Page 62 of Pumpkin
“Absolutely.” He leaned down, pressing his lips into her forehead. “Well, you and the kids.”
Dosia chuckled. “They certainly have a way of making the day all about them.”
Pumpkin shook his head against hers. It was the closest thing to an actual kiss he’d been able to give her in weeks.
“So…what’s the problem then? Why aren’t you making bets with your brothers?”
Pumpkin indicated to his cane, which was hanging off the stroller’s handlebar. “Because of that.”
Dosia’s hands touched his waist. “You think you’re going to get pity bids?”
He made a face. “That’s part of it. Other part is I can’t offer manual labor like some of the others are doing. My only option is a date, which I also don’t want to do.”
Dosia was quiet a moment. “I was planning on bidding on you.”
Surprised, Pumpkin stepped back. “You were?” He tried to keep the joy off his face, but likely failed.
Dosia nodded and gave an embarrassed shrug. “I don’t have much, but I figured it was a good cause and it couldn’t hurt to try.” Her cheeks flushed bright red. “Not like we’ve actually ever been on a, you know,date.”
Not for lack of trying on his part. He had to be quick in asking. JJ was being led towards the mounting/dismounting standing. “Is that what you want? To go on a date with me?”
Dosia’s eyes widened as her irises dilated. Her breath caught. “I,” she started and then swallowed.
Pumpkin watched her intently, all the while his insides were quaking as he waited impatiently for her answer.
“Yes,” she said rather forcefully. “Yes, I want to go on a date with you.”
Pumpkin let out a long, relieved breath. “Thank God.”
Then he kissed her for real. Right there in the middle of the festival with their daughter only feet away getting off her pony ride. Pumpkin claimed his woman for all to see.
“Mommy, Daddy! Did you see me?”
Pumpkin let out a groan and pulled away. Dosia didn’t look entirely thrilled either, but they both put on the biggest smiles as they faced their daughter and congratulated her on her pony riding skills.
“I have about ten minutes before I have to get over to the stage,” Pumpkin told Dosia after handing his phone to JJ so she could see the pictures of her riding the pony, whose name turned out to be Phil.
“We’ll find Frankie and head that way too,” Dosia said, the blush in her cheeks not quite gone down.
Pumpkin squeezed her hand. “Do me a favor?”
“Sure,” she agreed.
“Win the auction,” he instructed her. “I don’t care the amount. I’ll pay it.” Gripping her under her chin, he said, “Winning a date with you is worth any price.”
Dosia’s flush returned full force. “What if someone else tries to go really high?”
“Win anyway,” he stated pointedly. “We haven’t talked a lot about finances, and there’re some things I still need to tell you, but I promise, I can pay it.”
Her expression turned suspicious, but she still nodded.
Pumpkin bent to kiss her again, loving the fact that he now felt he could do so freely. She’d agreed to a date! It was a step in the right direction, and best of all, she kissed him back.
“Going once, going twice…!”the older woman in a leather cut prompted. “Sold!” she banged the gavel down on the table in front of her. “Scotty, come collect your date!”
The crowd cheered and parted like the Red Sea as Scotty ran up to the stage towards his father. After Scotty had started bidding, only a few others had placed their bids on Lucky to help make it fun forScotty. Because no way was anyone getting between that boy and his father. Eventually, Scotty won after others started offering him more money in addition to what he had with him from his allowance.
It was insanely adorable. Dosia wasn’t the only one who shed a tear as Lucky picked his son up and carried him down the steps of the rented stage. “I won!” Scotty shouted. “I won a date with my daddy!”
