Dandelions on the Road

by Brooke Williams

  Eva’s mouth dropped. The bowling ball game was impossible. She’d never seen anyone do it with such ease, but that wasn’t what caught her off guard. She took a few steps back to stand where she and her sisters had so many years ago. The way the light caught his hair and the look in his eyes as he turned around…no way, it couldn’t be.

  Cane sheepishly put his hands in his pockets. “I think I owe you an apology.” He accepted a stuffed dog from the worker.

  “Why?” Eva asked as she approached him.

  “I took advantage of the situation all those years ago. I was a foolish young boy and I saw a pretty girl and tried to work my way into her heart with a stuffed animal.” He pushed the dog into Eva’s hands.

  “Aww, how cute.” She stroked its soft fur.

  “I distracted her with my charm and grabbed the opportunity when I saw it.” Cane grasped Eva’s elbow and led her over to the stand that featured the giant bears. “And when I realized her sisters weren’t around, I threw myself at her.”

  Eva looked up into his eyes. They were alone, except for the cameras and she was captivated. She couldn’t believe it had been him all those years ago. Cane was the mysterious boy who gave her the first kiss she’d ever had and then disappeared. The boy she’d marveled over and thought about from time to time ever since. And he was standing before her now, a grown man.

  An electric current coursed through her body as Cane dipped his head. “I won’t run off this time, promise.”

  Eva sighed as their lips met. She stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, holding the dog with one hand. One of Cane’s arms circled her waist while his other hand cupped the side of her face. The kiss was deep, but fast, much as it had been over a decade earlier. Eva sighed in disappointment when he broke away, but his arms held her tightly against his body and his face remained close.

  “I can’t believe that was our second kiss,” he said breathlessly. “But this time, I’m sticking around for a third.” He pecked her lips. “And a fourth.” He brushed his mouth against hers. “And as many more as you’ll let me have.” Cane pressed his lips against hers again, but didn’t pull away. Instead, he deepened the kiss and Eva tightened her arms around his neck.

  Her emotions whirled. She was feeling so much at once. She still had lingering confusion from her time with Brian on the swing, but she also felt happy about her connection with Cane. They not only had great chemistry now, but they had a history, however brief.

  Eva turned her mind off and enjoyed the present. She let herself get wrapped up in the moment, forgetting the cameras. In that instant, it was all about Cane. And there was no one she’d rather be with than him.

  WHEN BRIAN FINISHED interviews with Owen and Harris in Outlaw Canyon, Eva and Cane returned. He could tell something had changed between them. Their hands folded together naturally and the way she looked at Cane disturbed him. She had a stuffed dog and the camera operator accompanying the pair on their time away winked and nodded at Mike. What was that supposed to mean?

  Eva caught Brian’s eye and quickly looked away. She stood in a circle with the three men. Mike tapped his watch. Their time at Adventureland was coming to a close. Brian glanced at Eva once more and saw her fingers cross behind her back. He rushed over.

  “Need something?” he placed his mouth close to her ear.

  “A dandelion.” Eva glanced furtively in his direction.

  Brian turned on his heel and left the group without another word. “Dandelion, Mike.” Mike was the producer, let him get the stupid weed for her.

  Brian stood with his arms crossed as Mike delivered a wilted dandelion to the bachelorette.

  “I’m so glad to have each of you on this date. Today has been a blast. And while I’ve enjoyed getting to know all of you, I felt like I needed to give this dandelion to one man in particular. And I wanted to do it here, in Adventureland, where our paths crossed again.”

  Brian saw a smile spread across Cane’s face.

  “Cane, will you accept this dandelion?” Eva asked as the weed bent over in her hand. “Sad as it may be?”

  Cane chuckled and took a step forward. “I would love nothing more.”

  The dandelion exchanged hands and Cane kissed Eva on the cheek. He whispered something into her ear and she blushed.

  “I’m sorry to make the rest of you wait,” Eva addressed the group again. “But rest assured, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment we shared today.

  Brian hung his head. Was she including their moment on the swing? She certainly was avoiding his stare.

  The group filed out of the park and into the waiting vans. Brian settled into the driver’s seat and listened to the men recount their experiences. Harris and Owen filled Eva in on their time in the Outlaw Canyon while she was with Cane. Brian noticed Cane didn’t divulge details about his one on one time with Eva.

  Brian deftly delivered the group back to the hotel. They had an hour break and then they’d head out on the two on one date at the balloon festival. That gave him sixty minutes to get his head on straight and forget the softness of her hair between his fingers and the silk of her skin under his palm...one hour to forget the way her lips felt against his.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  EVA FELT LIKE she was still on the tilt-a-whirl ride when she arrived back in her room. Her mind spun and she didn’t know which direction to take. Whenever she thought about Cane, her heart fluttered. She genuinely liked Owen and Harris, but Cane made her weak in the knees. She wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up the last man standing on the show.

  Eva enjoyed those emotions for a moment while she washed her face and re-applied makeup for the evening. Then she turned her thoughts to Brian as she changed into jeans and a peach blouse and grabbed a jacket for the evening date. She paused by the door that connected their rooms and raised her hand to knock, but froze the motion mid-air. What would she say? Gee that was a nice kiss, but I’m dating seven other men right now and I just don’t have room in my life for another? She pulled her hand back. Surely Brian knew he’d crossed the line…and she’d gone right over the edge with him. It was a fleeting moment, a nice one, but one simple moment. That was all.

  Eva sat down on her bed and opened the notebook Mike had supplied her. It had pictures and bios of the men to help her learn their names and keep the details straight. She flipped through the book until she found Carlos and grabbed a pen from the end table. She hashed a large X through his face. “Hope you and Bella are very happy.” Eva felt sorry for the woman. Either she didn’t know what her boyfriend was up to and would be hurt when the show aired, or she knew and put up with it.

  Eva turned the page, landed on Kurt and smiled. She would see Kurt that night. He was a sweet, caring man. She knew love with him would be something deep and wonderful. Whether or not he was the one for her was yet to be decided, but the potential was there. She turned the page and skipped over Cane. She already knew how she felt about him. When she landed on Pete, she stifled a laugh.

  Poor Pete. He obviously had an appetite, but apparently needed to learn how to chew more thoroughly. Hopefully he learned his lesson and would take smaller bites in the future.

  Eva checked the clock. She still had thirty minutes before the evening events began. She laid back on the bed and put her hands behind her head, allowing herself a few moments to daydream about what the night might bring.

  BRIAN KNOCKED ON the hotel room door, the camera whirring behind him. The two men going on the date that evening had to know they were the ones, but Eva wrote invitations to each, which Mike insisted Brian deliver.

  The door swung open and Kurt blinked into the bright light the camera shone into his eyes.

  “Kurt, Eva wanted you to have this.” Brian stuck the folded card out.

  Kurt took the card, opened it, and read it to himself.

  “Mind telling us what it says?” Brian prompted.

  “Oh, sure. Dear Kurt,” he read, “I would love it if you’d join me at the Ind
ianola Balloon Festival tonight. Who knows, maybe we’ll even find love in the air. Yours truly, Eva.”

  “Your ride will be ready in an hour. How do you feel about being on a date with Eva and just one other man?”

  “It’ll be nice to have a smaller group.”

  “This date is a little different than the others,” Brian explained. “There will be a dandelion involved, but only one man can get it. The other one has to leave the show.”

  “Oh. I didn’t remember that.” Kurt looked down at the note. “Pete’s going too, right?”

  “Correct.”

  “Now I’m nervous.”

  Brian put a hand on Kurt’s shoulder. “Don’t be nervous, just be yourself. If you and Eva were meant to be, it’ll happen. No one will stand in your way.”

  Kurt brightened. “Thanks, man. That was just what I needed to hear.”

  “See you in an hour.” Brian waited until Kurt disappeared into his room and closed the door behind him. “One down, one to go.” He motioned for the camera operator to follow him down the hall to the second door.

  Brian pulled the other note from his jacket pocket and knocked on the door. Pete appeared with a can of pop in his hand. He took a swig.

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  “Hello, Pete. Eva asked me to deliver this note.”

  “A note from a girl. I feel like I’m in high school all over again.” Pete hid his mouth behind his hand and let out a girlish giggle. “Did she tell you she liked me? Should I ask her out?”

  Brian scoffed. “Just read the note.”

  Pete stifled a burp. “Pardon me,” he said formally. He opened the note and read. “Oo, I was right. She likes me. She wants me to take her to the balloon festival tonight. She says stuff about love.”

  Brian nodded slowly. “You and Kurt will accompany Eva to the Indianola Balloon festival. Your ride leaves in an hour.”

  “Aw, Kurt too? That bites.”

  “I can understand why you’d feel that way. Keep in mind that only one of you will return to the hotel and continue on the show.”

  “What about my stuff?” Pete asked.

  Brian’s eyes trailed down the man’s body. He wondered if he brought much other than t-shirts and jeans. Leaving it behind might be for the best.

  “You should pack your suitcase and leave it by the door of your room, just in case. Even if you come back, we’re leaving tomorrow afternoon.”

  Pete took another swig of pop. “I better get started. See you in an hour?”

  “An hour.”

  Brian turned to the camera operator. “We good here?”

  “Got it.”

  “See you later.” Brian jogged to the steps and took them two at a time to his floor. He was ready for a break from the show. He wanted to change, freshen up and remind himself he was a professional. He slipped up with Eva. He let his feelings out and he would kick himself until the minute the show wrapped. But from here on out, it was all business. Nothing but business.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  EVA WAS THE first one to the van other than a few crewmembers. She felt like she had a good handle on where things stood with the bachelors she took to Adventureland as well as those who went on the comedy date. Now she wanted to explore things with Kurt and Pete. The balloon festival would be the perfect place to have time with each man.

  When Pete lumbered out the hotel door, Eva waved. He was a man’s man, no doubt about it. There was no other way to describe him. Kurt quick-stepped behind him and completely disappeared between Pete’s wide shoulders. Eva watched their feet. There was such a contrast between the two men. Pete was broad and had a big personality and a booming voice. Kurt was much smaller and soft spoken. He had a gentle spirit and Eva wanted to know more about his background.

  Making a decision between them was like choosing between night and day, two polar opposites. She hoped the date would give her an obvious option. One or the other, did she prefer cookies or ice cream? One wasn’t better than the other, they were completely different. It was a matter of preference.

  Kurt stumbled over Pete’s large foot as he tried to step around him to greet Eva. “I’m excited to be here tonight.”

  “I’m glad to have you.”

  “Thanks for the invite.” Pete grunted.

  The three climbed into the van. Brian already sat at the helm. Eva hadn’t noticed him exit the hotel. He must have come out earlier and stuffed himself in the vehicle. Was he hiding from her?

  Eva caught up with Pete and Kurt on the drive to Indianola. The men had been stuck in the hotel room for a day and a half while the others enjoyed their dates. Eva knew once the entire experience was over, she was going to collapse and sleep for a week. Until then, she had to carry on and give everything she had to the process.

  She caught Brian’s eye in the rearview mirror and silently raised crossed fingers. She shrugged and gave him a questioning look. He nodded and the lines around his eyes creased. She bet the dimple in his cheek deepened. Their sign was still in place, despite what happened between them, he was ready to help her.

  Eva directed her attention back to Kurt and Pete. The vehicle turned into a big field and hit a pothole, jolting it to the left. Eva jerked and fell over, landing soundly in Kurt’s lap.

  “Sorry,” she said as she righted herself.

  “Hey, that’s what I’m here for.”

  “You’re here for me to crush you?”

  “I’m here hoping you’ll fall for me.” Kurt blushed.

  Eva tilted her head and put her hand over her heart. He was such a sweetheart. She looked out the window and saw the field stretching far and wide before them. Hot air balloons lay all over the grass, their baskets upright beside them. There were also trucks scattered about with more baskets and balloons unloading. Eva could only imagine the spectacular view they would have when the balloons inflated and filled the sky.

  The van lurched to a stop. “Everyone out,” Brian called over his shoulder.

  So much for the polite chauffeur, Eva climbed out followed by Kurt and Pete. They stood by the van chatting while Mike got the equipment and crew arranged near the other vehicle.

  Once two cameras were on them, Brian stood taller and spoke. “This evening, you’re in for a treat. You will experience the Indianola Balloon festival in a way most people only dream about. Spectators come from all over the country to watch the balloons take flight. You will see that flight, but you will have an even better view.” Brian pointed to the sky. “We arranged for you to fly in a passenger balloon. Most of the balloons at the festival are in the contest. They race, drop flags, and participate in a number of competitions all week long. But a couple of balloons take people for rides and tonight, that’s just what you’ll get.”

  Eva tried to gauge her date’s reactions. Pete looked slightly green while Kurt looked excited.

  “There’s one dandelion on this date and Eva will choose between the two of you. She can make her decision any time. The man who receives the dandelion goes on with the show. The man who does not will return home.” Brian raised his palms to the sky. “With that being said, it looks like the balloon-meister has a green flag flying. That means all systems are a-go.”

  “Balloon-meister?” Pete squeaked.

  “These balloons can’t fly in high winds. If the winds are any stronger than ten miles an hour, they stay grounded.” Brian explained.

  “So it’s possible it’ll go up? The wind, I mean? Before we fly?” Pete stammered.

  “Anything’s possible. But for now, everything looks good.” Brian motioned toward the field. “Go take a closer look at your ride.”

  BRIAN SHADED HIS eyes from the sun as Eva approached the balloon field with Kurt and Pete following her. Pete looked pale and terrified, but Kurt seemed up to the challenge. Brian wasn’t sure Pete would go through with it, but he looked forward to finding out. He assumed Pete had a fear of heights and wondered if Mike knew about it. That could be why Mike pushed to have Pete on this dat
e instead of the others. He was searching for drama.

  Brian stayed behind the cameras and heard Eva gasp when she saw how many balloons were on the field. “There must be dozens of them,” she exclaimed. He wanted to conduct an interview with each bachelor before the launch. Pete was staying well behind Eva, probably to hide the changing tones of his skin. Brian grabbed his elbow.

  “Care to chat for a minute?” he asked.

  “Be right back,” Pete said to Eva.

  Brian noticed Kurt place his arm on Eva’s shoulder as he and Pete walked away. Brian jerked his head at a camera operator and the crewmember followed the pair. Once they were up the fence a ways with a few balloons blowing up in the background, Brian stopped and the cameraman adjusted the lens.

  “How do you feel about being on a two-on-one date?” Brian asked. He’d get to the balloon aspect in a minute.

  “Well, I figure I have a fifty-fifty chance of coming out the other side. So far, Eva hasn’t seen the best of me, but I’m hoping she will tonight, though I’m not sure flying in a balloon will bring that out.”

  “You aren’t looking forward to the ride?”

  “Quite the opposite. When I read the card from Eva that said she hoped to find love in the air, I never expected to actually go up into the air.” Pete shrugged. “I’m a big guy, Gravity isn’t my friend.”

  Brian chuckled. “What are you going to do?”

  “You know what they say,” Pete’s cheeks puffed out. “Fake it till you make it. I’m a man, I can handle it.”

  One of the striped balloons began inflating behind Pete’s left shoulder. The sound of the fire startled him and he turned.

  “I guess I just don’t like the idea of floating through the air with nothing keeping me up there other than a tarp and some fire.”

  Brian pursed his lips. “I can see your point.” He clapped a hand on Pete’s shoulder. “Thanks, man. You can go back to Eva. Would you mind sending Kurt over?”

  “Sure.”