Picket Fence Pursuit (6 page)

“Yeah?” She wiped them away, smudging bubbles across her cheek.

She couldn’t possibly look any cuter than she does right now with bubbles streaked across her face.
“I’m sorry.” He grabbed a paper towel and wiped her cheek. Allowing his hand to linger, he gazed into her eyes. “What I’m trying to say is, would you like to go out to dinner this Saturday?”

“As a date?”

“As a date.”

Kylie blinked. “O–kay.”

Ryan cupped her chin in his hand. “I can’t wait.”

Her mind wandered to Robin. What was her friend thinking? She needed to keep her head, to finish school, not to fall head over heels for the first guy she dated. Kylie didn’t deny Tyler being a great guy. She didn’t even have a problem with Robin falling in love with him, marrying him, and having children with him, but her friend needed to finish school first. She needed to be able to support them if something tragic happened.

Of course, Tyler won’t be getting black lung from his job.
Kylie closed her eyes and thought of her parents. Only four of her brothers and sisters still lived at home. Two of them worked to support the family until Daddy’s disability claim could be settled. Coal mining had sucked the life from her family.

Her mind skipped to Ryan. He was a true gem, the kind of man she would want to marry, have a few kids with, a dog, and a white picket fence, but he wasn’t a provider. “He’s an ice-cream-cone clerk at an amusement park.” She smacked her thigh. “I need a provider.”

She looked at her watch again. He should arrive in fifteen minutes or less. She walked into the bathroom and brushed through her hair one last time. After pulling her lipstick from the drawer, she put some on and smacked her lips together. “Tonight, I’ll tell him we can only be friends.”

❧

Ryan couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this way. He was downright giddy. Truly unmasculine, that was for sure. He squelched the excitement inside him as he opened the restaurant door for Kylie. The host seated them, and Ryan picked up the menu.

“Do you know what you want?” Kylie asked before he’d had a chance to read what they offered.

He chuckled. “Not yet.”

“I always get the shrimp platter.”

“Good, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll trust your judgment and just go with that.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean. . .”

Ryan frowned. Kylie was nervous, and he couldn’t figure out why. Maybe just because this was their first date. One of many, if he had his way. “I love shrimp. I’m sure it will be great.”

He put down the menu. He watched as Kylie played with her silverware for several moments then scanned the room, looking anywhere but at him. Small talk. . .think of something to say. “So, how do you like working at Holiday World?”

“It’s good.”

“Great.” Ryan fiddled with the tip of his napkin. Strike one. Think of something else, Watkins. “What about school? You ready to go back?”

“Oh, yeah. I can hardly wait to graduate.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder and watched the family beside them.

Strike two. This is like pulling teeth. She acts like I’m not even here. “Have you heard anything else from your job?”

“I go for a physical next week. If it goes well and my criminal record comes back clean, I’m hired.”

“Uh-oh.” Ryan tapped the top of her hand. “Your speeding tickets are going to come back to haunt you.”

“I don’t have any speeding tickets.”

“I was just kidding.”

“Oh.”

Ryan sighed. Strike three. No doubt about it, he had struck out. They ordered their food and ate in near silence. Ryan watched Kylie focus on everyone in the restaurant except him. Something was wrong. Sure, Kylie hadn’t sent tons of signals suggesting her interest in him, but she had shared her job offer with him first thing, even before she’d told Robin.

He smiled. “I’ve got an idea.”

“Yes?”

Ryan furrowed his eyebrows. He hadn’t meant to say that out loud. “When was the last time you went to Frosty’s Fun Center?”

“Never.”

“Never?”

She shook her head.

“Not even as a kid?”

Her expression clouded, and Ryan knew he’d said the wrong thing. He pulled cash for their dinner from his wallet and laid it on the table. “Well, I’m going to take you.”

“I don’t know. I’m a little tired.”

“Come on, Ki.”

A faint smile lifted her lips, and a glimmer shot through her eyes. “Something about you calling me that. . .” She shook her head and waved her hand. “Never mind.”

Aha. It was there. He hadn’t imagined it. She was attracted to him. He just had to convince her to let it grow. “Come on. We won’t stay long.”

“Okay.”

Ryan led her to the car, opened the door for her, then walked over to the driver’s side. He slid inside and drove to Frosty’s. “Arcade or miniature golf first?”

Kylie’s tenseness seemed to fade. “I’m afraid I’ll be terrible at either.”

“That’s okay.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I’ll just rub your face in it every time I beat you.”

Kylie’s expression charged with competition. “I’m going to take you down, Ryan Watkins.”

Ryan wiggled his eyebrows and winked. “Bring it on, Ki.”

She hopped out of the car and raced to the front of the building. Ryan followed her inside. She pointed to the pinball machines. “Arcade first.”

He purchased tokens and escorted her to a racing game. “Okay, you’ll control one car. I’ll control the other. We’ll race around an obstacle course. Understand?”

Kylie lifted her eyebrows. “No speeding tickets?”

Ryan laughed. “Nope.”

She batted her eyelashes. “Good. I don’t want to risk my job, you know.”

“Just play.”

They raced, and Ryan beat her easily, even with his effort to let her catch him. “We can go on to miniature golf.”

“Let’s play again.” Kylie’s eyes lit with pleasure.

“I didn’t know you were so competitive.”

“I’ll beat you yet.”

They played again, and Ryan still beat her despite slowing down at many places.

“One more time.”

Ryan chuckled. “Okay.” The cars raced down the arcade freeway. He shifted his gears and turned his wheel with his car easily taking the lead. “Ready to call it quits?”

“Never.” Kylie giggled, then leaned over and tickled his ribs.

“What are you doing?” He swerved and his car plunged into the guardrail.

Kylie’s car moved slow and steady but stayed on course. He turned his around and hit the gas again. She leaned over and tickled him once more.

“Kylie!”

She laughed as her car passed the finish line first. “I won! I won!” She pumped her fist in the air.

Ryan growled and grabbed her waist, pulling her toward him. She lifted her gaze to meet his, and Ryan longed to lean down and kiss her lips. He grazed her cheek with the back of his hand, and her eyes closed for a brief moment.

“You cheated,” he whispered as he lowered his lips toward hers.

A push from behind knocked him into her, severing the moment. “Sorry!” a boy yelled, as he chased another child to one of the games.

“Ready for me to beat you at miniature golf?” Kylie smiled like the Cheshire cat as she reached up and twirled the bottom of his hair with her fingers. Surprise welled in her eyes. “I can’t believe—I’m sorry. . . . I’ve wanted to feel your hair—oh, my.”

She turned away from him but not before he saw her neck and cheeks blaze red. He grabbed her hand. “Let’s go play.” He led her to the shack where they picked out their golf clubs and ball colors. She put her ball on the tee, and he strolled up behind her. “You can play with my hair anytime you like.”

She gazed up at him and wrinkled her nose. “You’re trying to break my concentration, aren’t you?”

Ryan touched his chest and tilted his head as if he had been wounded. “The things you accuse me of. I’m hurt.”

Kylie rolled her eyes and swung her club. The ball launched through the air and hit the green of the second hole. She covered her mouth. “I guess I hit it too hard.”

“You think?” Ryan laughed. He retrieved her ball and showed her how to hit it. By the time they’d finished, Kylie had beaten him. They walked back to the car, and Ryan relished the great time they’d had.

“It was pretty hard playing bad enough to let me win, wasn’t it?”

“I’d say.”

Kylie giggled. “The mark of a true man.” She laid both hands on her heart. “He lets the lady win.”

“It’s true.” Ryan pulled into her apartment’s parking lot and walked her to the front door. “I had a really good time, Ki.”

Kylie closed her eyes. Her tense stance had returned. Ryan brushed a wisp of hair behind her shoulder. “I’d really like to do it again sometime.”

“Ryan.” He watched her take a few quick breaths. “We can’t.”

“Why?”

“I need. . .” She looked up but not at him. “I need more. I just want to be friends.” She turned away, opened her door, and slipped inside.

Ryan looked at the front door knocker. I should just barrel in there and tell her to quit being silly. He stared at the rusty spot at the bottom of the brass knocker. I could tell her I am able to support her and she’d never have to worry about money again.

He shook his head and walked back to his car. “Then I’d never know if she wanted me for me.” Sliding into the driver’s seat, he hit the steering wheel. “Why is it always about money? First Vanessa. Now Kylie.”

Ryan looked at the passenger’s seat and thought of Kylie sitting there only moments before. He wanted Kylie. He needed her to want him, with or without his money.