Lucas reached out and ruffled his hair. “It’s a pleasure. And I’m sure your mom’s delighted you guys get to carry that bear around with you all day.”
Nicholas looked as though he couldn’t think of anything he’d rather do. Ember would have offered to keep the bear behind the stall, but she was pretty sure nothing would part Nick from the bear. “I’m going to call him Lucas, after you,” Nick said.
Lucas blinked a couple of times, as though something was caught in his eye. Ember could have sworn he teared up a little, although she knew he’d never admit to it. She stared at him for a moment. What was that all about? It wasn’t like Lucas at all.
Lucas nodded at Nicholas, his voice gritty when he replied. “I’d be honored if you did.”
“Okay, let’s take furry Lucas and head over to some more games.” Ally shot a glance at Ember and then at the real Lucas. “We’ve got lots to see, haven’t we, Brooke?”
“Um, yeah, sure.” Brooke looked confused, but turned to smile at Ember anyway, before looking at Lucas. “Thanks for your help. You’ve made a little boy very happy.”
“That’s not the only person he’s making happy,” Ally whispered loud enough for Ember to hear.
“You’re welcome.” Lucas nodded at her.
“We’ll come and say hi again later,” Ally raised her eyebrows at Ember. “I can’t wait to hear all the news. Bye, Lucas. It was great to meet you. Hope to see you again very soon.”
17
Lucas leaned on the ring toss counter, watching as Ember’s friends walked away. He still had a smile on his face from seeing the kid win that teddy bear. Nick’s expression of joy had definitely been something worth seeing.
“You did a good thing there,” he said to Ember, who was pulling a replacement teddy out of a plastic bag and hooking it up on the ceiling. Her movement lifted her t-shirt up, revealing the smallest sliver of skin between her waistband and the hem of her top. He swallowed and pulled his eyes away.
“What good thing?” she asked. “From what I could see, you were the one being the hero. First you won Carter over, and now Nick. Who’ll be next to succumb to your charms?” She leaned on the counter, her elbows only inches from his. Her eyes were wide, their chocolate depths looking brighter in the sunshine. He could see himself reflected in them.
“Are you running this thing all day?” he asked her. Quickly, he glanced at his watch. He was supposed to be collecting some money for Frank. The committee leader would be wondering where he was if he didn’t get on his way. But he didn’t want to leave her, either. As soon as he’d seen her behind the counter, when he’d walked up behind her friends, it had been like the sun coming out all over again. She made him feel lighter than he’d felt in a long time. Warmer, too. He wanted to bask in her for a while.
“Until seven. Then the night shift takes over.” She smiled. “How about you?”
“The same.” His mouth went a little dry. Enough for him to have to clear his throat. “Would you, ah…” Damn, when was the last time he tried to ask a woman out? He couldn’t remember, but he was certain it hadn’t been as hard as this. “Do you have any plans this evening?” he finally managed to ask. “Would you like to head over to the rides with me? I figure you know this place better than I do, maybe you can show me the best things to do.”
“I’d like that a lot.”
Despite the relief of her acceptance, his heart was still pummeling against his chest. He couldn’t remember the last time it had raced this fast. Not for a long time – unless you counted during an emergency call out.
“Okay. I’ll come meet you here at seven.”
“Don’t be late.” She smiled at him. It took him a moment to realize she was kidding with him, and he found himself smiling back. “I need to warn you, though, when it comes to the bumper cars I’m a mean driver. Nobody can keep up with me.”
“I can believe that.” He slowly nodded. It was impossible not to laugh at her mock-outraged expression. “Okay, I really gotta go now. I just need to take your hourly cash and leave you a receipt.” He reached in his pocket for his pen and paper.
It only took a few seconds for her to hand the cash over. The crowds were still spilling in, and she hadn’t taken in too much money yet. Still, he counted it and left her a receipt, then put the money in the zipper bag Frank had given him for just that reason. “I don’t know if it will be me coming around for the money again or if Frank will send someone else, but I’ll definitely see you at seven. Be ready for me, Speedy Gonzales.”
The smile that split her lips was blinding. “It’s a date.”
* * *
It’s a date… Her words had been echoing in her thoughts ever since Lucas left the booth, and she’d watched him as he disappeared into the ever-increasing crowds. What on earth had made her say that? Even if it was a date… and she wasn’t totally sure if it was or wasn’t.
“Of course it is. He asked you out, didn’t he?” Ally asked, looking wildly smug as she watched a child fruitlessly throwing rings at the blocks, missing them every time. Brooke and Nicholas had gone home, and Ally had climbed over the counter and insisted on helping Ember run the game. So far she’d spent most of her time asking questions about Lucas.
“Yeah, but it’s not like we’re going out anywhere. Maybe he just wants somebody to hang around with while he wanders around the fair.” Ember frowned. “He didn’t say it was a date.”
“But he didn’t say it wasn’t either.” Ally’s smile widened. “And he didn’t contradict you when you said it was.”
Ember dropped her face into her hands. “Ugh. I’m so embarrassed. Maybe he won’t turn up.” Though the thought of that made her feel even worse. “When did this whole dating thing get so hard?” she asked Ally. “Remember how easy it was at school? A guy would write a letter and drew a ‘yes or no’ box on it then passed it to your best friend. Why can’t it be like that?”
Ally chuckled. “I can’t see a guy like Lucas Russell using a note to ask you out.”