Page 10 of Sweet Cinnamon and the Mountain Man
Even women who seem just short of being heaven-sent.
I jog up to her and grasp her shoulder. “Hey, Cinnamon! I’m glad I caught you. Aren’t you going to try and get something to eat from one of the booths. You’ve still got time.”
She glances around and I can see that the crowds have dwindled and some of the food booths are already closing up. She turns to me, her lips pressed together, her pretty eyes drooping.
“I think I’m a little late but I’m also just too dang tired to wait around and then drive home to eat.”
“I know someplace close by and I got enough food for both of us. I can drive and then bring you back here to get your car and make sure you get home alright.”
Her brows lift. “That’s very nice of you. But I know you have to be tired too. I don’t want to put you out.”
Shaking my head, I hold up the bag and shake up. “I’ve got pizza and chili cheese fries and even extra-thick banana shakes.”
Her full lips curl into a sleepy smile. “You know all my favorite things don’t you? It’s like you can read my mind.”
Or like I have a geriatric fairy godmother that’s quite happy to pass along any information I want if it gets her a date for her granddaughter.
Shooting her a little smile I hold up the bag again and shake it back and forth, opening the top just enough for the delicious smells to waft out and hit us both in the face.
She groans and then sighs. “Fine,” she gives in. “I’d appreciate the dinner and ride. I hope that I don’t fall asleep on you though. I’m seriously tired.”
Grinning, I toss my keys up in the air. “If my sparkling wit doesn’t keep you awake, hopefully the food does. Come on. My truck is over here.”
I lead her over to the left and we trek through every different kind of car imaginable until we find my big, black truck with the huge wheels and silver rims.
Her head cocks and she groans. “I hope you’ve got a spare stepladder around here.”
“I’ve got something better than that.” I open the door and toss the food onto the middle of the bench seat. Then I hand her the drink carrier with the milkshakes and she stares at me, her mouth hanging open.
“What are you do…?” Her voice cuts off in a squeal as I pick her up easily and toss her up on the seat.
“Ummm.” She takes a deep breath and swallows roughly, her pale cheeks a soft pink that makes me smile. “I didn’t expect that.”
I grab the buckle and pull it across her, snugging it tight. “I bet. I’m glad I can surprise you.”
“You sure can.” I slam the door shut on her curious stare and run around the front of the truck, supremely conscious of her eyes on me. I feel a little bit like a teenage boy on his first date. Off balance, confused and a little shocked at how much I like this girl.
I hop in the truck and smile over at her. “Just relax. I’ll have us there in no time.”
“Are you gonna give me a hint where we’re going?”
“Nope. It’s a surprise.”
She leans back and closes her eyes and I watch her carefully, trying to keep from hitting pot holes or anything else that might disturb her.
She looks like an angel right now. Glowing with light and just too sweet to be believed.
Should I let myself get sucked into things with this woman? I don’t really know.
But I can’t seem to help myself.
Her eyes don’t open but she asks me, “Tell me something about you that I don’t know, Reginald.”
“Nobody but you calls me Reginald. Everybody else calls me Reggie.”
“Oh shoot. I’ll make sure that I call you what you like, Reggie. You should have told me that a long time ago.”
“I don’t mind it when you call me that. It’s like our own secret language. I just don’t want anyone else to call me that.”
