Will And The Headstrong Female Part 10

"I know you have." She bit her lip, thinking. There was no way she could afford to lose this job and she knew that postponing it was out of the question. The carnival was slated to open tomorrow. More than three-quarters of the trade booths were already up. She turned toward Will. "Is there anywhere I can go to get some manpower in a hurry?"

Will nodded. Finally she was asking him for help-at least in a roundabout way. "Yeah, there's somewhere you can go."

"Where?"

He reached into the Jeep and took his cell phone out of the glove compartment. "Let me make a few calls."

"I'd appreciate it. Oh, and one more thing-find people who'll work cheap. I'll be over by the Ferris wheel." She looked and saw that the ride was yet to be completely a.s.sembled. Denise sighed, walking off.

He nodded, waiting for the person on the other end to pick up.

Finishing his last call, Will flipped the cover on his cell phone, closing it. He looked over toward the Ferris wheel. Most of the seats had been attached, but what caught his attention was Denise. She was about ten feet off the ground, climbing up through the network of newly erected steel.

He stood back for a moment, watching her work. How could anyone who moved as agilely as a spider monkey look so d.a.m.n s.e.xy while she was doing it?

Afraid of distracting Denise, he approached the Ferris wheel without calling to her. She saw him just as he reached the foot of the structure.

Denise tightened her hold on a beam. "Any luck?" she called down to him.

"Plenty." Cupping his mouth, he raised his voice to be heard above the noise. "All good. Help is on its way."

It sounded like a rallying cry, Denise thought. For the second time that day, she breathed a sigh of relief.

With sure movements, she made her way back down to the ground.

"It's fine." She directed her approval to the man setting up the ticket booth beside the ride. Brushing off her hands, she looked at Will. "Who did you get, or shouldn't I ask?"

Instead of answering her, Will placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her toward the official police vehicle that was pulling into the lot. "Here's the first of them, now."

She didn't understand. "You called the sheriff?"

"No," Will explained mildly, "I called my brother Quint"

Her eyes widened at the information. "The sheriff's your brother?"

Had she waited a minute longer, Denise realized she wouldn't have had to ask that question. The resemblance between the two men as the sheriff approached was unmistakable. Even more evident than the resemblance between Will and Kent All three brothers were blond, tall and well muscled, with skin bronzed from years of working outdoors and eyes the color of the sky that looked down at them.

Her mouth curved as she turned to look at Will. "Did your mother have access to a photocopier when she first married your father?"

Will laughed. "We don't look that much alike."

If he believed that, he was blind. "Yeah, you do," she insisted.

Audra, who had been hanging around him all this time, waiting for Will to finish his calls and pay attention to her now smiled at him loyally. "I think you're the best-looking one."

Unable to resist, he scooped Audra up into his arms. It amazed him that he could lose his heart to someone so little so quickly.

"Thank you. And I think you're the best-looking one here." He kissed her cheek, then looked at Denise. "You have the makings of a first-cla.s.s flirt on your hands."

Denise laughed, the worried expression on her face softening slightly. For now, help was at hand. She'd deal with the rest of it later.

"You know, Cutler, I think you might finally be right about something."

He had a feeling that he was right about more than just one thing, Will thought, looking at Denise, but he kept that to himself.

At least for the time being.

8.

Denise felt her heart slipping away from her.

It would have been something to enjoy, to treasure, if reality hadn't been standing beside her, ready to poke sharp, bony fingers into every dream, every feeling that rose like a sparkling soap bubble in the air, rainbows dancing along its fragile surface. Reality that was quick to cruelly remind her what had happened the last time she'd lost the reins holding her heart in check.

And the way it had felt after. After the lights of the party had gone out.

After the lights in David's eyes had gone out. And she was left to grope around in the dark and cope with the results of being head-over-heels in love. To cope with being pregnant and emotionally abandoned.

She tried to remember all that But it didn't help much.

She watched Will work beneath the hot sun, sweat gleaming along his tanned skin, a slick badge attesting to his efforts. To his work.

There was a difference, she thought, trying to hold onto the ember of warmth glowing within her breast A difference between the two men. David had dazzled her with his world; Will had quietly brought his world into hers.

Well, maybe not so quietly, she amended as the noise around her seemed to swell and grow as she crossed over to Will. She heard him begin to swear roundly when Quint b.u.mped into him, nearly throwing him off-kilter, then swallow the words as he looked to see if Audra was around.

Her heart slipped away a little further.

"You're making me feel guilty."

The slight breeze shifted a second before she approached. Will caught the light, tantalizing scent and knew she was behind him before Denise had said a word. "About?"

He and his brothers and father had been at it for the last four hours. "You're all working so hard and I can't pay any of you." She'd never liked that, owing someone. Even if it made the difference between getting along or not, she always wanted to have her tab paid. How was she ever going to repay this family for their help and their kindness? It didn't seem possible.

"No need to pay us, darlin'," Quint interjected.

Coming up on her other side, Quint gently nudged Denise out of the way and plunged his hand into the ice chest. He groped around the melting shavings, searching for a can of cola.

"We're doing it as a favor to Will." Quint grinned at his brother before continuing. "We like having him owe us. Nice to be on the other side of the fence for a change." He winked at Denise, popping the top off the prize he snared. Quint drank deeply, finishing the can in four long pulls.

"Don't pay attention to him," Will told her. He wiped his damp forehead with the back of his hand. "If the pack of them did favors for me from now until the turn of the century, they wouldn't even scratch the surface of what they owe me." Quint sighed, throwing the empty can into the large barrel that one of the carnival committee members had set up for recyclables. It pinged as it came to rest on top of the other cans.

"The sad part of that is, it's true." Quint glanced at his watch, gauging his schedule. "I've only got ninety minutes left," he told Denise, beginning to head back to the ride he was putting up with Kent and two of Denise's people. "If I stay away any longer than that, Carly's liable to lock himself up in the jail by accident." He laughed, thinking of his cousin, who was also his deputy. The man was very willing, but not too able.

Will turned to look at Denise. The furrow between her brows was beginning to fade, he noted, pleased. "Where do you want me?"

Denise blinked, the question taking her completely by surprise. And creating some rather unsubtie responses that she kept to herself. "Excuse me?"

Amus.e.m.e.nt curved his mouth and she had a feeling he knew the exact wording of every response that had occurred to her. The flush on her cheeks was half embarra.s.sment, half face-saving anger.

"Well, I'm finished with the miniature train ride." He nodded toward the circle of open red railway cars. "Where do you want me to go next?"

Denise decided it was best to simply ignore his grin, its source and its engaging effect. She looked around the grounds. "The carousel still needs work." She pointed toward it.

"The carousel it is." He began to walk off, then stopped, a thought occurring to him. "How long have you been working carnivals, Denny?"

It wasn't so much a matter of working them as living them. "I was born in the Fortune Teller's tent." Denise saw the skepticism in his eyes. He probably thought she was exaggerating. "My mother didn't realize she was in labor until it was too late." Her hands went automatically to her hips. "Why?"

Was it his imagination, or did she always look as if she was ready to forge into battle at the slightest provocation? "When was the last time you enjoyed the carnival?"

He'd answered her question with a question, Denise realized. Typical. "I don't follow you."

Will spelled it out for her, his curiosity urging him on. "When was the last time you went on any of the rides, had cotton candy? Like a townie'?"

He enunciated the word as if it described an undesirable, Denise thought, flushing. He must have overheard her. "I don't know. A year or two..." It annoyed her that his scrutinizing gaze had her shifting self-consciously. "About five," she amended grudgingly.

Will had his doubts about that He raised one eyebrow dubiously. "Maybe longer?" he suggested.

"Maybe." She didn't have time to stand around and argue over something that was none of his business. "What's your point?"

He grinned, pleased with his inspirational idea. "My point is, I know how you can repay me."

"How? Extra tickets? Because if it's extra tickets, I've already seen to it that your family-"

But he. shook his head, taking away some of her thunder. He held up one finger. "Just one extra one-for you if you need it."

Something shaky began to form within her, crawling out from between the c.h.i.n.ks that existed in the stone wall that had been around her now errant heart. She licked her lower lip. "I don't understand..."

Yes, she did. Will could see it in her eyes. But he told her anyway so that there were no excuses, no feigned misunderstandings as to his intent.

"I want to take you to the carnival, Denny, as soon as you can spare the time." He caught her hand in his, surprised at his own enthusiasm. And pleased by it. "I want you to see the magic again, not just the grease and wrenches."

Don't do this to me, heart. Don't let me start believing him.

She drew her hand away, pocketing it. "Don't you have anyone else you want to bring?"

Will didn't move an inch. Holding his ground, holding her attention, he looked into her eyes.

"No," he said with a note of finality that rippled along her skin. "I don't"

Run, d.a.m.n it. Run for your life.

Denise's own urgings fell on ears that couldn't hear. She looked away, lifting her shoulder in a half shrug. "All right, when I can spare the time. If I'm not too exhausted."

He gave her a knowing look, then laughed. "Oh, you won't be too exhausted, Denny. That would mean you're human, and I don't think you're quite ready to admit to something like that."

He knew her better than she wanted him to. There was no way she could honestly argue with his a.s.sessment. So, in retaliation, she grabbed a handful of ice from the chest and tossed it at him. Surprised, Will yelped as the cold chips. .h.i.t him on the chest and slid down.

"Of course you know this means war-and I'm a veteran of a lot more ferocious attacks than that." His eyes dancing, he took a large handful of ice, throwing it at her.

Using both hands, she scooped up a huge mound and flung it at him, aiming for his face.

Will had had years of practice, thanks to his brothers and sister. Ducking his head, he hooked his arm around her waist, pulling her to him. Will dipped into the quickly depleting supply of ice with the other and brought up a huge handful.

Her eyes trained on the cold mound, she squirmed against him. "Oh, you wouldn't." Laughter robbed her voice of its proper conviction.

"Wouldn't I?"

His eyes were unreadable. The next minute, a tiny glob of ice was sliding down her back. She shrieked, laughter rocking her, vibrating her body against his.

"Stop it," she begged, trying to wiggle away.

He surprised Denise by turning her around to face him, his arm still tightly wrapped around her waist "Ask me nicely."

What breath the laughter hadn't robbed her of evaporated now. There was barely enough left to sustain her.

"Please?" She squeezed out the request.

His arm slipped away, releasing her. He didn't have to physically restrain her. His smile held her in place far more firmly than his arm could. "Never could resist a lady with manners."

Kiss me, Will. Kiss me before I have sense enough to break away.

"Mama, are you all right?"

Rescued, by a pint-size intruder, Denise thought. Just in time. She looked toward Audra, a sad smile playing along her lips. "I'm fine, honey."

Audra looked from her mother to Will and back again. He could see by her expression that her loyalties were clearly torn. "But what was he doing to you?"

"Here, I'll show you," Will told her. The very next minute, he took just the tiniest sliver of ice and slid it down the back of the little girl's T-shirt.

Squealing with delight, Audra giggled and squirmed. What was left of the ice chip shimmied from underneath her T-shirt and plodded like a large teardrop to the ground beside her feet. She was instantly enamored with the new game.

"This is fun!"

Will looked at Denise over Audra's head. "Yes," he agreed softly, his eyes on Denise's. "It is."

Denise fervently wished that her heart wasn't hammering as if she'd just run half a mile to get in out of the rain.

Her feet aching, Denise dropped to one of the benches the carnival committee had supplied. She sighed, wishing she could toe off her boots.

She'd put him off for almost a full week, using one excuse after another. But finally she was out of excuses and out of defenses. She allowed him to take her to the carnival. Like a townie.