Page 3 of Carnival Obsession

“I would love to,” I say, turning back to Lars with a regretful smile. “But I’m here with my friend tonight, and she’s not feeling so hot. I can’t just leave her, you know?”

Lars nods. “No worries, I get it. You’re a good friend.”

He reaches out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His fingers linger on my cheek, making heat spread through every vein in my body.

“How about a rain check?” he asks. “I’m here for two weeks with the carnival. Maybe we could meet another night, just the two of us?”

My heart skips a beat at the thought of a date with Lars. I can already imagine his strong hands on my body, his lips trailing kisses down my neck...

I shake myself out of my fantasy, hoping it’s not obvious that my cheeks are burning. “I’d like that,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. “Maybe tomorrow night?”

Lars grins, his teeth flashing white against his lightly tanned skin. “Tomorrow night it is. Meet me by the Ferris wheel at 8 o’clock.”

With a wink, he turns and strides away, disappearing into the crowd. I stare after him, my heart pounding and my mind reeling.

Did that really just happen? Did I just make a date with the hottest guy I’ve ever seen?

I’m jolted out of my daze by Lily’s hand on my arm. “Alice, who was that?” she asks, her pretty green eyes wide with curiosity.

“That,” I reply, a slow smile spreading across my face, “was Lars.”

I link arms with Lily as we meander through the carnival. She’s still looking a little queasy, her face pale under the flashing lights.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask, giving her arm a squeeze. We can head home if you want.”

Lily shakes her head, managing a weak smile. “No, I’ll be fine. Just need to stick to the kiddie rides from now on.”

I laugh, bumping my hip against hers. “Lightweight.”

We walk silently for a moment, weaving through the throngs of people. Lily’s eyes are on me, curiosity burning in her gaze.

“So, who was that guy you were talking to?” she asks. “The one with all the tattoos and muscles?”

Part of me wants to gush about our encounter, to analyze every word with her, but I know Lily. She’s always been the cautious voice of reason for my impulsive nature.

She’ll freak out if I tell her I plan on meeting with Lars tomorrow night. She’ll lecture me about the dangers of hooking up with a stranger, especially one who looks like he could snap me in half with his bare hands.

And maybe she’d be right. I don’t know anything about Lars beyond our brief, charged interaction. He could be a serial killer for all I know, preying on naive girls like me at every stop on the carnival circuit.

But god, the mere thought of those hands on my body, those lips against my skin... I can’t remember when a guy made me feel this way, all tingly and breathless, with just a look.

The men in this town are so predictable, so boring. I’ve gone through all the single guys like a kid in a candy store, leaving a trail of broken hearts in my wake. I need something new, something exciting.

And Lars is definitely that.

I shrug nonchalantly, trying to play it cool. “Oh, just some guy who works at the carnival. He was just flirting a little.”

Lily raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying my casual act. “Just flirting, huh? He looked like he wanted to devour you whole.”

I roll my eyes, hoping the dim carnival lights hide my burning cheeks. “Oh please, it was harmless. You know how guys are.”

Lily purses her lips but doesn’t push the issue. If she keeps prying, I might spill the beans about my planned rendezvous with Lars tomorrow night.

And I can’t have that. Lily would never understand the thrill and the rush of meeting up with a gorgeous, mysterious stranger. She’d lecture me about stranger danger and probably insist on tagging along as a chaperone.

Nope, this must stay my little secret, at least for now.

I link my arm through Lily’s, steering her toward the row of game booths. “Come on, let’s see if we can win some of those creepy stuffed clowns.”

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