Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [112]
"Neither do I." He paused. "I have an idea. While we're waiting, why don't we take one of those scream-inducing rides you love?"
Her eyes sparkled. "Really? Do you think we should?"
"Why not? Why should we sit here and wait? Let'em wait for us."
"Okay. Which coaster do you want to ride?"
"How about that one?" he said, tipping his head toward a square box that rose about six stories, then dropped at breath-stopping speed to the ground.
"That looks fairly terrifying," she said, adding with a teasing smile, "You won't be scared, will you?"
"Not if you hold my hand," he joked.
She pulled his hand out of his pocket and gave it a squeeze. "I'd be happy to."
Her warm touch gave him chills, and suddenly he wasn't afraid of falling six stories, but of falling in love. There was no way he could let that happen. He didn't know what love was really all about, and he didn't believe he would be good at it. Just like his father, he'd always be leaving, always be saying good bye. It wouldn't be fair to put any woman or kid through that. But right now they were just taking a ride. He could handle a ride. It had a beginning, a middle, and an end. When it was over, it was over.
They waited in line for fifteen minutes before they were strapped into the elevator car that would rise to the top, then shoot to the ground. Alex felt a tingle of nerves as they rose, the ground getting smaller, the view getting bigger. He glanced over at Julia, who stood next to him, her fingers white as she gripped the poles holding her in. She looked scared but brave, which was pretty much the way he'd seen her every day this week; only this time the fear was simple and specific, not vague and complicated.
The car hit the top with a jarring thud, probably designed to give their hearts a jump start on the thrill ride. A second later they were diving toward the ground. Julia's scream rang through his ears, and he found himself joining in. They landed with a soft, gentle thud that seemed completely out of sync with the breath-stealing pace of the ride.
"Oh, my God," Julia said. "I think my stomach is still up there."
"Mine, too," he admitted with a laugh as they exited the car. "But that was great."
"Did you love it?"
"I did." And before he could analyze his thoughts or his actions, he leaned over and claimed her mouth with his, tasting her excitement.
"What was that for?" she asked, looking a bit dazed when they broke apart.
"No reason. Except you look like a bottle of sparkling champagne right now, and I wanted to take a sip." She licked her lips, and he shook his head. "Don't be doing that or I won't be held responsible for my actions."
"Maybe I don't want you to be responsible."
He raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like an invitation. Too bad we're in the middle of an amusement park."
She tossed her hair with a laugh. "I know. Now you have something to look forward to."
Her words made him think about the coming night, and the next day, and the one after, but he didn't want to plan that far into the future. "Yeah, that's great," he said. "We better go back to the Pirate's Cove."
"What did I say?" She grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.
"Nothing."
"No, I said something that made you freak out a little."
"I have a lot on my mind," he said. "Don't be so sensitive."
"Yeah, I was going to say the same thing to you." She paused, tilting her head as she looked at him. "I get it, you know, Alex. Last night was not the beginning of something for you. It was just a night. Maybe that's all we'll have together, maybe not. I'm not going to tie you down, make you promise to stand by me forever, just because we slept together. But I'm also not going to watch everything I say."
"I am not freaking out. I am calm. I am fine." He heard her sigh at the word. "Well, I am. So let's get on with it."
"Fine," she said, the smile returning to her face. She waved her hand toward the cove. "After you."
Alex's nerves began to tighten as they neared Pirate's Cove. He wondered who would be waiting for them. Would it be his father or someone else?
A man sat