Happy Mother's Day: Ready for Romance / Ready for Marriage

“Great, first you fill me up with popcorn and cotton candy, then you insist on dragging me onto one of the biggest roller coasters in the country. That’s not smart, Damian, not smart at all.”

The crowds were thicker than ever, and Damian took her hand as he led her toward the ride. The line was long, and the wait was sure to be at least thirty minutes. A list of arguments crowded Jessica’s mind, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good. The determined set of Damian’s jaw told her that much.

“What am I supposed to do with the elephant?” she asked, clinging to it tightly as they edged closer.

“Hold it.”

“If I’m holding the elephant, how am I going to hold on?”

“I’ll hold you,” he assured her calmly. “Stop looking so worried.”

“I should tell you, Damian Dryden, the last time I rode on this thing I had a near-death experience. I don’t suppose you know when this ride had a safety inspection.”

“Thursday.”

“You don’t know that!”

He laughed, seeming to enjoy her unease. “True, but it sounded good. Listen, this roller coaster has been running for twenty years without a single mishap. Well, there was that one time …”

“Damian!”

“I was joking.”

“Don’t tease,” Jessica muttered furiously. She flattened her palm against her stomach and sighed loudly. “My stomach doesn’t feel right.”

“You won’t be sick.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Experience. Anticipation’s the worst part. The ride itself is fun. The only problem is that it doesn’t last long enough. The whole thing is over in no time.”

For all her complaining, as the minutes passed, Jessica found herself beginning to look forward to their turn. At last the silver cars came to an abrupt halt in front of them.

“Just promise me you won’t fling your arms up in the air in that bizarre descent ritual,” Jessica murmured as the bar fell into place, securing them in the seat.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Damian said, “not when I promised to hold on to you.”

Jessica colored slightly, but didn’t respond. She dared not look down. She generally avoided heights, which meant she was trapped into closing her eyes. The stuffed elephant was cradled in her arms, much the same way Damian was cradling her.

The cars slowly made their ascent, chugging up the steep incline, making a straining noise as if the weight was too much to bear. The line of cars topped the peak and started its rapid descent. A scream of excitement froze in her throat as they plummeted downward. Damian’s arm tightened around her shoulders. Her free hand gripped his, her nails digging into his fingers, but if she was hurting him, he gave no indication. Just when it seemed they were about to break the sound barrier, they climbed up another steep grade, which slowed the momentum, but once they reached the top they were cast on a crazy twisting, turning journey that left her stomach far behind. Her eyes were closed so tightly her face ached.

When at last they rolled to a halt, Jessica’s shoulders surged forward, then sagged with a twinge of disappointment as she realized the ride was over.

“Well?” Damian asked, taking her hand to help her climb out of the cramped car. “Did you or did you not have fun?”

Her legs felt a little shaky once she started walking. “Give me a minute—I don’t know what I’m feeling.”

Damian laughed. “Admit it. Don’t be shy. It was fun, wasn’t it?”

“Yes,” Jessica said with ill grace.

Damian laughed again and tucked his arm around her waist. His action seemed so natural, especially since it was evident that her knees had yet to right themselves. Although his touch was automatic, it had a curious effect on Jessica. She enjoyed being linked with Damian, enjoyed having his body close to hers. She’d experienced it while they were dancing, too.

“You ready to head back?” Damian asked as they neared the brightly lit arched entry to Cannon Beach.

She agreed with a nod, but in fact she didn’t want the night to end. Their time together had been perfect. Perhaps now Damian would understand that it was his company she sought and not his brother’s. Perhaps now he’d view her as a woman and not the pesky little girl next door.

And maybe Evan’s obvious attraction to Ramona would blossom into something more, and the Drydens would stop looking to Jessica for solutions. She sincerely hoped that would be the case. A man always thrived on a challenge, and the artist’s daughter might be just the thing Evan needed.

Damian and Jessica walked along the sawdust-covered ground of the parking lot until they got to his car. The lights from the carnival lit up the night sky, and the sounds droned on behind her.

“I had a marvelous time,” she told Damian as he started the engine.

“Me, too,” he said. “It’s been years since I’ve gone to Cannon Beach. Years since—” He stopped abruptly.

Jessica was reminded of what she’d heard about Damian—that he worked too hard and didn’t take time to enjoy life. It felt good to know that Damian had enjoyed her company. The memory of his laughter produced a sudden smile. He didn’t laugh often enough, and when he did she felt as if she’d been rewarded with a priceless gift.

Damian drove Jessica to her apartment building. It was after eleven by then, but she was keyed up with excitement. Somehow she felt it would all end when Damian went home, and she wasn’t ready to let that happen.

“Do you want to come up?” she asked, not really expecting he would, but hoping she could change his mind.

He glanced her way as though judging the sincerity of her offer. “All right.”

“I’ll put on a pot of coffee, and you can gloat over how much I enjoyed the roller coaster.”

“I’ll gloat, coffee or not.” He found a parking spot on the street, got out of the car and then went around to open her door. A true gentleman, she thought not for the first time.

Laughing and joking they strolled toward her building. One of her neighbors held the door for them and smiled at Jessica and the purple elephant.

The laughing and teasing continued as they stepped into the elevator for the ride up to the tenth floor. The doors glided shut and Jessica slumped against the mirrored wall in mock exhaustion.

“You sure you don’t want to close your eyes?” he said.

“Why?”

“This elevator is moving at death-defying speeds. Who knows the last time it was checked for safety.”

“Thursday” came her glib reply.

Damian laughed delightedly.

“I don’t know,” she teased. “You might be right.” Jokingly she squinted her eyes shut, but when she did, Damian kissed her.

It took Jessica a moment to realize what had happened. Damian had actually kissed her. It was a simple, uncomplicated kiss, the kind a brother gives a sister. One pair of lips touching another.

Only it didn’t feel simple.

If anything, it left her longing for much, much more. Dumbstruck, she stared up at him, not knowing how to respond.