Dottie beamed.
“No, actually it sucks.”
“Why? I don’t understand.” Aunt Dottie reached across the table and patted the back of Alicia’s hand.
“I’ve let my guard down with him, been open and honest, and I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in a relationship.” Ali rolled her eyes. “What the hell am I saying? We’re just vacation play buddies. Oh great, that sounds trashy even to me!”
“Nonsense, you’re two young, consenting adults enjoying each other. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, Alicia.”
“But we agreed in the beginning to keep things casual. Instead, we’ve seen each other every day. When I think about us going our separate ways, I burst into tears.”
“You need to tell him.”
“When he hasn’t said or done anything to indicate he has deeper feelings for me?”
“Now, we both know men have trouble voicing their emotions, but are you sure he hasn’t been showing you how much you mean to him?”
“Well, sometimes I think he might be.” Ali took a moment to consider how much of their time had been spent doing other things besides making love. They’d been sightseeing, gone fishing and boating, danced to the jukebox at the Tavern, and shared many lazy hours soaking up the sun. “But, I live ten hours away, I own my home, have friends and a life there,” she added for explanation sake.
“Pretty flimsy excuses, if you ask me, dear.” Aunt Dottie smiled. “If it’s meant to be, you two will figure out a way to make it happen.”
* * * *
Ali was out of the cottage, had the door locked, and was walking briskly toward the truck before Brad had a chance to get out. He leaned over and swung open the passenger side door.
“Excited about our evening?” he asked.
“I haven’t been to a fair in ages! Can we ride the Ferris wheel, play over-priced games, and eat until our tummies hurt?” Ali jumped in and fastened her seatbelt.
“We can do anything you want, sweetheart.”
During the thirty-minute drive, they shared stories about carnival and amusement park visits from their pasts.
“You’ll win a giant stuffed animal for me, won’t you, Brad?”
“Size is a requirement?”
“Of course, silly.” She patted his thigh as he parked the truck. “Everyone knows the girls carrying the biggest prizes are with guys who are way into them.” Ali meant to be funny, but Brad looked at her with such a serious expression, she wished she’d kept her mouth shut.
“Then you’ll have the biggest fuzzy thing they have.”
Ali’s mind reeled, and her heart pounded as he pulled her close and kissed her thoroughly. Was he just playing along, or was there more to his comment? Should she ask, or wait for him to say more? They only had a few days left.
“Let’s go have some fun,” he whispered against her lips.
As they made their way from the parking lot to the ticket booth, at least fifteen people either called out greetings to Brad, or came up to them and chatted. He kept his arm around her as he made introductions. Ali didn’t miss the curious glances, but everyone was kind and friendly.
“You’re a very popular man,” she commented as they entered the midway. “It was like this when we were at the diner and at The Tavern.”
“This is a close-knit community, and I’ve been showing you off around town for three weeks.”
“You have?” she asked, stopping and turning toward him.
“Hell, yeah. The most gorgeous, incredible, sexy woman on the planet is with me, and I want everyone to know it.”
He cupped her cheeks in his hands and lowered his lips to hers. Ali wrapped her arms around his middle and snuggled close.
“If you two aren’t careful, the church ladies will ask you to leave.”
The playful statement, spoken in a deep sexy tone, had Ali smiling against Brad’s mouth. He ended their kiss, but kept her tucked against his side. “Alicia, this is Tom Almont.”
“Nice to meet you,” she said, holding out her hand.
“The
“No, actually it sucks.”
“Why? I don’t understand.” Aunt Dottie reached across the table and patted the back of Alicia’s hand.
“I’ve let my guard down with him, been open and honest, and I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in a relationship.” Ali rolled her eyes. “What the hell am I saying? We’re just vacation play buddies. Oh great, that sounds trashy even to me!”
“Nonsense, you’re two young, consenting adults enjoying each other. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, Alicia.”
“But we agreed in the beginning to keep things casual. Instead, we’ve seen each other every day. When I think about us going our separate ways, I burst into tears.”
“You need to tell him.”
“When he hasn’t said or done anything to indicate he has deeper feelings for me?”
“Now, we both know men have trouble voicing their emotions, but are you sure he hasn’t been showing you how much you mean to him?”
“Well, sometimes I think he might be.” Ali took a moment to consider how much of their time had been spent doing other things besides making love. They’d been sightseeing, gone fishing and boating, danced to the jukebox at the Tavern, and shared many lazy hours soaking up the sun. “But, I live ten hours away, I own my home, have friends and a life there,” she added for explanation sake.
“Pretty flimsy excuses, if you ask me, dear.” Aunt Dottie smiled. “If it’s meant to be, you two will figure out a way to make it happen.”
* * * *
Ali was out of the cottage, had the door locked, and was walking briskly toward the truck before Brad had a chance to get out. He leaned over and swung open the passenger side door.
“Excited about our evening?” he asked.
“I haven’t been to a fair in ages! Can we ride the Ferris wheel, play over-priced games, and eat until our tummies hurt?” Ali jumped in and fastened her seatbelt.
“We can do anything you want, sweetheart.”
During the thirty-minute drive, they shared stories about carnival and amusement park visits from their pasts.
“You’ll win a giant stuffed animal for me, won’t you, Brad?”
“Size is a requirement?”
“Of course, silly.” She patted his thigh as he parked the truck. “Everyone knows the girls carrying the biggest prizes are with guys who are way into them.” Ali meant to be funny, but Brad looked at her with such a serious expression, she wished she’d kept her mouth shut.
“Then you’ll have the biggest fuzzy thing they have.”
Ali’s mind reeled, and her heart pounded as he pulled her close and kissed her thoroughly. Was he just playing along, or was there more to his comment? Should she ask, or wait for him to say more? They only had a few days left.
“Let’s go have some fun,” he whispered against her lips.
As they made their way from the parking lot to the ticket booth, at least fifteen people either called out greetings to Brad, or came up to them and chatted. He kept his arm around her as he made introductions. Ali didn’t miss the curious glances, but everyone was kind and friendly.
“You’re a very popular man,” she commented as they entered the midway. “It was like this when we were at the diner and at The Tavern.”
“This is a close-knit community, and I’ve been showing you off around town for three weeks.”
“You have?” she asked, stopping and turning toward him.
“Hell, yeah. The most gorgeous, incredible, sexy woman on the planet is with me, and I want everyone to know it.”
He cupped her cheeks in his hands and lowered his lips to hers. Ali wrapped her arms around his middle and snuggled close.
“If you two aren’t careful, the church ladies will ask you to leave.”
The playful statement, spoken in a deep sexy tone, had Ali smiling against Brad’s mouth. He ended their kiss, but kept her tucked against his side. “Alicia, this is Tom Almont.”
“Nice to meet you,” she said, holding out her hand.
“The
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