They shuffled forward a few steps at a time as the previous riders exited and new riders got on.
“Should we wake her?” he asked.
“Nah. I hate for her to miss it, but waking her could go very, very badly.” And she wouldn’t mind having Jake to herself for a few minutes.
His hand grazed her lower back as they took another step. She’d never considered herself lonely, but she felt especially not lonely when she was with Jake.
The Ferris wheel spun and their turn came. Jake ushered her in first, holding out a hand, which she took, bypassing the attendant’s. He scooted into the small space on her left until they pressed together shoulder to thigh. When the small door was closed and secured, they were lifted into the air before stopping to let new riders on behind them.
Jake adjusted Casey in his lap so that she was sitting on his left knee, her head lolling against his chest. She wouldn’t mind being snuggled against him with his arms wrapped around her. “You sure you don’t want me to take her?”
“She’s fine,” he said, a soft smile on his lips as he looked down at her daughter.
The picture they made was sweet and she found herself smiling too. She didn’t know that Casey had ever been held by a man before. She’d had male doctors, but there was no father or grandfather or uncle in her life. He glanced up and their eyes met, because while he’d been looking at Casey, she’d been looking at him.
His chocolate-brown eyes met hers in a way that brought out her rambling. “She’s out. I think she’s had all the fun she can stand for one day.” She brushed the unruly waves back from Casey’s face. “She’s still a pretty good napper,” she went on. “So I’m not surprised. I hope she doesn’t drool on you. Or throw up.” They both glanced down at Casey’s face. “I don’t even want to think about what she ate today.”
“Partly my fault,” Jake said.
“Yes. It is,” she agreed with a smile. His fault because it had been a day of yeses. Anything Casey wanted. Balloons—two, and both had gotten away—games, rides, food. There hadn’t been a single no.
The ride continued to move and stop until finally they were making a slow cycle into the air. Small globe lights bordered the game stands, a few stars twinkled above them. Jake straightened his right leg as much as he could and squeezed his thigh above the knee.
She watched his hand move on his leg, wishing she could make it feel better. “Does it hurt?”
“No. My muscles just get a little sore from walking.”
“And you’ve been carrying her most of the day. I’m sorry.”
Even though she’d walked right beside him for hours, she’d almost forgotten about his leg. Maybe the fact that she’d spent most of her time looking up at his face. His chest. His arms. God, he had beautiful arms.
She peered over the side at the ground below. She hadn’t thought about the height factor when he’d suggested the Ferris wheel. The arms again. “We’re really high now.”
“Yep. You okay?” She heard the teasing in his voice, but also kindness.
“Oh yeah. Sure. It’s not really a ride, just a…giant bunch of metal pieces welded together. I’m sure it’s fine with all the bolts and all.” She looked over the side again.
“What was your favorite game as a kid?”
She turned her head. If she could just stare at his face for the next ten minutes, she wouldn’t think about the ride at all. “Are you trying to distract me?”
“Maybe.”
It took great effort not to get carried away by his thoughtfulness or the sexy, boyish grin that turned her completely upside down. She’d already told him the only fair she’d ever been to was her school carnival. “I used to play the cakewalk. Every single ticket, every single year, and I never won.” It was still a little disappointing.
“Wow. You really wanted a cake.”
“I know. I really, really did. I mean, what are the odds you can play the same game fifty times and never win? I’m not sure why it mattered, maybe I just wanted to win, and the more I lost the more I couldn’t believe I never won.”
“So I guess we should keep you out of the casinos?”
“Probably.”
Without warning the wheel jerked to a stop and she slapped her hand down on his upper thigh. She couldn’t say who was more shocked, and they both stared at her fingers gripping him mere inches from his…area. “I’m sorry.” Her face burned, but their bucket swung lightly in the air and her fingers refused to loosen.