The tomato procession had long since passed. “So, what’s next?” she asked, trying to keep her voice bright.
He lifted his eyebrows and smiled knowingly. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
From beneath the stalls, crates started to be pulled out. People began to jostle, laughter rising through the crowds.
Something red and tennis-ball shaped flew through the air, toward Jenna’s head. She ducked, but the tomato hit her on the shoulder. The fruit had been overripe and soft, and didn’t hurt in the slightest, but juice flew up, splattering her cheek, tomato seeds clinging to her hair.
She blinked in surprise, her hands held out either side of her, her mouth open. Ryker took one look at her and burst out laughing.
“You can be a real asshole, sometimes,” she said, but Ryker’s laughter only lasted for a minute as another tomato flew at him from behind and hit him square in the back of the head. Juice exploded around him, seeds dripping down his neck.
Jenna squealed in laughter, and pointed at him. “Now who’s the funny one?”
Another tomato flew through the air, then another, and another. Everyone around them yelled and laughed. Jenna spied one of the crates that had been pulled out from beneath the stand selling bruschetta. Tomatoes tumbled from it as people grabbed handfuls to throw at their companions.
Single-minded, Jenna ran for the crate. She snatched the fattest tomato she could see and turned back to Ryker. He stood, his hands in front of him, eyebrows raised, his fingers beckoning her in a ‘just try it’ motion.
Remembering the odd occasion she’d played baseball at school, Jenna pulled back her arm and let the tomato fly. It hit Ryker smack in the middle of his chest, splattering all up his neck and across his biceps. He stood, staring at her, while she bit her lip, failing to repress her grin.
He squared his shoulders, bull-like, and began to stalk toward her. “Right, now you’re going to get it.”
She gave a scream of delight, and he caught her around the waist, hauling her, one-armed, toward the box of red, juicy fruit. She fought him, but only half-heartedly, as he grabbed another tomato and squashed it on the top of her head. Juice dribbled down her forehead, running into her eyes. She scrabbled backward, grabbing another tomato. Squealing, she ducked her head, her eyes half closed to protect them while she and Ryker exchanged hits, so they ended up in a grappling of hands and slippery juice. She squashed the ripe fruit to his chest, while he scooped up another and crushed it against her collarbone, so juice ran into her cleavage.
Around them, others were joining in with full force, until the sidewalk was covered in a slick of tomato pulp. She skidded, falling to the ground and pulling Ryker down with her so they landed in a tangle of limbs. He held himself above her, a chuckle shaking his body, while she lay on her back in the mess, both of them covered in tomato juice, pips, and skin. She laughed so hard her ribs hurt.
Ryker looked down at her and their laughter faded. Their eyes locked, creating a moment that included only them, the rest of the world and the mayhem surrounding them fading into the background.
He lowered his face, his lips capturing hers. They kissed, full and intense, his body pressing her against the sidewalk. She didn’t care that others were around her, or that she thought she’d seen Garrett before. All she cared about was the feel of Ryker above her, as if he was shielding her with his body, and the taste of his mouth on hers.
Laughter, this time snide and cutting, came loud from above them.
A male voice, “Hey, look, man. Ryker Russo has squashed a whale.”
Another laugh. “He’s giving it mouth to mouth.”
Gutfuls of laughter burst around them.
Ryker’s whole body tensed and he broke the kiss, staring into her eyes. He lowered his mouth to her ear and quietly said, “Sorry about this.” And then he jumped to his feet.
Jenna pulled herself up to sitting.
Ryker squared off against two guys, who punched each other on the shoulder, apparently thrilled at their own humor.
His lip curled in a snarl. “What the hell did you just say?”
They glanced at each other. “Nothing, Ryker,” said the bigger of the two. “We were just having some fun.”
He stepped menacingly toward them. “Fun, huh? You think insulting people is fun?”
The larger guy held up his hands in defense. “Seriously, Ryker. She’s kind of big. We were only having a laugh.”
Ryker reached out and shoved him in the chest, and he stumbled back a little, slipping in the tomato juice. “Don’t you fucking talk about her!”
Jenna scrabbled to her feet, looking on in alarm. “Leave it, Ryker. It’s not worth it.” She could feel people staring now. The last thing she wanted was a scene.