Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“Okay, well, sorry to have bothered you,” the other girl says. She nudges her friend as they walk away. “I told you it wasn’t her! You’re so ridiculous.” Giggling, they head off toward one of the rides.
I glance up at Ben. “See? We’re just a normal couple out for a day at the carnival,” I say, punctuating my statement with a bite of cotton candy.
He stares at me for so long I grow uncomfortable and wipe at imaginary pink sugar on my face. “What?” I finally ask.
“You just surprised me, that’s all. For someone who wants fame, you just turned down the chance for an autograph and photo op with fans.”
I shrug. “I think that would be obvious. I love to sing. I want to be recognized for my voice. It’s about the music, not being identified everywhere I go or losing my anonymity.” I blush as I say, “I’m really shy at heart.”
“I love that about you,” he says, his eyes softening as he speaks. “Promise me something?”
I run my tongue over my bottom lip. “What?” I ask softly.
“Whatever happens in the future, don’t change.” He leans closer, his lips hovering over mine. “Don’t lose that innate sweetness inside of you, okay?”
“Okay.” I can’t imagine being anything or anyone other than what or who I am.
My eyes flutter closed, and his lips touch mine, so gently it brings tears to my eyes. He prolongs the kiss, but it doesn’t grow hot, heavy, or hungry. Instead it is an honest, genuine expression of feelings. Feelings he holds inside and doesn’t express with words.
Emotions I feel building and growing inside me every day and wish I could set free, but I refrain. Given the constraints of the time we have together and the earlier promises I made, it is better to hold the words close to my heart.
“Hey, how about I win you that stuffed animal you wanted?” he offers.
I grin and place my hand in his, determined to focus on the here and now. Not the uncertain future.
* * *
Ben
I drive us home an hour later, a huge stuffed animal in the back seat. I am uncharacteristically relaxed, having enjoyed today more than any in recent memory. We order in dinner and pass out early, only to be awakened by the incessant buzzing of a phone. Mine sits quietly on the nightstand.
Yawning, Summer reaches for hers. “It’s Anna. She’s texting me,” she murmurs. “Something about me is blowing up on social media.” She opens her phone and begins to scroll through Instagram. “Oh, wow. Ummm… yeah.”
“What?” I ask, nerves suddenly awake and aware.
She glances up at me with a hesitant expression. “I’m not sure you’re going to like this.”
I push myself back against the headboard. “What is it?”
“A photo … actually a video of us at the carnival went viral. And we’re not just kissing.” She wrinkles her nose and turns the phone my way.
My eyes open wide as I watch myself lick cotton candy off her finger in what looks like a very seductive act. Even watching it causes my dick to harden as the memory of the moment comes back to me, my tongue wound around her finger, wishing I could take it further and suck at her nipples, visibly tight beneath her shirt.
I mutter a curse as humiliation and frustration fills me at being caught out in public. “Fuck.”
She turns toward me, sitting up in the bed. “I’m sorry. I know this is the last thing you need. I can talk to Dan myself if you want…”
“It’s fine.” It is actually embarrassing as hell, but hopefully I’ll live it down and it won’t affect me professionally.
I don’t think Dan will be pissed, and my position at Alpha Security is secure. Dan is more understanding than hard-ass when it comes to his people. We had the conversation when he hired me on and spoke about my past, but would clients care?
“My name isn’t mentioned, is it?” I ask, shoulders tight.
“No,” she murmurs. “At least not yet.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well…” she says hesitantly. “I was thinking that if Tawny wanted to get involved and stir up trouble for us, she could possibly post who the mystery man in the video is. Because that’s who you are right now. My mystery man.”
I wince, really not wanting to be outed by name in Tawny’s search for success.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s a low point of being with me,” Summer murmurs, her gaze and expression sad. “If you’d kept your distance like you wanted to in the beginning, this wouldn’t have happened.”
And I wouldn’t have had such a great day with her, nor would I have memories built and stored away. Do I like the fact that we were caught? No. I prize anonymity, and I deliberately don’t have a social media profile. But I knew who she was when I got involved, even if I didn’t think through this kind of consequence.