“Cassidy Mae, you naughty girl. We have all the time in the world tonight. It’s just the beginning.”
“Later, cowboy. I’m gonna rock your world.”
“I look forward to it, darling.”
A smirk creased the corner of her lips and I feel moderately better. She leaned into me as I rested my arm on the back of our seat. The stars were out tonight, the crowd below us is buzzing, and I’ve just had one of the most perfect moments in this life. I looked up at the stars and wondered about our future. What happens next?
Our car came to a halt in front of the ride attendant and we waited until he fully stopped it from rocking and opened the door for us to depart. I got out first, offering my hand to Cassidy Mae as she blushed red at what happened on that ride that the rest of these people were not privy to… winning.
I slipped my hand through hers as we walked away from the Ferris wheel. “Come on. I’m sure you’re starving. Let’s get you some food.”
We carved our way to the food carts and stopped. So many decisions.
“What sounds good, Cass? Churros, corn dogs, funnel cake…”
“Oh my gosh, chocolate-dipped churros sound absolutely amazing right now.” She looked over at me and her bright emerald eyes twinkled like stars against the pitch-black sky. I wanted to get lost in that gaze. I’m so mesmerized by it that I don’t realize I’ve been staring a bit too long.
“Beau?”
“Yeah. Chocolate covered churros sound good to me. Let’s go grab some.” We made it over to the long line that’s waiting. A sigh escaped her lips and I looked over at her as she nibbled her bottom lip, while watching the line move at a snail’s pace.
“Hey, what’s up?” She looked over at me and shook her head.
“We don’t have to wait. I…I didn’t realize the line was so long and I know you wanted to do other stuff…”
“Cassidy Mae… you want a churro; we’re getting you that damn churro. No line is going to deter me from getting the one thing you want right now..”
She smiled softly at me and nodded.
“Good, glad we got that all cleared up,” I said with a smirk.
“You’re too good for me, Beau Montgomery.”
“No, you’re the one who’s too good for me. I see the way you call your mama every day even though you don’t really need to. I see how you are with the horses. How you care for the people that live on the farm. You put every other single person first and you deserve to be taken care of for a change. You’re important to me. Very important. And if it takes until my last breath to make sure you know that then so be it. I’ll do it, don’t even doubt that. Maybe someday you’ll teach me to be as good to people as you are to me.”
“You trying to make me swoon over here?”
“Uh-huh, is it working yet?”
She giggled and turned back to the line. I snaked my arm around her waist and held her while we continued waiting. I liked having her in my arms. It felt good, right. Like a piece of my soul had finally found its home and was settling down for the long hall. There’d been a piece of my heart missing for years and all of a sudden it was feeling whole and I knew that she was the reason. The line moved up again and we were now third from the front. Only a little longer to wait.
“I’m glad you said yes to coming with me tonight, Cass. Tonight has been the best night of my life and I owe it all to you. You make me feel alive. Like a piece of me had been dormant for way too long and my heart can stop missing you because you’ve finally come home to me.”
She shook her head and looked at me again. “You know you don’t have to sweet talk me to get into my pants.”
“I believe I was in your pants, well dress, just a few minutes ago and it was magical. So, this is not about me trying to get into your pants, darlin’. I’d like the chance to do it again later too though, so if you’re offerin’ I’d like a rain check for when we get home.” I winked at her and she raised her hand to my chest, putting her head on my shoulder.
“Can I just say that I never want this night to end?” She whispered. I wasn’t sure if she actually wanted me to hear it or not so I just smiled and kissed the top of her head. I took a long inhale—loving the jasmine-infused shampoo that she’d started using. It was perfectly feminine and sweet like her normal sugar and floral scent.
“Next?” The person taking orders called out to us.
“That’s us. Order whatever you want to, it’s on me.”
“Oh, I won’t be able to eat that much. Will you share it with me?”
“I’ll share whatever you want.”
“Okay…good.” She turned back to the guy taking orders and I watched as his eyes roamed over her body. My fists clenched and I fought back the urge to clear my throat so he realized what he was doing, but I didn’t. Cass had seen enough violence in her lifetime. I just wanted to protect her from the creeps of the world. I hadn’t been there all those years, but now I was. So, I had some making up to do.
We only waited a couple of minutes for our food to come out. Grabbing the churros, we headed to find a picnic table where we could eat our take. Sitting down, Cassidy Mae dug right in with her churros. I watched as she delicately opened her small mouth and, in that moment, I wanted to be the damn churro. I was jealous of a chocolate-dipped churro. Never thought I’d see the day. The way she ate it was enticing in the most
