigated the crowd. “I know you help out with these things. A lot. Is it because of your mother?”
I nodded, too conscious of his warm fingers curled around mine.
“It’s what I like about you.”
His words had my tummy dipping. I batted my eyelashes at him. “Wow, Jack. Keeping tabs on me?”
“Someone has to with your proclivity for getting into trouble.”
“Please, I have Max and War for that.”
“And yet you called me the other night,” he shot back.
“Eh, yeah. I thought Max and Ila were having dinner with his father, War can’t get into a fight, which left…you.”
He hauled me to a sudden standstill in front of a trinket stall, causing people to cuss as they nearly bumped into him. “You think I don’t worry about you?” he asked, sounding irritated.
“I have enough surrogate brothers, thank you.” I brushed it off.
“Brothers, those two?” he snorted. “Yeah, fine. But me, no,” he said and started walking again, pulling me along. “I’ve never had any brotherly inclinations where you’re concerned, Ray, especially not when I want my mouth and tongue all over your body, on your…yeah, you get my drift.”
Oh, God, I bit back a groan, my heart hammering too fast, my face flaming. Jack was going to leave me a horny mess before the day was over.
A couple of kids with painted faces screamed and cut in front of us. It finally got me to focus. My session at the kissing booth started at one. Just over an hour to kill before then.
As we strolled past the face-painting stall, I glanced around, needing to find a way to extract myself from Jack’s manacle hold. We neared the gaming section, and a cacophony of laughter and music merged with the excited shrieks coming from the rides farther away drifted to us.
“Well, what do you want to do or see?” I asked, absently rubbing my thumb ring with my index finger.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Walking around is fine.”
