Page 53 of Protect Me
“Whoops.” I grin up at him and then head back into my room, grabbing a sweatshirt and leggings. “I’ll just be a minute,” I call out before hurrying into the bathroom.
I have no idea when they managed it, but someone’s already repaired the door so it latches now. For some reason, that makes me smile.
I change and wash the rest of my makeup off then pull my hair out of the tight bun from before. It falls in tangled waves, but I don’t care. I feel free. When I’m finished, I re-emerge and find Duncan waiting inside my apartment. He looks serious, but then he always looks like that, so I brush it aside, determined not to let him ruin my mood.
“Ready?” he asks, sliding his phone away again.
“You don’t have to come,” I tell him. “I can find my way alone.”
His brow lifts.
“Right. Babysitters,” I remember. “You don’t mind?”
“I’m happy to be wherever you are.” His words are quiet and serious. I can feel how much he means them, too. But it’s the look in his eye that has me shuddering with the intensity of him.
Perhaps I’m not the only caged animal in this room.
“Me too,” I tell him honestly.
A moment of silence passes between us. Then it’s him breaking the spell and reaching for the door. I follow him out, heart thudding. And, for the first time in a long time, my magic stirs.
I ignore it, focusing on my breath as Duncan leads me down the stairs and out the doors to the adjacent lot where the carnival is going strong. We’re just reaching the entrance when Bracken appears from the direction of the Big Top.
“Hey,” I call as he falls into step with me.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he says. “You looked amazing up there tonight. Like you were born for it.”
“Thank you.” My smile is wide. And I straighten, proud of my performance and happy as hell he witnessed it. “I felt amazing doing it.”
“So, circus life agrees with you, huh?”
“I think I’m officially addicted.”
He laughs. “Feeling good?”
“I feel like I could conquer the damn world right now,” I tell him. “Or at least this carnival.”
He grins and slings an arm around my shoulders. “Come on. You can win me a stuffed rabbit or something.”
I smile up at him. “Deal.”
Duncan trails behind us as Bracken and I walk the aisles of games and attractions. The atmosphere is chaotic but fun. The music from all the different booths overlaps with one another, each competing for attention. Even the lights are designed to distract and lure. It’s a perfect fit for my mood.
“Where’s Killian?” I ask.
“Running an errand,” Bracken says. “He’ll find us later.”
“Good. I think I want to beat each of you at a carnival game tonight.” I clap my hands together, excitement thrumming through my veins.
His brow lifts. “You realize we’ve had years to perfect our carnival game skills, right?”
“Maybeyouhave,” I admit. “But something tells me Killian and Duncan aren’t exactly out here throwing darts at balloons every night.”
“You’re not wrong,” he says wryly. “Come on then. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
While we walk, I recognize a few of the performers milling around the crowded aisles too. I spot Fiona still in her costume and armed with her knives, and before I can reach her to say hello, one of the guests stops her and asks if she’ll throw a knife at an apple on his head. She enthusiastically agrees.
I turn away, not sure that’s my particular thrill ride.