Chapter 16

Billie

The bakery booth at the Fall Festival is crazier than ever. I've been serving pumpkin spice cupcakes and apple cider donuts nonstop since I got here, and if it weren't for the adrenaline rush of the festival, I'd probably have passed out by now. The crisp fall air, the vibrant orange and red leaves, the smell of roasted nuts and cinnamon swirling around—it's like a postcard come to life.

But none of that is why I'm distracted.

Rayne's supposed to show up soon. And not just for a quick stop to flirt and help me pack up the booth. No, tonight is different. We're doing this whole thing—publicly. For the first time, it'll be out in the open that Rayne and I are more than just casual acquaintances or friends who might be a little too friendly. We're a thing. A couple. Together.

And to be honest, the thought of that has me both nervous and excited. I keep wiping my hands on my apron, fidgeting with the trays of baked goods like they're not already perfectly arranged.

Shay notices, of course. She always does. "Stop fussing," she says, nudging me with her elbow as she hands a customer their order. "You're not gonna impress him any more than you already have."

I laugh, trying to shake off my nerves. "I'm not trying to impress him."

Shay gives me a look that says, ‘Sure you aren't.'

"He's coming tonight, right?" she asks, but it's more of a statement than a question.

"Yeah, he's coming."

"Good," Shay says, grinning as she adjusts the sign on the booth. "About time you two stopped sneaking around like a couple of teenagers."

I roll my eyes, but I can't stop the smile from creeping up. She's right. This whole thing between Rayne and me has been simmering for years, and now that it's finally out in the open, it feels good. Damn good.

The sound of heavy boots on the gravel catches my attention, and when I look up, there he is. Rayne. Walking toward the booth with that slow, confident stride of his, wearing those worn jeans, a flannel shirt that stretches tight across his broad chest, and, of course, that damn cowboy hat. My pulse quickens just at the sight of him.

He walks right up to the booth, eyes locked on mine, and I feel that familiar flutter in my stomach. His presence always does that to me.

"Hey," I say, trying to keep my voice steady, but I know I'm blushing. I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks.

"Hey yourself," Rayne replies, his deep voice making my stomach do a little flip. He glances around the booth. "Busy night."

"Yeah, it's been nonstop," I say, laughing a little. "But I'm almost done here."

Rayne nods, his eyes not leaving mine. "Good. 'Cause after this, I want you all to myself."

That simple sentence makes my heart race, and I feel the heat between us crank up a notch. I know we're out in public, but it's hard to care when Rayne's looking at me like that—like I'm the only thing that matters.

Before I can respond, a group of our friends walks by, teasing us like they always do. "There they are," one of them shouts. "Lovebirds, finally out in the open!"

I laugh, shaking my head, but I don't pull away from Rayne. He just smirks, not bothered in the slightest by the attention.

Shay comes back over, winking at me. "Go on, Billie. I've got the booth covered. Enjoy your night."

I glance at Rayne, and he raises an eyebrow like he's daring me to say no. I don't need any more convincing.

"Alright, I'm all yours," I say, pulling off my apron and tossing it onto the counter.

Rayne's eyes darken, and I can see the heat simmering under his calm exterior. "Good," he mutters, holding out his hand for me to take.

I slide my hand into his, and the second his fingers curl around mine, it feels like the most natural thing in the world. We walk away from the booth, past the crowd, past the festival lights, heading for a quieter part of the grounds.

—-

Rayne

I've waited a long time for this moment. Walking through the festival grounds, Billie by my side, holding her hand out in the open where everyone can see. It feels right—like this is how things were always supposed to be.

The fall air is crisp, and the distant sounds of the festival fade away as we find a quiet spot near the edge of the field. The orange and red glow from the festival lights bounces off the trees, casting everything in a warm, golden hue. It's the perfect setting.

Billie glances up at me, her dark eyes shining, her lips tugging up in that soft smile that drives me crazy. She's wrapped up in that sweater, but I can still see the curve of her hips, the way her jeans cling to her legs, the way her skin glows in the light.

"Pretty nice night," she says, but her voice is soft, like she's feeling the same weight of the moment that I am.

"Yeah," I grunt, pulling her a little closer. "It is."

We stop at the edge of the field, where the crowd is thinner, the air a little quieter. I can hear the faint crackle of a bonfire not too far away, smell the scent of roasted marshmallows drifting on the wind.

I turn to face Billie, taking both her hands in mine. She looks up at me, her face illuminated by the glow of the festival lights, and it's like everything else fades away. There's only her.

"This… feels good," I say, my voice low.

Billie tilts her head, her smile softening. "What does?"

"This," I say, gesturing between us. "You. Us. Being out here, not hiding."

Billie's smile widens, and she steps closer, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Yeah. It does feel good."

I lower my head, my lips brushing against her forehead. "I meant what I said, Billie. I don't do casual. Not with you."

She pulls back slightly, looking up at me with those wide eyes. "I know, Rayne. I don't want casual either."

I nod, my hand coming up to cup her cheek, my thumb brushing over her soft skin. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere."

Billie's lips part, and I can see the emotion in her eyes—this mixture of relief and happiness and something deeper. Something I feel too.

Before I can say anything else, she pulls me down into a kiss. Soft at first, then deeper, more insistent. Her fingers tangle in my hair, and I wrap my arms around her, pulling her tight against me, wanting to feel every inch of her pressed against me.

It's a kiss that feels like more than just a kiss. It feels like a promise.

When we finally pull back, both of us a little breathless, I press my forehead against hers. "You're mine, Billie. Don't forget that."

Her eyes shine with something playful. "I wasn't planning on it."

We stand there for a while, wrapped up in each other, the festival sounds fading away as we savor the moment.