I spent a ridiculous amount of time choosing between three nearly identical shirts. I finally settled on a dark green short-sleeved button-down and shorts, then changed my shoes twice before telling myself to get a grip.
Judging by the way Lila’s attention catches on the open buttons at my collar, the effort wasn’t entirely wasted.
“You’re wearing a shirt,” she says with a grin.
“I own several.”
“I was beginning to wonder.”
Her gaze drops to my chest again, and heat builds beneath my skin.
The sweet vanilla scent of her interest wraps around me, and my fox nearly howls.
I want to touch her.
I want to put my hand at the curve of her waist and feel her lean into me. I want to know whether the skin beneath the hem of her shirt is as soft as it looks.
Instead, I hold up the strip of ride tickets I bought.
“What would you like to do first?” I ask before my fox convinces me to bury my face in her neck in the middle of the Summer Festival.
Lila surveys the festival. “The ring toss is tempting. I hear it was assembled by an extremely dedicated public servant.”
“I’ve heard he’s also handsome and remarkably humble.”
Her attention moves over the rides, landing on the Ferris wheel at the far end of the midway.
Lila’s smile wavers, and her fingers tighten around the strap of her tote.
“Not a Ferris wheel person?” I ask, gazing up at the ride turning slowly against the darkening sky. Its gondolas hang in open metal frames, swaying gently as they look out over the ocean.
“I really don’t get why anyone would want to be suspended hundreds of feet in the air inside a swinging metal box.”
“Completely understandable point. But there’s something to facing your fears.” I watch the wheel carry another gondola toward the top. “You can stay on the ground where it’s safe, butthen you never find out what might have been waiting for you up there. Sometimes the things worth choosing are the ones that scare you most.”
Lila studies me. “That was…actually pretty profound.”
“I have my moments.”
She laughs, then bites her lower lip and eyes the Ferris wheel.
“I’ll protect you.” I hold out my hand. “I’ll even hold your hand if you’ll let me.”
A blush spreads over her cheeks. “I’d like that.”
She sets her hand in mine. When I curl my fingers around hers, she squeezes back.
My fox settles with a satisfied rumble.This is good.
Yeah. It is.
We join the line for the Ferris wheel. Lila keeps hold of my hand as we wind through the metal barriers, and I have to fight a smile every time her hip brushes my thigh.
We’re almost at the front when someone calls my name.
“Max!”
Lila tenses as I look toward the voice.
