2. Alice

2

ALICE

H opping onto the Tilt-A-Whirl, I can't help but laugh. The metal seat is cool against my bare legs as Lily waves from outside the fence, her face pale. Poor thing's been looking queasy ever since we split that funnel cake.

"Are you sure you don't want to ride?" I call out to her, flashing a grin. "It'll be fun!"

Lily shakes her head. "I'm done with rides for now. You go ahead, though!"

I shrug and settle into my seat. Her loss.

Suddenly, a large figure plops beside me, the seat creaking under his weight. I glance over, my eyes widening.

Holy shit.

This guy is massive, with broad shoulders stretching his tight black t-shirt and muscular, tattooed arms gripping the safety bar. His chiseled jaw is dusted with stubble and his stunning dark eyes meet mine, a smirk on his full lips.

"Hey there," he says, his deep voice echoing over the carnival sounds.

I swallow hard. "Hi," I squeak, suddenly feeling like a tongue-tied schoolgirl.

The operator comes around, checking the lap bars.

I grip the metal bar tightly as the Tilt-a-Whirl begins to spin, my stomach churning from the cotton candy and corndogs Lily and I devoured earlier. The flashing lights and blaring music fade into a dizzying blur as the ride speeds up.

The ride spins faster, pressing me against his solid frame. I inhale sharply, catching a whiff of his musky cologne and a hint of grease.

"First time on this death trap?" he asks, leaning closer.

I shake my head, trying to play it cool despite my sweaty palms and somersaulting stomach. "Nah, I love this ride. My friend Lily though, not so much. Total wimp."

He laughs, the vibration rumbling through his chest. "Sounds like you need a new riding partner, then."

Holy fuck, is this Adonis hitting on me? I bite my lip, feeling a rush of excitement and nerves. I'm usually the one who has to make the first move with guys, but this guy oozes confidence and raw sexual energy.

The ride jerks to a stop, and he stands in a fluid motion, towering over me. "I'm Lars, by the way." He offers me his hand.

I place my smaller one in his, electricity zinging through me at his touch. "Alice," I reply as he helps me up.

His eyes rake over me appreciatively, and I'm suddenly very aware of how my sundress clings to my curves. "Well, Alice, what do you say we go on a few more rides together?"

Heat creeps up my neck at Lars'ssuggestion. God, I want nothing more than to spend the rest of the night wrapped around this gorgeous man.

But I can't just abandon my best friend like that. I glance over at Lily, who's looking a bit green around the gills as she leans against the fence.

"I would love to," I say, turning back to Lars with a regretful smile. "But I'm here with my friend tonight, and she's not feeling so hot. I can't just leave her, you know?"

Lars nods. "No worries, I get it. You're a good friend."

He reaches out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His fingers linger on my cheek, making heat spread through every vein in my body.

"How about a rain check?" he asks. "I'm here for two weeks with the carnival. Maybe we could meet another night, just the two of us?"

My heart skips a beat at the thought of a date with Lars. I can already imagine his strong hands on my body, his lips trailing kisses down my neck...

I shake myself out of my fantasy, hoping it's not obvious that my cheeks are burning. "I'd like that," I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. "Maybe tomorrow night?"

Lars grins, his teeth flashing white against his lightly tanned skin. "Tomorrow night it is. Meet me by the Ferris wheel at 8 o'clock."

With a wink, he turns and strides away, disappearing into the crowd. I stare after him, my heart pounding and my mind reeling.

Did that really just happen? Did I just make a date with the hottest guy I've ever seen?

I'm jolted out of my daze by Lily's hand on my arm. "Alice, who was that?" she asks, her pretty green eyes wide with curiosity.

"That," I reply, a slow smile spreading across my face, "was Lars."

I link arms with Lily as we meander through the carnival. She's still looking a little queasy, her face pale under the flashing lights.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I ask, giving her arm a squeeze. We can head home if you want."

Lily shakes her head, managing a weak smile. "No, I'll be fine. Just need to stick to the kiddie rides from now on."

I laugh, bumping my hip against hers. "Lightweight."

We walk silently for a moment, weaving through the throngs of people. Lily's eyes are on me, curiosity burning in her gaze.

"So, who was that guy you were talking to?" she asks. "The one with all the tattoos and muscles?"

Part of me wants to gush about our encounter, to analyze every word with her, but I know Lily. She's always been the cautious voice of reason for my impulsive nature.

She'll freak out if I tell her I plan on meeting with Lars tomorrow night. She'll lecture me about the dangers of hooking up with a stranger, especially one who looks like he could snap me in half with his bare hands.

And maybe she'd be right. I don't know anything about Lars beyond our brief, charged interaction. He could be a serial killer for all I know, preying on naive girls like me at every stop on the carnival circuit.

But god, the mere thought of those hands on my body, those lips against my skin... I can't remember when a guy made me feel this way, all tingly and breathless, with just a look.

The men in this town are so predictable, so boring. I've gone through all the single guys like a kid in a candy store, leaving a trail of broken hearts in my wake. I need something new, something exciting.

And Lars is definitely that.

I shrug nonchalantly, trying to play it cool. "Oh, just some guy who works at the carnival. He was just flirting a little."

Lily raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying my casual act. "Just flirting, huh? He looked like he wanted to devour you whole."

I roll my eyes, hoping the dim carnival lights hide my burning cheeks. "Oh please, it was harmless. You know how guys are."

Lily purses her lips but doesn't push the issue. If she keeps prying, I might spill the beans about my planned rendezvous with Lars tomorrow night.

And I can't have that. Lily would never understand the thrill and the rush of meeting up with a gorgeous, mysterious stranger. She'd lecture me about stranger danger and probably insist on tagging along as a chaperone.

Nope, this must stay my little secret, at least for now.

I link my arm through Lily's, steering her toward the row of game booths. "Come on, let's see if we can win some of those creepy stuffed clowns."

Lily laughs, allowing me to pull her along. "You and your creepy obsessions. I swear, it's a miracle you haven't ended up in a true crime documentary yet."

"The night is still young." I waggle my eyebrows. "Plenty of time for me to become a cautionary tale."

We spend the next hour or so playing rigged carnival games and people-watching. I try my best to focus on the moment, to enjoy this rare night out with my best friend.

But my mind keeps drifting back to Lars. The way his muscles flexed under his shirt, the heat of his gaze on my skin. I can still feel the ghost of his touch on my cheek, the rumble of his deep voice in my bones.

Lily looks at her phone and shakes her head. "We've been here way over the agreed one hour," she points out.

"Just one more ride!" I plead, pouting.

Lily smiles. "Fine, fine. But this is the last one, okay? I've got to work the morning shift tomorrow."

I hug her tightly. "You're the best! I promise this will be the last one."

Grabbing Lily's hand, I yank her toward the line for the bumper cars. Both of us giggle and I love how much fun we're having tonight. It's been too long since we let loose, just the two of us. By the time we get off, I've got whiplash, and so does Lily.

"Okay, now I really do have to go." Lily's expression is stern, and I know she's serious. "Just let me run to the bathroom quick, and then we'll head out."

I pout. "Fine, but hurry up!"

Lily heads toward the bathrooms and I wait for her by the entrance.

While I wait, I can't help but think that tomorrow night can't come soon enough. I know it's foolish to meet up with a guy I just met. A guy who screams danger from his tattoos to his wicked smirk.

But I've always been drawn to the bad boys. The ones who promise excitement and adventure, even if it's just for a night. And something tells me Lars is the ultimate bad boy. The kind of guy who could ruin me in all the best ways.

I shiver in anticipation, counting the hours until I can see him again. Until I can discover just how deep this attraction runs.