Falling for the Ghost of You(72)

I sit up, suddenly full of energy. “Do you want to check out Fairytale Castle now?”

“Sure you’re up to it?” he asks lazily.

“Yeah, I feel great! Let’s go.”

Shaking his head at my enthusiasm, Zane gets up. We clean up our little picnic mess, then get dressed. I watch in giddy fascination as my boyfriend(!) puts on a gray shirt and changes into jeans. It’s such a shame to watch that drool-worthy body of his disappear behind clothes, but the long-sleeved fitted shirt does cling to his muscled torso in a tantalizing way, and his butt in those jeans…mmm…

Zane catches me staring and throws a shirt at me. Then, to return the favor, he crosses his arms and watches while I get dressed in a soft pink sweater and black pants. His attention makes me nervous, and the sweater ends up in a tangle, with my arms stuck over my head. Then he has to help me fix it, which is just my luck. What if I ever tried to be sexy—like do a striptease for him? I would trip and end up in the hospital with my bra wrapped around my neck.

Yeah, that sounds about right.











Chapter 29



I love Fairytale Castle! It’s like an elaborate Renaissance fair, with rides and balloons and cotton candy, and wandering minstrels, and…oh, everything! Of course since it's December, Ye Olde Towne Square is adorned with Christmas decorations galore: Christmas trees, colorful wreaths, twinkling lights—everything to make a little fairy princess at heart happy! Patrons are encouraged to dress the part, and we pass by countless sparkling princesses, seductive wenches, dashing little pirates, and…vampires? Really?

Okay, I know this is going to sound really dorky, but I’ve always wanted to come here with a boyfriend. Matt never wanted to go—he never wanted to go anywhere. Not even when I told him about coming here in my pre-teens and dreaming that I was here with a gorgeous guy who I could hang on to during the scary parts of the rides, or lean against while standing in line. I’d seen other couples do it before, and it just seemed so romantic to me.

Well, I’m glad Matt always turned me down, because now I’m here with Zane, and it couldn’t be more perfect. We are standing in line for the Pirates’ Cove ride—my favorite roller coaster—and he has me encircled in the warmth of his strong arms. While I’m eating cotton candy! Could life get any better?

I notice a girl with braces watching us with a wistful expression on her face. She’s a couple of people behind us, and appears to be with her rowdy family. A freckled little boy keeps whacking her rear end with a toy sword, and she’s trying desperately to ignore him.

Her eyes meet mine. I try to silently convey my sympathy to her with a smile. She’s too busy staring at Zane to notice me. Figures.

“I love cotton candy!” I turn around in Zane’s arms to smile up at him. “The only thing I hate is the sticky fingers.”

I hold my fingers up, and he takes my hand and gently sucks on each one. My eyes go blurry at the tingling sensations he evokes.

“Mm,” he says, grinning. “I love your sticky fingers.”

"Gross," I laugh, tossing the rest of my cotton candy into a nearby trash bin.

The line inches forward. I have to tug Zane to get him to move. When I look at him, I find him staring up at the giant structure that houses one of the scariest roller coasters ever, a tense look on his handsome face.

"Are you okay?" I ask, concerned.

"Fine."

His curt answer has me frowning. "No, you're not. That little muscle in your jaw is jumping. That means you're upset about something."

Zane glances down at me. "No, it doesn't."

"Yes, it does."

"Nope."

I study his face closely, while he avoids my meeting my eyes. Is he pale beneath his golden tan? I think so.

"Wait, are you scared of roller coasters?"

"No," he answers quickly. Then he frowns, staring off into the distance. "I wouldn't say 'scared'. I just don't like the part before the big drop. That slow build up, the anticipation...it's annoying."

Big strong Zane O' Connor afraid of roller coasters? Cute!

"Don't worry," I reassure him, taking his hand. "I'll protect you."

"Thanks, Violet," he replies dryly.

"We don't have to go on it if you don't want to."

"Oh, don't you worry about me." Zane smirks. "It's not that serious."

I can't the giggle that escapes me. I turn away to hide it, and that's when I notice the girl with the braces.

"Ugh," I mutter, facing Zane again. "That girl over there is taking pictures of you with her phone. She's been staring at you this whole time."

Zane doesn't bother looking, he just angles his face away. "Don't tell me you're jealous."