I frowned. “I just hate you’re having to pay so much for me. I’ll be glad when I can find a local branch of my bank and have some money of my own.”
“I don’t mind paying.”
“I know you don’t. It’s me who minds.”
“If it will make you feel better, I can start you a tab.”
“Smartass.”
While we ate our food, we walked around the other side of the fair, taking in the rides and various booths. As dusk started to fall, I became a little apprehensive. There was something more menacing in being around strangers in the dark verses the daylight. Every little noise from the rides made me jump.
When a man who had clearly had too much to drink bumped into me, a scream burst from my lips before I could think better of it. Rev rushed forward, grabbing the man by the throat and pinning him to the side of one of the booths.
“What the fuck are you doing hitting her like that?” Rev demanded, as his broad chest rose and fell with harsh pants.
The man’s blue eyes widened in fear as he took in both Rev’s imposing size and the menacing expression on his face. “N-Nothing. I swear.”
Feeling ashamed at my overreaction, I tentatively reached out to touch Rev’s arm. “It’s okay. Rev, he didn’t mean anything by it,” I said softly, trying to calm him down.
This hair-trigger-tempered side of him wasn’t something I was used to seeing, and if I was honest with myself, it was a little alarming.
Whether it was my touch or my reassurances that I was fine, Rev calmed down enough to release the man. He apologized repeatedly as he stumbled away from us. For a few seconds, Rev refused to look at me. When he finally did, his features had returned to normal. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s okay.”
He shook his head. “No, it isn’t. I scared you, which is the last thing I wanted to do.”
I closed the gap between us. “I would be lying if I said that scene just now didn’t alarm me.” Staring up into his apologetic blue eyes, I added, “You just seemed so different.”
“In my world, I have to be violent to get things done.”
Although there was regret on his face, his tone was matter-of-fact. I realized then there was so much more to Rev than I had originally imagined, and I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to know everything.
“Guess we better head out,” Rev said, breaking the tense silence between us.
“Okay,” I murmured. As I clutched the dog he had won me tight against my chest, I let him start leading us out of the fair.
Just before we got to the exit, Rev abruptly stopped. “Can I have just a few more minutes?” he asked.
“Of course.”
He took my hand and led me over to one of the few booths which were close to the exit. I watched as he handed over some tickets and then started to play. It wasn’t a shooting game, but Rev still managed to master it.
When the guy asked what prize, I half expected Rev to turn to me. Instead, he pointed to a green alligator wearing a pink tutu and ballet slippers. When he turned back to me, he wore an accomplished smile.
“Just who is that alligator for, Casanova?”
He laughed. “It’s for my niece, Willow. She’s a ballerina.”
I stared at him in surprise at that because he had never mentioned having a niece. From his tone when he spoke about her, coupled with the fact he had gone to the trouble to win something for her, it was obvious he loved her very much.
“How old is she?”
“Six going on sixteen.”
I smiled at his summation. “I bet she’s crazy about you.”
“What makes you say that?”
