Caution

by Tara Mills

  Missy ran to join him.

  Catching up, Chad asked Kenny doubtfully. “You sure about this one?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  Missy nodded excitedly. “You can sit by me, Dad.”

  “Actually,” he hedged. “I think I’m going to sit this one out.”

  “No. You can’t!” She gave her dad a desperate, pleading look.

  Chad turned to Piper. “Well I’m not going alone.”

  “Who said I wasn’t going?”

  He stared at her, processing this surprising turn of events. “Then why were you helping me steer them away from it?”

  She gave Chad a long look. “Gee, I wonder.”

  “I said, I’m fine.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Come on, Daddy,” said Missy, reaching for his hand.

  “No,” he finally said. “You three go ahead. I’ll wait down here.”

  Piper smiled wickedly at Chad, then turned to the kids. “Wasn’t it his rule that we all stick together?”

  They both nodded firmly and Chad shook his head at Piper. “That’s low.”

  She grinned back. “Then we’ll vote on it. Who’s in favor of riding the Tilt-O-Whirl?”

  Three right hands shot into the air.

  “It’s not scary, honest. You’re going to like it,” Missy said, giving Chad the hard sell.

  “I’ve ridden on Tilt-O-Whirls before,” he said.

  “Then you know how fun they are,” Kenny said, effectively closing down the arguments.

  Chad threw up his hands and followed them up the steps. It was easier than digging in his heels and useless to try and explain the difference between the slower controlled spin of the Octopus and the sudden whips this ride was going to send them on.

  The kids raced along the platform and dove into their car of choice, each claiming an end and leaving the adults the center of the curved seat.

  Sitting rather cozily Chad pressed his knee against Piper’s. She turned and he asked, “I don’t have to worry about my lap here do I?”

  “Not likely. Do I?”

  He patted his solid stomach. “Empty.”

  Piper eyed him skeptically and sighed. Oh yeah, this was going to be great.

  As soon as their car hurtled into its first insane spin both kids went into action, throwing their little bodies back and forth and leaning aggressively to send them spinning into the next at full speed. Chad and Piper had no time to plan counter measures in advance but somehow they inadvertently managed to nullify a lot of what the kids were trying to do anyway.

  At the end, as their car rolled to a shaky stop Kenny said, “We have to do it again, Dad. You messed us up.”

  Yet despite all Kenny’s grumbling, while the ride was in motion there were plenty of gasps and squeals coming from all of them.

  Once Chad’s feet touched solid ground he made an alternate suggestion. “Maybe Piper and I should just watch from the side. You two can show us how it’s supposed to be done.”

  “Fine. Come on, Missy.”

  The line was short so they were able to get right back on again without waiting.

  Watching them as the ride got underway it was obvious the kids knew what they were doing. Their car spun like a spool and the kids screamed and laughed ecstatically every time it shot off into another tight loop.

  Chad turned away, looking a little pale. “I can’t watch. I swear it’s making me nauseous. Good thing I didn’t feed them first.”

  “I don’t think they’re the ones we need to worry about. No, don’t look. I’ll tell you when it’s over.”

  “Thanks.”

  Piper chuckled to herself, amused at this unexpected side of him. She kind of liked it. No one should be too perfect.

  The kids bounded down the steps with no apparent side effects, already planning to ride the Tilt-O-Whirl again later.

  The next two rides they wandered by looked so insane they belonged in a category all by themselves. Even Piper refused to ride when Kenny pressed her and no amount of begging would change her mind. He knew enough not to bother with his father. He had to let it go but he didn’t have to like it.

  The last of the large rides was an old fashioned scrambler. When Chad saw it, his face lit up. He herded them into line. “I love these things!”

  “You sure you’re up to this?”

  “This I can handle,” he assured her.

  Piper laughed, noticing the similarities between father and son as they eyed the contraption.

  They paired off by sex once again and when they were let into the fenced area Kenny chose a car that would race right at Piper and Missy, just barely missing them as they sped around in circles.

  Piper pulled the abbreviated door closed in front of them and threw the bolt. She turned to the little girl beside her. “Don’t worry if you slide into me.”

  “I won’t slide,” said Missy confidently.

  The first couple of circuits were nice and easy and everyone laughed and waved as they passed each other but by the third hurtling pass they were all too absorbed in their own personal struggles to let go of the bars and wave let alone notice the other two as they careened by. Missy clung to the grab bar fighting to stay on her side but she couldn’t do it. Over and over again she slammed into Piper, every collision making them laugh even harder. Finally, Piper lifted her arm and pulled Missy against her and they sat back and enjoyed the rest of the ride like conjoined twins.

  The girls caught up with the guys afterwards right outside the gate and they took an immediate vote to see if they should ride the Scrambler again. It was unanimous. All four ran around to rejoin the line.

  “I’m riding with Piper this time,” Chad announced, stepping to her side.

  Chapter 8

  The minor change in the seating arrangement was no big deal to the kids but Piper needed to give herself another silent pep talk.

  You can do this. There’s nothing to be afraid of — honestly. Chad’s not going to make a move on you in public and especially not in front of his kids. It’s cool. Everything’s cool. No worries.

  Still, when their turn came to claim their seats Piper had more outward calm than inner. Chad caught the door and held it open, waiting for her to climb in first. There was an awkward moment when he offered his hand to assist her up but Piper didn’t see it until after she grabbed the edge of the seat instead. He dropped his hand and followed her in.

  Trying to get comfortable, Piper was highly sensitive to the disturbing lack of wiggle room with two adults riding together. Seeing how edgy the close quarters made her, Chad stretched his arm out behind Piper to create more room. It didn’t exactly calm her.

  Piper shot a wary look at the hand draped just behind her left shoulder. There was a hint of hysteria in her voice when she tried to joke it off. “Pretty slick, I see where this is going.”

  “Relax,” Chad said, overlooking her suspicions. “I’m just trying to save my shoulder and give you a little more space. But, if you feel a sudden urge to throw yourself at me anyway well, I won’t complain.”

  There was no point in making an issue of it now. Besides, if she had real qualms about riding with him she should have spoken up sooner, before she parked her fanny next to him.

  The clutch released and the ride began its first slow easy circuit and Piper smiled, already anticipating the fun she was about to have. When the kids passed they both waved back just as enthusiastically. It was the third circuit around that changed the playbook on her. First Piper was crowding Chad. Then she was sliding into him, ramming him repeatedly with her hip as she fought to maintain a respectable distance.

  Laughing harder and harder at the futility of the effort, Piper wore herself out and Chad shook his head with amusement and dropped his arm around her, holding her close to
his side. Only then was Piper able to admit defeat and finally relax and enjoy herself.

  The way her emotions were whipping around reminded her of the arms that sent the cars careening at each other. She was breathless, delighting in the thrill of the ride and trembling because there was another body, a seriously hot body, hard against her. She was practically in his lap but Chad didn’t seem to mind. Every time the kids shrieked past them they cheered. Piper couldn’t remember laughing so hard.

  • • •

  Chad could feel Piper’s breast pressed against him and, as embarrassing as it would be to admit this aloud, he pressed back, loving how her nipple came out to make his silent acquaintance. He tried not to look at it but it was there, right there. What was a guy supposed to do? At least he was discreet about it.

  He loved how Piper waved wildly at the kids whenever they met in passing. He grinned like a fool when she yelled, “Hello again!” to the people standing outside the circular fence as they shot right at them. She was so open and free with her smiles and laughter. Would she be that way with her love too? Imagining it, he could already see himself falling for her in a big way.

  Like all amusements, it wasn’t nearly long enough. As the ride began to slow Chad saw his magical window closing. He turned to Piper without a word and tipped her chin up, giving her a gentle kiss.

  Piper’s lashes fluttered in surprise as he eased back. He smiled, grateful and encouraged that she hadn’t pushed him away.

  “Sorry,” he said simply. “I just wanted to avoid any awkwardness later. Is that okay?”

  “Um, yeah, fine,” Piper stammered.

  • • •

  Once the cars stopped Chad turned to open the door, effectively hiding his face from Piper but when he climbed out and turned, she was bowled over by the warmth in his expressive eyes and the intimate smile he gave her. Now, this time when he offered his hand to assist her, Piper needed it.

  • • •

  Leaving the rides behind them, they stopped to buy corn dogs and drinks then set off to wander through the midway and watch the games.

  The kids tugged them over to a fishing game, eager to try their luck. Unfortunately Missy lost interest because she couldn’t control her line so she drifted off with Piper to look at the next booth while Kenny went on to win a fuzzy yellow fish.

  Chad had his eye on the Bottle Ball booth directly across from them. He gave Piper a nudge and nodded in that direction. “Care to take me on?”

  The confident jock was back. Feeling pretty confident herself Piper agreed. “You’re on.”

  They crossed over to the booth and Chad plunked money down on the counter. The barker gave them three balls apiece in return.

  “Be my guest,” Chad offered, clearly not worried about the competition. He tossed a ball lightly into the air and caught it again and again without even looking.

  “Showoff.” There was nothing Piper wanted to do more than wipe that cocky smirk off of his face. “Fine.”

  She picked up her first ball and yanked her arm back, sending the ball on a wild flight into the far corner of the stall.

  The momentary hush of astonishment was followed immediately by a burst of laughter. Chad, Kenny, and Missy all lost it, and much to Piper’s chagrin, even the attendant was struggling to hold it in.

  Catching Piper’s cool look, Chad composed himself and brushed at his eyes. “That has to be the girliest throw I’ve ever seen.”

  “For your information,” Piper said tightly, “I am a girl.”

  Chad grinned, looking her over. “I noticed.”

  “You think you’re such hot stuff, why don’t you show me what you’ve got then?”

  He moved in close and teased softly, “Watch it or I might take you literally.”

  She elbowed him in his seven-minute abs. “Just throw the blasted ball.”

  He winked. “Coward.” Tossing the ball from hand to hand a few times first, Chad finally drew back his arm. The ball flew so fast Piper lost sight of it but the throw was dead accurate and sent all the bottles clattering.

  “Awesome!” the kids cheered.

  “Lucky shot,” said Piper, both amused and alarmingly aroused.

  Chad waved her forward and Piper picked up her next ball. She turned her head and crinkled her nose at him for good measure then faced forward again while he laughed.

  Pursing her lips, she considered her options. Since he was going to laugh anyway she might as well. She stepped back just enough so she could lob it underhanded and was as amazed as everyone else when she actually knocked several bottles down.

  Chad beamed at her. “That was ugly but effective. Nice job.”

  When they finally moved on Missy was holding a fuzzy purple monkey and Kenny had added a bright orange frog to his tacky collection. Chad offered to win Piper something larger than the backscratcher she won for herself but she declined, actually quite happy with her prize.

  • • •

  Chad hoped they could get by the Tilt-O-Whirl without stopping but once Kenny and Missy saw it that was no longer possible. After a hurried search through everyone’s pockets they were able to pool together just enough tickets for the kids to take one final ride.

  Piper and Chad took temporary custody of their toys while the kids climbed into a car.

  Chad looked a bit unsure about this last ride. “They just ate. This might not be pretty. I don’t know if I can watch.”

  “They look hearty to me.”

  “Let’s hope our luck holds.”

  Piper laughed and he smiled at her.

  Suddenly self-conscious, Piper looked away and focused on smoothing out a rough seam on Missy’s monkey instead. Her eyes drifted up as the Tilt-O-Whirl began to circle. “This has to be one of the stranger first dates I’ve ever been on.”

  He smiled at that. “Would you be open to a second?”

  “That depends. Am I going to have bed spins afterwards?” She was teasing but the smoldering look in his eyes shifted the mood instantly.

  “If I kiss you right,” said Chad.

  Piper’s stomach did a flip and before her brain could catch up, she said, “Then I might consider a second.”

  Chapter 9

  Casting covert looks at Chad while he drove, Piper silently chastised herself. What was she doing? What was she thinking? One hot stud waltzes in and she’s ready to scrap her newfound independence? She was pathetic. She had to get out of here, put some distance between them before she was sucked even further into his orbit.

  And yet, when Chad pulled the car into the garage and said, “Don’t hurry off,” she relented.

  Feeling utterly ridiculous when she did it, but not wanting to seem like the foregone conclusion she apparently was, Piper casually checked the time first. “I suppose I can stay a little while.”

  The kids bolted into the house. Chad called after them, “Missy, you get the shower first. Ken, get your pajamas ready so you can jump in next.” Chad caught the door for Piper and stood back, following her in.

  They could hear Kenny groaning all the way upstairs when they walked into the kitchen.

  “Take a seat.” Chad waved her over to the other side of the counter.

  He went to the refrigerator and pulled open the door while Piper slid out a stool and hopped up.

  “Let’s see, we have iced tea, fruit punch, milk, or a nice bottle of white I’ve been saving. Name your poison.”

  “I’ll have what you’re having.”

  He straightened with a smile, the bottle of wine in his hand. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  Piper took a minute to look around the kitchen while he got a couple of glasses out of the cabinet. “You have a beautiful home. How long have you lived here?”

  “Nine years.”

  He ru
mmaged around in a drawer until he found his corkscrew then went after the cork, pulling it free with a pleasant pop. He lined up the glasses and poured. “We moved in just after we found out Chelsea was pregnant.”

  Piper wanted to ask, oh boy did she want to ask but she hesitated. Chad saw it.

  “You want to know where my wife is but you don’t want to bring it up right?” He slid a glass towards her.

  Piper nodded. It was easier than admitting it out loud.

  “Chelsea died in a car accident five years ago.” He took a sip of wine then studied the liquid in his glass thoughtfully before going on. “She’d just dropped the kids off at daycare. From what I understand she was merging onto the interstate when a driver in the far left lane barreled across traffic in order to hit the exit ramp. He caused a five-car pile-up. It wasn’t pretty. They needed the Jaws of Life to cut her free. She died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.”

  Chad stopped talking and stared at Piper for a minute, a haunted man. “I could have lost all of them. The car seats in the back were completely destroyed. If you can be lucky when something so bad happens, I guess I was because it could have happened before she dropped the kids off, not after.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Her heart ached for him.

  He gave her a helpless smile. “Thanks. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to pull through, but I had to. Kenny and Missy needed me.” He let out a quick burst of air and shook his head slowly. “And I needed them. They were so young. They forced me to focus. I can’t say that I didn’t have some really rough patches when all I wanted to do was withdraw into grief. I did. But young twins won’t let you stay there and brood.” He took a deep swallow and continued. “It hasn’t been easy but we’ve made the best of a bad situation and come out closer than we might have been otherwise.”

  “I can see you’re close.”

  He was ready to turn the conversation, very ready. He lifted the bottle and used it to wave her towards the doorway. “Let’s go into the living room. It’s more comfortable.”

  Piper dropped to her feet and followed him. They took a seat on the sofa, facing in, their knees bent, almost touching over the center cushion.