Counting Hearts Like Stars (The Happy Endings Resort Series Book 23)
Page 8
“Yes, I’m fine. Just hoping to not fall out of this chair.” I nervously chuckled and darted my gaze away from his enchanting eyes. If I wasn’t careful, I’d fall into this trap once more. Time had done nothing to stifle the longing ache he’d left within my heart, and I was careful to not peer at him again. If I let him get too close again, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t come out of it alive.
“Just don’t lean forward too much. It’s meant for people to sit back, hold onto each other and relax. The lover’s ride.”
He emphasized the last part with his deep, throaty voice, and I shivered. It was soothing, but also made me want to get off the ride right away. I let out a breath as I watched the world sway under us. The Ferris wheel made its way back down and through the operating podium. I could hear my niece squeal in delight as she pointed things out to my cousin. Joss may have suffered an extreme, heartbreaking loss recently, but she made darn sure her daughter had as normal a life as she possibly could. I envied her in so many ways. In other ways, she’d paid a high price already, and I wasn’t sure I could’ve gone through such a tragedy as intact.
Seth drummed his fingers on the steel lap bar, but I refused to look his way. “Leah’s having a blast.”
“Yep.”
“Look, Penny….”
I gave up and turned back toward him and was instantly disarmed by his intense stare. “Yes?”
“I wanted to apologize to you.”
“For what?”
“You know what. I never should’ve treated you like… like that. I….”
“But you did,” I huffed. I was getting angry again, but I couldn’t help it. He’d just had to go there and ruin the moment. Just like Seth. Nothing ever changes, I thought.
“Wait.” I could hear him exhale, almost grunting in frustration. Wow. I was flustering Seth Kingston, not the other way around? It had me intrigued, to say the least. “You didn’t let me finish.”
“Okay.” I held out my hand. “So finish and stop wasting my time.”
His jaw flinched, but it still didn’t stop him. “I never thought I’d see you again. But since fate has smashed us together again, which I prayed for actually, I knew I had to take this chance to speak to you.”
I waited, unsure of what he was getting at. The music from the carousel filled the air around us as the Ferris wheel continued its endless spinning. I was ready to get off, and as we crested the top once again, the atmosphere seemed to be void of air. He always could steal my breath away, and tonight, he was still doing what he did best.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I never thought my actions through. You were this perfect woman, and I made mistake after mistake with you. I should’ve held you closer, held you so tight you’d never slip away or want to let go. You have to know that if I could do it again… I would. Not a day goes by that I don’t see your face in my mind and wish I could tell you this. So many times I’ve pretended to say these words to you, hoping that when the day came, I’d be ready.”
We passed the loading platform, and the Ferris wheel slowed. It was finally over, and they were letting the riders off one chair at time. We’d have to go all the way around again to get back to the platform and exit the chair. From the way the minutes ticked by, it was going to be a long ride around. I pondered just how tragic of a landing I’d have if I jumped off.
“Seth?”
“Yes?”
“What the hell do you want from me?”
He looked stunned and a little bit more awake from his previously glazed-over look. This made me feel a wee bit sorry for him, but it served him right. Wearing one’s heart on one’s sleeve can be a violent, rough ride.
“I−I….”
“You said you’re sorry. Okay. Fine. I can respect that. Once we get off this ride, we go on with our lives, and your torment ends. I’m so happy for you.”
Seth blinked back at me. Confusion swam across his handsome face. His hair was a bit messy from sweating in the heat all day, and my fingers itched to run through his locks. If only he hadn’t screwed it all up, where would we have been?
The summers in Las Vegas were nothing to joke about. The dusk was a welcome relief from the endless broiler of the sun’s heat. It made some of his spiky blonde hair lay flat in spots, in disarray. Somehow it made him look almost harmless, like a wet dog in need of shelter or a swift hosing off.
I shook off the caretaker in me. Why did I always do this to myself? Every time someone looked helpless or in need, I was there, picking up the pieces, making it all right. No, not this time. Hell no!
With a swift movement, his hand was on my wrist, gripping it firmly but not hard. His eyes looked focused, sobered up from whatever fantasy he’d been living in his mind. I was now feeling more aware of his seriousness, like life or death depended on what he was going to say next.
“Penny, I want another chance. I’ll make it right, I swear. You’ll never be sorry if you give me another chance to love you the way you deserve. I won’t be the fool this time. I’ll be there, no matter what the cost. I swear it.”
I stopped tugging my arm back, his words shocking me like an ice bath. “What?”
The sounds of people laughing and the clinks of rings against glass bottles hammered in my head. A headache was growing, and I desperately wanted to hop off this hunk of metal junk ride. In fact, my chest felt like a fire was consuming every bit of oxygen surrounding me. There was no air, and I was afraid I was going to suffocate.
“Hey.”
Glancing up, I felt his fingers encase my hand softly and begin stroking my skin. It sent tiny little prickles of pleasure up my arm, melting into my chest as I slowly inhaled. The Ferris wheel jerked again, finally bringing us to the platform. The operator yanked up the metal bar, the steel creaking from a lack of lubricant. Seth jumped out, turned back and offered his hand to help me out. I took it, but not because I couldn’t get out by myself, but because I was still processing every single word he’d spoken. My mind was a jumbled mess, and I needed to think.
“I−I can’t do this…”
How does one think when there’s a walking contradiction standing in front of them? My first thought was that I had to turn away and run as fast as I could like a spooked rabbit. Get gone.
Seth Kingston had bested me once more, and he didn’t even know it.
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About the Author
Alexia Purdy
Alexia is a USA Today Bestselling author who currently lives in Las Vegas and loves spending every free moment writing or hanging out with her four rambunctious kids. Writing is the ultimate getaway for her since she's always lost in her head. She is best known for her award-winning Reign of Blood series, and A Dark Faerie Tale Series.
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Ever Winter (A Dark Faerie Tale #3)
The Cursed (A Dark Faerie Tale #3.5)
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