by Elle Viviani
“No small feat for you, either.”
“You’re impossible.”
“I am, but at least I got you smiling again…” I lower my voice “…and it’s a beautiful smile.”
Summer bites her lower lip and steps forward as the line moves. I reach out for her hand again, but she shrinks away. “No, Koa. I’m not talking about this.”
“Why not?”
She faces me, her eyes clear and fierce as she meets mine. “I don’t want to talk about unpleasant things.”
“Is that how you see it?” I demand, stung deeply by her words.
“I’m not doing this right now!” She takes a deep breath and steps forward.
“Fine, but can we talk about us soon?”
She thinks about it.
“Look, you can’t really ignore this forever. Ignore me forever.” I stop and stare at her. “Unless that’s what you want.”
“No,” she says quickly as we reach the counter. “Later, then.”
Later could mean a lot of things: later this week or later tonight. I know how I’m choosing to interpret it.
I grab the tray of beers from the counter and we move off into the crowd. “Hey…” Summer stares at the cardboard tray in my hands. “You said I wouldn’t be able to carry those!”
“How else was I going to talk to you?” I shrug off her shocked look. “I didn’t feel like dealing with that awkward silence any longer, did you?”
“Not really,” she admits.
I jostle her with my shoulder “Plus, I missed you.”
“Koa—”
“As a friend,” I add, leaving out the rest of what I wanted to say. “I like hanging out with you, Rae.”
“Really? Even though we’re constantly at each other’s throats?”
“Especially because of that. I like a woman with a lot of personality.” I know I’ve struck a nerve when her cheeks flush. Good. I’m done ignoring my feelings for her, and the sooner we talk about it, the sooner we can drop this charade that we’re just friends.
Captain and Jane grab their beers out of the tray as we reach them. I throw away the tray and grab the remaining two, holding one out to Summer. Our fingertips brush as she takes it, her soft touch racing through me like a drug. Her eyes meet mine above the sloshing golden liquid. Passion flits across them in fiery bursts, untamed and wild just like my own.
So I haven’t just struck a nerve in Summer, I’ve stirred feelings that she’s been trying to hide.
Jane clears her throat. “I think Grandpa and I are going to try our hand at some games.”
“We are?” Captain sucks in his breath as Jane nudges him in the ribcage. He scowls down at her. “What was that for?”
“What was what for, dear?” Jane says innocently. “I really wanted that stuffed giraffe back there, remember?”
“No, I don’t. Oof!” He rubs his side. “Hey, what was—”
She cuts him off with a nod in our direction. “Giraffe. Now.”
Gramps looks at Summer and me, then grins. “Oh! Riiight.”
Jane sighs and grabs his arm. “Let’s go, you old buffoon.”
Summer snaps her head up from her beer. “I’m surprised Gramps would agree to that, he hates carnival games.
I shrug. Jane’s up to something, but hell if I knew what. Anyway, I’m not complaining. I have Summer all to myself now, which means…
I turn to her. “So, about what we were talking about earlier—”
“Want a funnel cake?”
“What?”
“Funnel cake. You know, fried dough with lots of powered sugar?”
“I know the stuff.”
“Well, I love it.” Summer jerks her thumb over her shoulder. “I saw a place over there that smelled good. Why don’t I grab one?”
“First I wanted to talk.”
“After cake.”
I stare at her, not believing a word.
“I promise,” she adds. Her foot begins to tap the grass.
“Sure,” I say, like I have a choice. Summer’s vibrating like a pent-up racehorse. If I’d turned down funnel cake, I’m sure she’d have come up with three more ways to run away from this conversation. “Want me to come with you?”
“No!” She pauses to clear her throat. “I mean, no thanks.”
I watch her as she starts to back away. “Are you sure?”
“Sure I am.” She flashes me a hint of her old smile. “What’s the worst that can happen?”
21
Summer
I turn around, fresh funnel cake in one hand, a stack of white napkins in the other, to find Mike looming over me.
“Hey, babe,” he croons. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“Don’t read too much into it,” I mumble, pushing past him.
“What’s the hurry?” He reaches out and grasps my upper arm.
I glare down at his fingers. “Let me go. Now.”
His eyebrows shoot up as he lets go. “Alright, alright…calm down. I only wanted to talk.”
“About what?”
“About the last time we saw each other.”
“You mean when you cornered me?”
Mike shrugs. “That’s not how I remember it. I remember you throwing me a look and me acting on it.”
I scoff. “Then what about when Koa punched you in the face?”
He gingerly touches his nose. It’s healing, but still ugly. “Unprovoked assault. He’s lucky I didn’t press charges.”
“Okay, Mike, whatever you say.” I shift the plate in my palm as the hot dough starts to burn. “But from now on, I’m asking you to please leave me alone.”
“You don’t mean that. I’m a nice guy…” Mike takes a step toward me and I take a step back. “…once you get to know me.”
Oh my GOD, this guy just doesn’t get it. “You know this is called stalking in most states?”
“Huh?”
“How you keep popping up wherever I am? Cornering me? Touching me?”
He smirks at me. “Maybe it’s just coincidence. Maybe it’s you following me. Or maybe it’s fate.”
GROSS. I square off in front of him, ready to make myself heard one last time. Then I’m getting the hell out of here. “Back off, Mike. I’m serious.”
“Feisty little thing.”
“Don’t call me feisty or little or thing,” I growl. “Leave me alone.”
Mike glowers at me. “You know what? I don’t think you’re worth my time.”
I roll my eyes. “No shit.”
His frown deepens. “And I don’t think I like you anymore.”
“My deepest apologies.” I turn to go, glad to be rid of my bullheaded suitor.
I barely register the hand on my wrist before I’m yanked around. I crane my neck back to meet Mike’s smoldering eyes as his fingers dig into my shoulders. “You don’t have to be such a bitch,” he snarls into my face. “I was just trying to be nice.”
I glance around for help, but no one’s paying us any attention among all the bright and tasty distractions. I’ve never felt so alone in a crowd as I do right now.
“Mike,” I say slowly, “let go of me or…”
He sneers. “Or what? Your boyfriend’s not here to help you, is he?”
I stare up into his chocolate-colored eyes—eyes I once thought were kind the first time we met. “No, Koa’s not here—” I shift my weight onto my left foot “—but I am.” I raise my right foot and slam the heel of my sandal into Mike’s insole.
He releases his grip on my arm as he jerks forward to clutch his foot with his hands. He shuts his eyes against the pain and curses. I try not to laugh as he hops around the grass. “I warned you.”
His eyes fly open and find me. “You bitch!”
I step aside as he lunges for me. He tries to twist around, but his foot slows his movements, making it easy for me to dodge him again.
“Okay. You’re not getting the point.” I draw back my left arm and hurtle the funnel cake at his face. He jolts to a s
top as it connects nicely with the side of his head. It stays there for a few seconds, a misshapen pile of dough and powered sugar, before slowly sliding down the side of his face onto his shoulder.
“Let me make one thing clear,” I say, keeping my voice low and even. “I’m not interested. Not now, not ever. So leave me the hell alone.”
“Summer!”
I whirl around. Koa’s gaping at me from a few yards away, his eyes flicking between me and Mike.
“What are you…” He looks at the pastry sliding down Mike’s black t-shirt and raises his eyebrows. “Did you just…?”
I wipe my hands on the remaining napkins, walk over to the trash can and throw them away. I head over to Koa without a second glance back at Mike. The bastard can clean himself up. “I’m taking out the trash.” I tug his sleeve as he continues to stare at Mike. “Are you coming?”
He nods slowly. “Yeah. I’m coming.”
We walk for a few minutes without talking before Koa turns to me. “Summer—” Koa stops us in the middle of the arcade section. Lights, bells, and laughter rise to a fever pitch around us. “Did you just smash a funnel cake into Mike McKarney’s face?”
I lift my chin. “Yes.” Koa blinks at me. “And I don’t regret it.”
“Why?”
“Because he wouldn’t leave me alone. He was leering at me and…and he grabbed me.”
“He did what?” His eyes go dark as they glance over my shoulder. “So he didn’t learn his lesson the first time.”
“He did now, because I also stomped on his foot.”
Koa’s eyes snap back to mine. “Really?”
I shrug. “He’s an asshole and possibly a stalker. You’ve gotta be firm with both.”
A small smile gathers on Koa’s lips. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
“I know.” I glance down as my hands begin to shake from the reality of what I just did. I shove my fists in my dress pockets and pray Koa didn’t notice. “But you can tell me anytime.”
The smile grows. “And I will.”
I look at the ground as my breathing gets quicker. Damn that smile, it sneaks up on you when you least expect it. “Want another funnel cake? I kinda ruined ours.”
“Nah,” Koa says. I don’t have to look up to know his eyes are still glued to my face.
The shaking moves up my arms to my chest. “Okay, well, I don’t really want to be in the middle of this crowd right now.”
Koa steps closer. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say hastily. I take a deep breath—a mistake when I catch his spicy, salty scent. I stifle a groan as my knees go wobbly.
Koa darts out a hand and grabs my arm, steadying me as I sway slightly. “Whoa, there. You’re not alright.”
“I—I guess I am a little shaken up.” I try (unsuccessfully) to ignore the tingling sensation Koa’s fingertips are leaving on my bare skin.
He takes my hand and pulls me forward. This time, I don’t pull away. “I have an idea.”
“Where are we going?”
Koa comes to a stop in front of the ferris wheel. “Getting you some air.” He glances up and down the long line before glancing at the platform. He breaks out in a smile. “Just my luck…” He moves his hand to the small of my back and guides me through the crowd. If I thought his hand on my arm was hard to handle, his palm on my lower back was ten times worse. Just a few inches lower and that hand would be gliding over my—
“Jordan!” Koa waves his hand above his head, getting the attention of the ferris wheel operator.
The guy looks up, spots Koa, and scowls. “Ah man, what are you doing here? Can’t believe they let you into this joint!” I watch in stunned silence as Koa shakes the guy’s hand before going in for a quick bro hug. “Surprised to see you here, Rendell.”
“Yeah,” Koa says sheepishly. “I don’t normally come to this, but, well…” He shoots me a glance.
Jordan follows Koa’s gaze and breaks out in a huge smile. “Gotcha,” he says with a wink. He holds out his hand. “Jordan, master of the ferris wheel, at your service.”
I take his hand. “Summer, master of, uh, helping Koa out this season.”
“Oh really?” Jordan looks at Koa. “And how’s that working—”
“Hey! What’s the holdup!” a man shouts from the front of the line.
Jordan rolls his eyes. “Sorry, Rendell. I’m in the middle of my shift. Catch up later?”
Koa nods. “But first, is it okay if we want to ride?”
Jordan beams at him. “You betcha, especially if that prick back there won’t let me take a two-second break.” Jordan presses a button to pull the last carriage to the platform. He hops up, releases the handle, and helps the family of four out. “Hope you enjoyed your ride!” he calls after them. By the look of the haggard-looking mother and bawling three year old, I’d say that’s a negative.
“Your chariot awaits,” Jordan says, wiggling his eyebrows at Koa.
Koa shakes his head and takes the door from Jordan, waving me in ahead of him. “Thanks, man.”
“No problem. Oh, and I’ll make sure this ride is a tad longer than normal, eh?” He gives Koa another wink and locks the door behind him. “Have a romantic ride!”
Jordan brings his hand down on the red button and sends us off soaring above the close and noisy crowd. I glance down and catch Jordan happily telling the front of the line that the ride’s full.
I lean back. “Jordan is an interesting guy.”
“That’s one word for him…”
“How do you know each other?”
“High school. We hung out a lot then but lost touch when I went into the Navy. I see him every now and then around town. Not too much, since I’m out on the water mostly.”
I nod and relax into the seat, letting the cool air whip across my face and cool my flushed cheeks. The knots in my stomach relax as the nosies from below drift away. “This was a good idea.”
“Feeling better?”
“Mhmm.” I take a deep breath. “Much better away from everything and the noise and the people and—”
I sit straight up in the seat with a gasp, my eyes darting around the small enclosed space. “You fooled me!”
“What? How?”
“Into talking to you! Alone!”
Koa grips the metal siding, sending flakes of peeling orange paint fluttering into the crisp night air. “I didn’t, but since we’re not going anywhere, you might as well stop running from me.”
“I’m not running.”
“Then why won’t you look at me?”
I turn and face him, pressing myself against the side to put as much space between us as I can, but failing miserably in the tight compartment. “There, I’m looking at you.”
He drags his gaze over me, sending my pulse soaring. All at once, I’m aware of everything. The laughter and squeals from the crowd below us, the scent of pine and salt, the warmth of Koa’s side as it presses into mine.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmurs.
“Koa!”
“And brave, and you drive me crazy.”
“That’s not exactly a good thing.”
“I can’t get you outta of my head, woman.”
“Then maybe you should get that checked out?”
“Summer!”
“Koa!”
A tendon jumps in his neck. “Are you saying you don’t feel this?”
“Feel what?”
“This.” He motions between us. “What’s between us.”
“Air?”
“Christ…”
I groan. “What do you want me to say? That I can’t control myself around you? That you’re all I think about? That when you pulled me out of the icy water and pressed me against your chest, I felt my fear just disappear?”
Koa holds my eyes captive with his. “That’s a start.”
“Well, I’m not saying it, any of it, because it’s crazy.”
“So what? I’m crazy about you.”
&n
bsp; I glare at him. “No, you’re not.”
“Don’t tell me what I feel, Summer.”
“Then you don’t know what you’re saying.”
He scowls at me. “I know what I said. Why are you making this so difficult? Why aren’t you letting your heart speak for itself?”
“Y-you’re breaking the one rule I made!”
“And what’s that?”
“Don’t get involved. Don’t get into a relationship. Don’t fall in—” I stop as the blood drains from my face. Did I almost say the “L” word?
Koa leans in, tightening the gap between us. “Sometimes rules are meant to be broken.”
“This one isn’t. This one’s etched in stone.”
“Is it?”
I swallow as my eyes dip down to his soft lips. Those puppies are really calling my name. “Yes.”
“So it won’t matter if I kiss you right now.”
My breath catches in my throat. “It won’t?”
“No. Because you’re not getting involved.”
“Koa—”
“Summer?”
I stare into his crystal blue eyes. “Yes?”
“Shut up.”
“Excuse—”
Koa’s lips crash down on mine, sweeping away the remaining words on my lips. My mind goes blank as Koa’s mouth explores mine, pulling and teasing me softly with his tongue.
What am I doing? I shouldn’t let his happen, this isn’t the plan! This is dangerous!
But as Koa presses himself to me and glides his hand up my neck, his fingertips grazing the soft line of my chin before threading through my hair to cup my head, I tell those thoughts to screw off. I’m Summer frickin’ Rae, and this is what I want.
Koa pulls away a moment later, leaving my lips and body begging for more. He locks eyes with me as he leans back in his seat, watching…searching…waiting for me to make the next move. Were the first words out of my mouth something suave? Something sexy, like, “Not bad, but I’ve had better”?
No. Not a chance.
“What…what was that?”
“A kiss,” Koa says, trying not to smile.
I bite my lip. “I mean, why?”
This time the smile sticks. “I had to shut you up somehow.”
“Hey—!”
Koa’s mouth severs my scolding, and honestly I didn’t really care. All I cared about was this. This moment, this kiss, the man holding me in his arms, pressing me up against the side of a ferris wheel in Portland, Maine. If anyone would have told me this was going to happen this summer, I would have laughed in their face. Now I couldn’t dream of a summer without Koa annoying me, making my life miserable, joking with me, and kissing me.
