Page 7 of Cuddling Carly

Handing it to him, Carly said, “Please, keep your money. It’s on the house. You fixed my fence.”

“No, I insist.”

Carly shook her head. “I insist harder.”

“I see you’re strong-willed.”

“You bet!”

He laughed. “Well, thank you.”

She watched as he slid the five back into his wallet and then took a bite of the cupcake.

“This is just as delicious as the one I had the other day,” he noted.

Now that’s the best compliment I’ve received, she thought with a proud smile. “Thank you.”

The cowboy made quick work of the cupcake, brushed his hands together to knock off any loose crumbs, and then said, “Are you working the whole time or do you get a few minutes to enjoy the fair?”

“I want to close down shop for a bit and look around, but honestly, the money has been too good! I don’t want to miss any sales.”

“Well, it looks kind of slow right now,” he noted.

Was he implying they could walk around the fair together? The thought made her willing to forgo any amount of cash.

“I do need to eat something,” she told him.

“Can’t survive on just cupcakes, huh?”

She laughed. “I barely eat any. Don’t want to waste something I could sell.”

Hopefully she didn’t sound too money hungry, she thought. Should she explain that it wasn’t that she craved cash, but rather times were tough and she needed all the income she could get?

After a moment of reflection, she decided to let it go. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel sorry for her.

So, she simply said, “Let me lock up my drawer and we can go.”

After putting up her cupcakes, laying out a BE BACK SOON sign, and dropping the till off at the office where a safe was provided for vendors, she set out with Wade.

It probably wasn’t a date, she thought. But it sure felt like one!

And she’d take it.

Chapter Four

Lunch was good, consisting of fair food, but the company was even better.

Wade couldn’t believe that he was exploring the county fair with the prettiest girl there, but yet he was doing just that.

Actually, he thought, she’s prettiest girl anywhere.

Perhaps he should tell her.

That might scare her away, he decided. Plus, as much as he didn’t want to admit it, he was lacking a little confidence.

It was an unusual sensation for him.

But it had been some time since he’d tried to romance a woman. His skills were a bit rusty.