Page 61 of Her Brother's Billionaire Best Friend

I put the gun down and turned to Laura. She was staring at me open-mouthed.

“So,” I said. “What was that about my yacht?”

At last, we went to find David and Kyle. He and Kyle were sitting at the hot dog stand. I winced when I saw Kyle’s foot in a plastercast.

“What the hell’s that?” said David, as Laura approached him with the enormous bear.

“My prize,” said Laura contentedly. She sat down.

“You want a hot dog?” said David. Then his eyes met mine, and he gave a tense smile. “Lucien. How are you, buddy?”

“Not bad,” I said. “Enjoying yourself?”

“Always do. Every year. Hey, how’d they manage to get a Ferris wheel in this year?”

Laura gave a grin, and looked at me. “Why don’t you ask Lucien?”

David looked at me and hunched his shoulders. “You?” he said.

“Afraid so,” I said uneasily. “I thought I’d better contribute a bit.”

“Your money,” said David nonchalantly. I felt a little stung, but I knew that it was just his fears about me. My old friend had lost much of his sense of humor since we’d parted ways years ago. But Kyle’s jaw dropped when he heard us talking.

“How are you, kid?” I said. “Climbed any mountains this week?”

“Not with my leg,” said Kyle coolly. “But the doc said I only have to wear this thing for a month. Maybe I can try again in the Fall.”

“Not likely,” murmured Laura, and I nodded.

“Save the exploring for when you’re with your uncle, huh?” I said. “My back was killing me after I had to pull you out of there.”

“You having fun, Lucien?” said David. “I would have thought a guy like you was a little too important to be hanging out with us townies.”

“David,” said Laura quickly, and shot a furious expression at him. “Be nice, huh?”

“I’m just saying,” said David.

“As a matter of fact,” I said, “Laura asked me to come.”

“Did she now?” said David, putting down his hot dog and looking at Laura. “My sister tell you that it’s a tradition to ask a guy to the fair with you? Remind me, Laura. Who was it who you went with the year you graduated college?”

Laura rolled her eyes. But I knew perfectly well who that was. If only David had known that the man Laura had gone with that year was the same man standing by the table now, weathering his scorn.

“Actually, in exchange for the bear,” I said, “I persuaded Laura to come out with me on the yacht this evening for the fireworks. Could I tempt you guys to join?”

Kyle gave his uncle a stare. “Can we, David?”

David shrugged. “I’d rather watch from the shore, if it’s all the same to you. Thanks for the offer.”

“Well,” said Laura tensely, “it might take us a while to get back in. Can you take Kyle home?”

David snorted. “Sure,” he said. “Kyle’s happy with me here. Aren’t you, Kyle?”

“Sure,” said Kyle. But his eyes said something different, and even if it was crazy, and even if I wanted to spend time with Laura, I bitterly regretted that David had let his pride get the better of him. I’d been looking forward to showing Kyle the boat.

“Well, see you later,” said Laura, as she stood up.

“Make sure you don’t forget your bear,” said David, and returned to eating as we wandered down to the shoreline.