Love, Albert Read online

  They reached the row of games and slowed down, pausing to watch the darts and holler at the dice. Placing imaginary bets on the spinning wheel of Crown and Anchor, but holding out for the rings that were calling his name.

  “Three hoops for a dollar,” a carny hollered and Vicky spun around.

  He wore a broad grin, a dingy shirt, and in his hands he held six bright orange rings. Behind him were four rows of evenly spaced Coke bottles and above that, three shelves of fuzzy green dragons with laughing eyes and big red tongues. Or perhaps they were flames. A sure sign that Reid was about to get burned.

  The young man cocked a brow at Reid and waved the rings back and forth like a snake charmer. “Two is all you need.” He leaned out a little farther. “Only two to win.”

  Reid handed Vicky the Midway Guide, gave the carny a bill and pushed up his sleeves. “Hope you like dragons.”

  She laughed when he took three rings. “You’re going to need more than that.”

  “Just pick the one you like,” he said, and she couldn’t believe it when the first ring slipped into place.

  “You’ve been practicing,” she said.

  “You think all those weekends at Kindergym count for nothing?” He tossed his head. “You should see me with a bean-bag.”

  He rolled his shoulders, rotated his wrists, and she remembered why he had always been the favorite dad at the rec center. She didn’t go to Kindergym anymore, or soccer. She went to swimming and dance class instead. Lessons he no longer attended once the kids’ activities were divvied up and sectioned off. Watching him, she couldn’t help thinking about what she was missing at the gym, and wondering if it was too late to change the rules now.

  She smiled when he missed the second shot. “I hear you’re good on a balance beam, too.”

  He sent her the kind of wicked grin that would have shocked them at the rec center. “Baby, I am good on anything.”

  She angled her body away from the carny, knowing she was blushing. Not because Reid had embarrassed her, but because it was true. She had the scratches on her furniture to prove it.

  “Just keep the rings coming,” she said to the carny. “He’s going to need them.”

  Reid growled and reached for her, but she spun away and kept going, refusing to look back at him or that silly grin. But she could feel his eyes on her all the way over to the Birthday Dice at the next booth. So she moved her hips, gave him something to watch and in her mind she heard him moan. Sweet and low, the way he did when she touched him just right.

  She put a hand to her chest, steadied her breath. Crazy notions for a separated woman. Especially since sex was the last thing she wanted. Well maybe not the last thing. A tax audit was probably –

  She gave her head a shake. The point was that while sex in the abstract was fine, healthy even, sex with Reid was out of the question. Granted, it would be fun. And wild. And hot enough to make her skin warm just thinking about it. But when it was over, nothing would be solved, nothing settled. They had proven that time and again. Even if he did have the most wonderful hands, gentle when they should be, rough when she –

  Vicky dabbed at the fine line of sweat on her upper lip and focused on the Birthday Dice. Maybe the lawyer was right. Maybe it was time to start getting out more. Find a man with both feet on the ground, a head that wasn’t always in the clouds. But she would definitely hold out for great hands.

  She stood a step back from the booth, watching people place bills on the months of the year, letting her face cool and her imagination quiet. Great sex might not be enough, but God, did she miss it.

  “Lady, you betting?”

  She looked up, confused. The old man behind the counter laughed and held out the big rubber birthday dice. “Go ahead. What have you got to lose?”

  What indeed.

  When she thought it was safe, she looked back at Reid. He raised his last ring, closed one eye, lined up the shot. He was indeed a beautiful man. Confident, masculine, too cocky by half.

  “Lady,” the carny said, “the idea is to throw it.”

  She moistened her lips, checked her stance. One night. No promises. Just a release. He’d probably go for that. Her lips twitched. He’d definitely go for that.

  “Just do it, honey,” the lady next to her whispered.

  She glanced up at the row of laughing dragons and knew exactly who was playing with fire.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, handing the ball to the woman. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I don’t gamble anymore.”

  She nodded in sympathy. “You got a problem, huh?”

  “A problem?” Vicky wiped her palms on her jeans. “Oh, yeah. A big one.”

  The woman’s face went all soft and worried. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I’m getting help.”

  The carny threw up his hands. “Are we playing here tonight ladies or not?”

  “Keep your shirt on,” the woman hollered and turned back to Vicky. “Just be strong. You can do it, honey.”

  “Thank you,” Vicky said, and jumped when Reid propped a dragon on her shoulder.

  “What do you think? Does he go with the living room?”

  Vicky tucked the toy under her arm. “Definitely not. But Jason will love him.”

  “Which leaves you and Kira.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” she said and strolled away in case he tried to slip an arm around her waist or across her shoulders. The key to success was not crowds, she realized, but distance. Both from him and hotel rooms where her traitorous imagination would have far too much room to grow.

  Luckily, the midway was open for another few hours. Plenty of time to strengthen her resolve.

  You can do it honey.

  “What say we take in some exhibits?” She opened the Midway Guide. Kept walking while she skimmed the list. “The Mystery of Atlantis looks good. So does House of the Rising Sun, booth twenty-five. Next row over.”

  He shrugged. “Sounds good to me, but I still have to win something for Kira.”

  Reid settled into the seat beside Vicky and held up the baggie. “Kira is going to love this.”

  The goldfish inside the bag flirted and blew kisses, her gossamer fins moving slowly back and forth, just treading water, biding her time. Which made sense, there being no reason to hurry, and nowhere else to go.

  “Kira isn’t even going to see it.” Vicky wedged the dragon in between them while the attendant lowered the metal bar and locked it into place. She gave the bar a shake. “You’re sure this is right? It feels awfully loose.”

  “It’s fine,” Reid said.

  The operator called, “Next” and the ferris wheel turned.

  Vicky squeezed her eyes shut and gripped the bar harder as the floor fell away and the car lurched up to the next position.

  “Relax,” Reid said. “Be like the fish.”

  “That fish will probably die before we get home,” Vicky muttered and glanced over at the bag.

  He’d won the fish in a weight guessing booth. Couldn’t have picked the teddy bear or the stuffed dog, nope, it had to be the goldfish that looked like Cleo in Pinocchio. “Poor thing,” Vicky said. “Probably wishes she was back in her bowl.”

  “I doubt that.” He gave the fish a closer look and tucked the bag in behind the dragon. “Plus, I’m sure she’ll survive the trip. She looks like a great traveler to me.”

  “Must be nice to be so sure all the time.” Vicky peeked over the side. “What kind of maintenance do you think they do on these things?”

  He laughed and slipped an arm around her. “I’m glad this was your idea. I’d be feeling pretty guilty otherwise.”

  She didn’t resist when he drew her toward him, which came as a surprise considering she’d been doing nothing else since they left the ring toss. Sure, she’d chatted and laughed on every ride, been fascinated by every exhibit, especially sumo-suit wrestling for some reason. But every time he tried to touch her she’d moved off, keeping her distance with that damn drag
on between them all the time.

  He wasn’t sure what had happened or when. But if she wanted to be close to him now, who was he to argue? Although he had to admit, she didn’t look very comfortable. She was tense and rigid, eyes fixed on the car above them.

  “I just remembered it differently,” she said. “Less creaky. More solid.” She gasped and grabbed the side when the ferris wheel swung up another level. “And smoother. Definitely smoother ”

  She drew in a breath, blew it out slowly and consciously relaxed her shoulders. “Don’t worry, I’m getting used to it,” she said. “In fact, I like it. Great view. Comfy seats.” She pressed a hand to her stomach when they swung up again. “And don’t you love the rocking motion?” She nodded, as though convincing herself. “We’ll have to take the kids on one of these. They’re old enough now, don’t you think? Kira, at least. Poor Jason will have to wait a while.” She gripped the bar, swallowed hard. “Hold on, here we go again.”

  Reid wasn’t sure what she was doing, but he’d known for a while that something wasn’t right. Granted it was too late to get back on the road, even if they had found the car, but she hadn’t once suggested they borrow a phone to find out. Nor was she in a hurry to go back to the hotel to call the kids. He had no idea why she was so determined to stay till the carnival closed, or why she wouldn’t look at him now.

  She gave a breathy little laugh when the car went up again. “Look out there. You can see forever. Maybe we can catch a glimpse of Seaport.”

  He brushed a hand across her cheek, watched her close her eyes. “Vicky,” he said softly, “what’s wrong?”

  “It’s just been a while.” She flashed him a quick, tight smile. “Too bad this will be the last ride of the night.” She punched a fist in the air. “Woo-hoo. Ferris wheel.”

  It was a good try, valiant even, but didn’t help her cause at all.

  She moistened her lips and looked away. Pushed his arm from her shoulder and sat up taller. That was when he realized it wasn’t fear of ferris wheels or heights or anything else that was driving her. It was fear of him, of them. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, and the cramped quarters of the ferris wheel had been a mistake.

  The wheel turned once more, taking them to the top and holding them there, suspended, waiting, while the moon looked on, and Kira’s wish stood within their grasp.

  He remembered what Zack had said about courting her, imagining they were brand-new, with no history and no scars. He reached for her, suddenly awkward and clumsy, his fingers trembling as he lifted her chin, turned her to face him. “Everything will be fine,” he said, his voice no more than a whisper. “Albert, the fish. Even you and me.”

  He smiled and Vicky saw it all in his eyes. The love, the need, and beneath it all, the same blind faith she’d seen in Kira’s eyes the night she made the wish. A belief in love so strong and compelling it was hard to look away, to tell herself they were both wrong, especially when part of her wanted nothing more than to be swept up and carried along. To look up at the moon and simply slide back to where they’d been.

  He drew her to him, kissed her lips, and the ferris wheel turned, plunging her down, down, down. His hands were on her face, his touch softer more tender than any man’s had a right to be. And she was falling hard and fast, with the wind in her hair, and the ground rushing up to meet them. Unable to stop what was happening as they swung up again, going around and around again and again. And still he kissed her, making her want to hold on tight and believe they would be fine. The two of them, together again, with all of her dreams tangled up inside his. Lost in the wanting, the passion, the breathless, clinging need.

  Suddenly the air was still around them, the ground solid beneath her feet. She pulled away, opened her eyes, and a burst of applause made her jump.

  “Welcome back.” The operator winked and lifted the bar. “Helluva’ way to end the night, that’s for sure!”

  “I have never been so embarrassed,” Vicky said as the Ribfest hay wagon rolled to a stop in front of Louis’ Dry Goods.

  “Sure you have,” Reid said “Remember that time in Naples?”

  “Never mind.” Vicky jumped off with the dragon in her hand, leaving Reid to bring the fish. He smiled at the other couples on the wagon, the ones who wouldn’t be getting off until Diamond Lil’s, and stepped down carefully to keep the water from jostling too much.

  “All those people,” Vicky was saying, “standing around gawking, laughing.” She lifted Jason’s dragon, stared at it as though surprised to find it in her hand, then shoved it under her arm and bent to brush hay from her jeans. “And if I ever find out who started that cheer… ”

  Reid thought it was a great cheer, but strong self-preservation instincts, honed by eight years of experience, kept him from saying so. Or smiling.

  She looked up at him, checking, no doubt, still pink-cheeked and flustered, even though the ferris wheel and Ribfest were far behind them. He liked to think it was his kiss that gave her such color. A kiss so soft and deep, filled with longing and regret and things he couldn’t begin to put a name to that he could taste it even now, and wanted more. Wanted to hold her close, feel her skin beneath his hands and lose himself inside her. Caring only that she wanted him, loved him. And would give them one more chance.

  “It’s all your fault,” she said, and struck out for the hotel. “You agreed. No touching and no kissing.”

  He and the fish fell into step beside her. “That was a ground rule,” he said. “We were in the air”

  She couldn’t hold back a smile even as she picked up the pace. “I am going to bed.”

  “Wait for me,” he called and caught the dragon easily when she threw it.

  The hotel lobby was quiet, the front desk empty, but in the restaurant beyond the swinging saloon doors the music was loud and every table full.

  “I will never get to sleep,” she muttered on her way to the stairs.

  “You can’t go yet anyway.” He held up the bag when she turned. “She can’t spend the night in this.”

  “Put her in a glass.”

  “She’s too big for a glass. We need a proper bowl.” He handed her the fish. “I’ll see what I can find at the restaurant while you look for some food behind the desk.”

  She glanced over at the aquarium where Oscar was still swimming back and forth, back and forth. “That thing eats meat.”

  “Maybe it needs fiber too. It’s worth a look.”

  While Reid crossed the lobby, Vicky and the fish ducked around to the other side of the desk. Under Oscar’s tank was another, smaller one with goldfish inside and a tin of food sitting outside.

  “Find anything?” Reid asked, making her jump.

  “Just this.” She rose with a tin in her hand. “They have goldfish under there. Why don t we just put this one in with … ” Her eyes moved to Oscar. “Oh, my God.”

  “I guess it’s that or tourists.” He took the fish from Vicky and held up a water jug. “You think she’ll like it?”

  “She’s a carnival fish. She won’t last the night regardless.” Vicky dropped the tin into the water jug and came out from behind the desk. “You should have picked the teddy bear.”

  Reid and the fish followed her up the stairs and along the hall. He had the grace to stop at his own door and she should have left it alone. Should have let them muddle through on their own, but in the off chance the fish was a fighter, she paused at her own door and looked over at them.

  “You have to let her get used to her new environment gradually. Try to get the water as close to the temperature of hers as you can, then open the baggie and put the whole thing inside. And I have to warn you that she won’t take too many of these changes.”

  Reid looked down at the fish. “How come you know so much about fish?”

  She shoved her key in the lock. “We had an aquarium when I was a kid.”

  “Why didn’t I know that?”

  “I guess there will always be things about each other we don’t
know.” She opened the door and glanced back. “The message light is flashing. Wait here.”

  Reid took the fish along the hall to Vicky’s door, propped it open with his foot and waited to be invited. It was after all, her room, and a man who was courting would do well to remember his manners.

  She pointed to the bag they had filled at the dry goods store earlier. “You might as well go through that now. Take what’s yours.”

  He tossed the bag on the bed but couldn’t open it without putting the fish down somewhere, so he sat down at the desk, watching her smile broaden as the message played.

  “It’s Kira,” she said and handed him the receiver. “Hit three to replay it. You want me to take care of the fish while you listen?”

  He nodded and hit three while she went into the bathroom with the jug and the fish and the food.

  “Mommy? Daddy? It’s Kira.”

  As if he could ever mistake that voice for anyone else.

  He sat down on the bed and emptied the bag while Kira rattled on. Finding out that Jason was in bed, Oma fell asleep on the couch, and Vicky had changed her brand of toothpaste – just one more thing he didn’t know about her.

  Kira was saying goodnight when Vicky returned with the fish in the jug. Reid hung up the phone and got to his feet.

  “She’s a little shocked right now,” Vicky said, “but she’s doing okay. The real problem will come in the morning when you have to return the jug, or steal it.” She held it out to him. “Good night Reid. And don’t forget to return the tin of food. “

  He stared at her, on unfamiliar ground all of a sudden. He hadn’t thought about the art of seduction or the ways to a woman’s heart for such a long time. Right now, he wasn’t even sure that he’d ever known them. If this had been any other trip, any other hotel room, he would simply pick her up and carry her to the bed. They’d open the wine her mother had sent, turn out some of the lights, and enjoy each other all night long, exhausting the bottle long before they exhausted themselves. But this wasn’t any other trip. And if he played it wrong, there would be no more hotel rooms.