I snatched my hands back and covered my mouth, looking away.
“Sorry.” I’d taken it too far by biting his lip and trying to practically climb him, despite the bar in my way.
As it lifted, I jumped out like the ride was on fire. Our part of it was.
I didn’t even glance his way as I hurried toward the exit. I shouldn’t have expected us to be able to forget and avoid the topic so easily though. As we weaved through barriers on our way out, there on shiny, big screen TVs were the photos of the drop.
“Guess we didn’t disappoint in taking advantage of that moment, huh?” Bastian pointed to us.
His hand was on my neck and mine were in his hair. We looked absolutely, disgustingly in love. Nothing in me should have twisted and coiled around the idea. I chanced a look at him. That set jaw, the lines of concern on his face, and his pursed lips definitely weren’t showing any signs of enjoyment as he stared at us.
“There’s a few people behind us that will most likely buy that photo.”
“What, like for evidence of us being together?” It sounded absurd.
“Exactly.” He nodded. “Want one for our penthouse? Could put it on the fridge for guests.”
I bit my lip. This display was beyond a show for me, and that exposed something I wasn’t sure I wanted to stare at frequently.
“I don’t need it if you don’t.”
He hummed, his signature sound as his hands went to his pockets and he rocked on his heels. “Why don’t you go get something in this little gift shop for Ivy? She’ll probably want a snack and a toy by the time we meet up with her. I’m going to go fight the cameraman to make sure our photo stays up for a few more people to see.
I nodded and took him backing away as a sign that he wanted a little time on his own. Fair enough, since I’d practically mauled him.
I hurried to a sliver of mirror near some cheap sunglasses on display and smoothed my hair down. My lips looked swollen and happy. The blush on my cheeks appeared fresh. “Get it together,” I grumbled and went to find a bear stuffed animal for Ivy.
Bastian met me at the counter and handed his card over before steering me out of the store.
Cade and Ivy met us with smiles on their faces. Cade’s tattoos on his hands and arms and up his neck were probably one of the things that deterred people from us. It could have also been that following Cade and Ivy were three large men in suits.
While I stared at them, Bastian leaned in. “They’re completely unnecessary. Most everyone here is trying to make sure their kid doesn’t scream to go on the next ride before the line moves. We’re surrounded by families and that’s not a place for anyone to do anything.”
“Would you be nervous about that otherwise?” I tried to gauge what my grandma had said to me before: these were businessmen now, not vicious, ruthless men.
“Not really anymore.”
“The food truck?” It still presented to me like something out of a movie. Would they have tortured me or got straight to killing me?
“That wasn’t someone like us. Underground and completely unorganized. It’s been taken care of.”
I didn’t ask further questions. I let our day unfold instead.
“Uncle Bastian, will we stay for the fireworks tonight?” Ivy asked about a minute later. “The castle lights up and then fireworks come and another little girl said they play all the music from the movies.”
“We did a lot of talking with another family in our fast lane before the ride.” Cade nodded.
“I think your mom and dad are going to want to see you before then, kid.” Bastian patted Ivy’s head when her face dropped.
“But Mommy and Daddy could just meet us.” She huffed and plopped into her stroller. She had the four year old attitude down pat.
“I see she’s quickly adapted to that stroller,” Bastian grumbled to his brother. “I’ll push it for a few. You want to run surveillance and see if we’ve got any business updates?”
Cade wheeled Ivy over to Bastian, but I stopped him. “I can do it for a while.”
He nodded and I took the stroller to push Ivy as we walked for a few minutes as they talked. A man bustled by and knocked me so hard at one point, I gasped as I whipped around to see what his problem was. Instead of apologizing, he glared at me and said, “Watch where you’re going, bitch.” Then, he tried to hurry on. I thought that was the end of it, but my fake fiancé caught the man's arm just as he was passing Bastian behind me.
Bastian stood much taller, bigger, and more menacing as he whispered, "Say excuse me to my fiancé."