Page 15 of New in Town

“How would you benefit?”

“There’s a beautiful woman on my arm. This seems like a pretty great way to spend an afternoon.”

“But how is itbeneficialto you?”

He stops walking and turns to her. “Do I have to benefit? Can’t I just want to do this for you?” he asks, confused by her insistence.

She seems to be mulling over his question, a crease pinched between her brows. “I guess I just don’t know why. People don’t usually do things like this.”

“Then that’s athemproblem.”

Starting the walk again, still arm in arm, they round the corner and are immediately immersed in the summer market. He steals a glance at her, eager to see her reaction to it all. When a wide smile fills her face, he thinks this might all be worth it today.

Tents of various sizes run up both sides of the street. Some white, some pale blue, and some green striped tents, they’re broken up by wooden carts running up the center. Filled with homemade goods and locally grown food, it’s the picture of small-town charm.

Somewhere in the distance a guitar is being played and the melody floats through the air. If he’s being objective, he can admit it’s a nice scene. He turns to Maddie, who is craning her neck to see the different booths.

“Left or right?” he asks.

“There.” She points to a stand with cupcake samples out.

He smiles at her response. “Yes ma’am.”

They make their way into the crowd, and it doesn’t take long for him to become keenly aware of all the heads that turn their way. The moment is similar to when he entered the diner, and he’d hated it then too. Ignoring the curious looks and remembering that his job is to just be here with Maddie, he removes his arm from her grasp and slings it over her shoulders instead. This way, he’s able to pull her in tighter against him and the feel of her steadies him.

On their way over to the cupcakes, she becomes distracted by a stand for jams. He sends up a silent thank you when he doesn’t know the vendor and they move on quickly once again. He doesn’t get so lucky at the next stop, though.

They approach the booth that readsButtercream Bakeryand come face to face with his retired high school English teacher. As far as teachers he could have run into, Mrs. Michaels is one of the lesser evils. She looks up with eager curiosity written on her face.

“Grey James, my oh my, what a wonderful surprise.”

“Mrs. Michaels, it’s good to see you, ma’am,” he says in his most charming voice, flashing her a smile. “This is Maddie, she spotted your cupcakes a mile away and insisted we start here today.”

“Well Maddie, how sweet of you. You must be something if you’re getting Grey off that ranch.”

Maddie lets out a giggle and leans into him, patting a hand on his chest. He knows she’s playing a part, same as him, but it gives him a thrill anyway. “Are those by any chance confetti ones?” she asks.

“They are, would you like to try one?”

“Please,” she replies with a nod, reaching for the sample being offered. Maddie takes a bite and Grey meets her eyes, unable to pull his gaze away as a moan escapes her. She licks the buttercream from her lips and smiles up at him. He would give anything to be the one licking that frosting from her lips right now.

Wow, that’s not okay to think on a fake date, he scolds himself internally. Trying to clear the thought from his head, he buys a cupcake for her, and they turn to leave the booth. When he drapes his arm back over her shoulders, he swears she leans into him and he can’t deny that she fits perfectly tucked into him like this.

They skip over the tent next to Mrs. Michael’s, this one selling leather goods. It also happens to be run by a guy who had definitely picked a fight with Grey in high school. He feels a surge of relief that they are staying on the move. But the relief dissipates through the next few vendors.

By the time they stop for a fresh sourdough sample, chat with a crop farmer, and peruse a flower stand, he feels exhausted. It has been the same thing each place they stop—the people seem to pay attention to him rather than Maddie, more curious about the ranch and what he’s been up to. He directs the conversation to her with all of them, but his racing heart and dizzy head was starting to come on strong.

He has to get out of here—get away from the growing crowd and prying eyes. And maybe she can sense it, because she turns to him and says quietly, “I was actually hoping this was further away and we were going to ride here on your motorcycle.”

He lets out a laugh and runs his hand along his jaw. “Do you enjoy riding motorcycles?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never been on one before,” she replies timidly.

Heat shoots through him. The idea of taking her on her first ride… being responsible for that rush she’ll feel, he wants to be the one to give that to her. “Want to find out?”

* * *

The engine roars to life as Maddie pulls her hair up into a ponytail and swings her leg over the bike behind him. Leaning forward she asks, “what do I do to hold on?”

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