With me attached to him. Wonderful.
As we bypassed several game booths— “There!” I pointed, breaking free of his hold and rushing toward the balloon stall with tons of fluffy toys waiting to be won. “Go on, strut your stuff like a boss man,” I tossed at him over my shoulder with a taunting grin. “Impress me with your prowess. Pop ‘em. Win me something big.”
His eyebrows rose above his shades as he drew closer, and that wall of heat that was all Jack briefly pressed up against my back. His warm breath coasted over my ear, his voice soft. “Ray, I have somethingbigfor you, if only you’d let me use it.”
My chin smacked my chest. He casually stepped up to the smiling lady and paid the required fee. Mrs. Jenkins winked at me and gave Jack the five darts.
He strolled back to the marked point, pushed the shades onto his head, and those silver-gray eyes narrowed as he readied himself. The dart went whizzing past, a pop sounded, more darts flew until he eviscerated the remaining balloons.
“Violent much?” I baited. Heck, I didn’t even know he knew how to throw a dart.
“I won, didn’t I?”
I scrunched my face. Showoff.
“You can choose from anywhere, dear, since your boyfriend hit the back row—the most difficult to reach balloons.”
“He isn’t—”
“C’mon, Ray, select, or I’ll pick one,” Jack cut me off, eyeing the huge panda.
Ugh, no way am I hauling that giant-ass animal with me.“That one!” I grinned, pointing to the bottom shelf behind Mrs. Jenkins.
She looked back and blinked. “You want that? But it’s for the easy target.”
“Yup.” I nodded and happily accepted my fluffy prize from her, a furry orange snake with a neon pink underbelly and a black forked tongue.
Jack shook his head as we left the stall and strolled out into the sunlight. “A hairy snake, really?”
“It’s not hairy, it’s furry, but it does remind me of you—”
“Ah, yes. My snake between your thighs?” A smile tugging his mouth, he put on his Wayfarers again.
I burst out laughing. I’d asked for that. “You won’t be slithering anywhere near my girly parts with that serpent of yours, Griffin—hey, there’s Ila’s stall! C’mon, you can get a henna tattoo.”
“No. I already have tattoos.”
I pivoted and walked backward. “For charity, you do. Besides, they aren’t permanent. And I already paid for it—” He grasped my arm, tugging me to his side again before I bumped into someone. “I’m not taking no for an answer. C’mon!”
Breaking free of his hold, I hoofed it to my sister. It was nearly twelve-thirty, and I needed to get to the kissing booth.
“Ila!” I waved, skirting the few people browsing there.
She looked up from working an intricate design on a girl’s hand. Before Jack reached us, I hissed in a low voice, “Do a henna tatt for him, please. I’ll pay you, then get Max to keep him occupied until four—please-please?” At her narrowed eyes, I knew questions would follow soon. “I’ll explain later. Promise.” And prayed I’d come up with a solid excuse.
“Jack, right on time,” my wonderful sister called out as he entered the covered booth. “I’m running a little behind, but I didn’t forget Ray’s request to do a tattoo for you. Give me a few minutes. Did you decide on a design?” Ila asked him as she went back to work on the girl.
“Yes, a slippery serpent,” he muttered, tossing me an annoyed look.
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh as I studied the display board of Ila’s past designs.
“Really? A snake?” my sister asked.
“Can’t trust them as far as you can throw them.” He drew closer to me. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Hey, the henna tatt is a gift from me to you. What’s not to trust?” I sniffed. “Max got one done the first time he came here. Didn’t you, Max?” I yelled as my future-brother-in law joined us after whatever errand my father had snagged him for. Nope, my dad didn’t treat Max any differently just because he came from the rich and famous stock of San Francisco.
“Yeah, I did.” He cut Ila an indulgent glance. “Best thing I’ve ever gotten.”
