Page 41 of Someone Exactly Like Me (Wounded Hearts 1)
“Yes, let’s go.”
We find cotton candy and I pick out a pink one.
“What color do you want?” I ask.
“No, I’m not having any.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. I’m full from lunch. I’ll have a bite of yours.”
“Okay.” I get money out of my purse.
“No,” he says, putting his hand on mine. “This is part of my requested tour. I’ll pay.”
“But, Nicco, you’re not even having any. I can pay for my own cotton candy.”
“Do you want to insult me?” he asks, stone-faced.
“Well, no. It’s just…”
He pulls out his money and pays.
We stroll to the side of the pier and gaze out over the water. I don’t like getting my hands sticky so I poke my tongue into the fluffy pink candy and curl pieces into my mouth. Since he said he wanted a bite, I figure I’d better offer before I finish the whole thing myself.
“Here.” I point the puffy ball toward him.
Like a big kid, he sticks his mouth into it, yanking out a wad and eating it. Cotton candy is stuck to his mustache and scruffy chin. I can’t help but laugh at him.
“What?” He looks around, pretending he doesn’t know it’s all over his face.
I laugh harder, then wet the napkin I grabbed with the water he bought me. I reach up and take his strong jaw in my hands.
“Here, I’ll get it off.” I dab at his chin and then his mustache, avoiding looking into his gorgeous brown eyes. It takes a few strokes to get it all off.
“Thank you.” His seductive grumble pulls my gaze to his eyes.
“You’re welcome.” My words are breathier than I intend.
I continue my ritual, sticking my tongue into the cotton candy and grabbing pieces, curling them into my mouth as we quietly look over the water. I finish my last bite and I know my lips are sticky with sugar. I glide my tongue around my lips, savoring the last bits of sweetness before I wipe my mouth with the napkin.
Feeling his eyes on me, I turn toward him. He chuckles.
“You amuse me,” he says, leaning against the railing and facing me while I look back toward the water.
“How do I amuse you?” I ask, returning my gaze to him.
“You’re sexy like a woman and cute like a little girl.”
Has the sugar gone to my head? This is the second time he’s called me sexy.
Blood rushes through me and my eyes shift back and forth between his. “I — I don’t know what to say to that.”
“No response is required,” he says flatly then looks out into the water.
We stand silently for a few minutes, listening to waves crash against the piles and seagulls sing above us.
Nicco
