Sassy Blonde (Three Chicks Brewery 1)

His smile faded to something hotter. He had her up against wall in a millisecond and kissed her with a passion that weakened her knees and had her nearly climbing up his body.

“Get a room,” a laughing teenager yelled before he and his group took off running through the maze.

Hayes nipped her bottom lip then chuckled. “We were that stupid once.”

“I remember,” she said with a laugh. “How did you find me so fast?”

“I followed the floor,” he said, gesturing down to the worn hardwood. “This isn’t a complicated maze.”

She slowly shook her head. “The mirrors always make things so much more confusing. You and your logical brain amaze me.”

“Well, you and your creative brain amaze me too.” He dropped his chin, the slight scruffiness above his lip tickling hers as he gave her another soft kiss. “I hate to ruin the fun, but we have a schedule we need keep. We should probably get on our way.”

She sighed. “Yup, our last festival awaits.”

That statement hung in the air between them as they made their way out of the maze, passing the group of still-laughing teenagers. Maisie tried not to think about what would happen once they got home. Was sex still on the table? Or was this just fun while they were away? It didn’t feel like only fun, but it also didn’t feel like Hayes was offering up much beyond that either. They strode down the row of carnival games, passing by the floating duck game, when Hayes said, “Hold up.” He turned to the shooting gallery with pop-up targets, the giant stuffed animals hanging off the ceiling as prizes.

Maisie sidled up to him as he gave the attendant a five-dollar bill. He picked up the gun, took aim. One by one, the targets fell. Maisie had never seen Haye

s in action, but she remembered him in his police uniform back in the day. The whole cowboy thing suited him, but he also, with his eyes on the target, looked like a cop.

When the bells dinged to signal the end of the game, the attendant yelled, “We have a winner. Pick a prize.”

Hayes glanced back over his shoulder with a shit-eating grin. “Well?”

She studied the stuffed animals around her, trying to find the perfect one to remember this day. Then she found exactly what she was looking for. She pointed. “The bear, please.”

The attendant took down the huge bear that was half the size of Maisie and handed it to her. Without looking at them again, the attendant yelled out, “Winner. Winner. Winner. We got ourselves a winner here. Who’s next?”

Maisie hugged the bear tight as Hayes asked, “Why the bear?”

“Because it reminds me of you. Of this road trip.”

He arched an eyebrow. “I remind you of a bear. Do I want to know why?”

“Oh, it’s not so bad.” She began walking and he settled into stride with her. “You’re all broody and growly, but really, you’re all soft and snuggly on the inside.”

He snorted. “Please don’t repeat that ever.”

She laughed and slid her arm through his, inhaling the sweet goodness of the doughnuts sizzling in the vats of oil nearby. “I had no idea you could shoot like that.”

“I’m a cop—” He cleared his throat, averting his gaze. “Was a cop. Came with the training.”

She didn’t poke that topic. Hayes was an amazing police officer. He seemed born to protect others. She could tell he missed it, the longing was there is his eyes whenever they talked about his life as a police officer, but she didn’t press him on why he’d walked away from his job. She understood the need to let go of an old life to make sure you survived in the new one. They passed a tired toddler crying as his mother tended to the scrape on his knee on the way out the parking lot.

“Ma’am, can I help?” Hayes asked the woman.

She glanced up and gave him a lopsided smile. “I’m all right, but thanks for the offer.”

He nodded, striding forward down the rows of parked cars, like his reaction was no big deal.

But it was. To Maisie. She laid her head on his shoulder. “You’re sweet, you know that?”

“By offering to help her?” Hayes asked.

“Most people wouldn’t do that.” Hayes did because he was a public servant. He was born from generations of cops. She dropped a kiss onto his muscled bicep and told him the God’s honest truth. “I’m happy you’re in my life.”

He stopped walking then and pulled her against him, and set those warm whiskey-colored eyes on her. “And I’m happy you’re in mine.” He kissed her forehead before leveling her with the sweetest smile. “Thank you for today. It’s been a long time since…”