by Sable Hunter
Bryn saw the operator’s face drop. The smirk was gone now, and he gave Denver the evil eye.
Bryn turned to look at him herself.
“Trust me,” Denver said with a wink.
Bryn wheeled back around and did as she was advised, letting go with her last dart as hard as possible and popping a balloon on the outside row just as Denver told her to.
“We have a winner,” the operator said with very little vim or vigor this time.
Bryn beamed to see her dart stuck right in the middle of the gold star that had been behind her balloon. “I’ll take one of the banana men,” she said with a smirk of her own.
Begrudgingly, the operator turned over her prize and gave them both a look that said they were no longer welcome at his game.
“How did you know there’d be a winner on the outside?” Bryn needed to know when they were clear of the booth.
“All of these games are rigged. That’s the way they make their money.”
Bryn knew she’d lived a sheltered life in the convent and she was eager to learn more about this side of human nature. “Explain please.”
“I will, if you’ll eat.” Denver was going to make sure she was fed. “You’re too excited to even realize you’re hungry.” As they stood in line to get a corndog, he told her the ropes. “It’s kinda like the basketball game, except in this instance, the balloons are underinflated, the darts are dull, and the best prizes are always on the outside.” She gave him an inquisitive look. “Most people will throw toward the middle of the board. More balloons mean better odds of hitting one, right?”
“I suppose so.”
“It’s a natural way to think. So, the operators put the best prizes on the outside thinking most people will aim for the middle and if they do aim for the outside, they’ll most likely miss.”
“How do you know all of this?”
“I worked as a carny for a while.”
“You? What did you do, run away and join the circus at a young age, Mr. Bolden?” She started to laugh but he didn’t join in.
“Something like that.”
Sensing his change in mood, she sought to distract him. “Let’s ride the carousel. Okay?”
Denver knew he couldn’t tell her no, about anything. “Sure, that’s a kiddie ride. We’ll probably get laughed at for riding it. But for you, I don’t mind looking like a fool.”
“Thanks!” She laughed when he pooched his lips out like hers.
Once they were aboard, Bryn chose a white horse with flowers in its mane. When Denver started to mount the horse next to it, she stopped him. “No, ride behind me.” She pointed at an elderly couple who were riding double. “Like them. I want you to hold me please.”
“Now, this doesn’t seem so bad,” he muttered as he placed their oversized bananas on a sleigh bench next to them. “This bench is for grannies to sit in and watch their grandkids, but it will do to babysit our prizes.” Climbing on behind her, he locked his arms around her waist.
“Ah, this is the life.” She sighed and leaned back against his chest. “I guess you’re waiting on my answer, aren’t you?”
Denver stiffened, then decided to play it cool. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, really?” She let out a delicate snort. “Okay, never mind.”
Tightening his arms around her, he squeezed. “I’m kidding, tell me.”
“Okay.” She turned her head to nuzzle his neck. “I want to try again.”
Denver felt his heart soar. ‘Trying’ with Bryn was reward enough. The day he seduced her into being his, would be the highlight of his life. “You’ve just made my day, Miss Bryn.”
She wiggled in his arms. “Okay, let’s go win my teddy bear, then we can go home.”
Hopping off the carousel, she scanned their surroundings. “Which game would be best?”
“How about the milk bottle pyramid?” He aimed her toward the front gate. “It’s close to the exit and they have huge prizes.” Denver also knew the game was one of the more difficult ones, but he felt up to the task.
“Perfect.” As they approached the booth, she studied the prizes hanging overhead. “I like the huge white bear. She will look so good on my bed.”
“Huh, okay.” He didn’t exactly relish sharing her bed with a big stuffed bear. Nevertheless. “Start picking out a name, because that bear will be yours.”
As Denver purchased the tokens, he saw the operator of the booth exchanging hand signals with someone. When he turned to look, he saw the man from the dart booth pointing at him and making a sign to cut him off. “Well, we’ll just see about that,” he muttered. “Set them up!”
Bryn stood close, watching Denver eyeing the milk bottles and tossing the softball in the air. “This doesn’t look hard at all.”
Denver wasn’t so sure. He knew these things were never as easy as they looked.
“Win a prize, win a prize!” the man said in a sing-song voice. “Let me set these milk bottles up straight for you and you may begin.”
When they were ready, Denver made his toss and whistled when only the top bottle fell off the pyramid.
“Awww, try again. You’ll do it,” Bryn encouraged him. “I have faith in you.”
Denver tried again. Same result. “Shit.”
One more time. Another miss.
Denver was incensed. He knew the bottom pins were probably filled with lead, making them as heavy as ten pounds each. The softball he was throwing was filled with cork, which made it lighter than a regulation ball. The damn bottles were also stacked against a backdrop curtain that helped prevent them from falling over cleanly. “I can do this,” he insisted.
But after three more tries, he was frustrated. “Okay, Miss Bryn, Freddy at the florist said you could do things. Why don’t you wiggle your nose like Samantha or cross your arms like Jeannie and help me win that bear for you?”
Bryn was a bit confused. “I don’t know who those people are.” She might not be up on his culture references, but she did understand what he was saying. An uneasy feeling made her feel cold. She couldn’t believe what he was saying. He was teasing her, he had to be. Yet, the leering, knowing sneer of the booth operator made her angry. “I think you should try one more time.”
Denver bought one more token. “One more time and I’m giving up.”
He tossed the ball in the air, then let it fly.
Wham!
The ball not only knocked over the pins, it knocked over the pyramid on either side of the one he was aiming at. “Wow!” Denver turned to look at Bryn with disbelief in his eyes. “How did you do that?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t. You threw the ball.”
Bryn stood still as Denver collected her prize. She gave him a faint smile as she accepted the huge bear in her arms. “Thank you, Denver.”
“You’re welcome. I’m just glad I was able to pull it off, I was beginning to wonder.”
She didn’t add anything more to his musing, she sure wasn’t going to claim credit for his miraculous throw.
“Are you ready to leave?”
“Whenever you are,” she told him.
If he picked up on her disquiet, he didn’t say so. “Let’s get some burgers to go and take them to my house. Were you serious when you said you didn’t know who Samantha and Jeannie are?”
“No, I’m not familiar with anyone by that name.”
“Well, I’ll be pleased to educate you. I used to have a blast watching those shows.”
Bryn waited patiently while he stopped at another food stand and bought them burgers and fries to go. Once their order was filled, he escorted her to the truck and stored the two Mr. Bananas and the huge bear in the back seat of the double cab. “What did you decide to name her?”
Bryn hesitated. She was being silly. The name meant more to her than just the name of a toy. “I think I’ll call her Tilly.” This was the name of the woman who’d adopted her and brought her back. Bryn only had vague memories, but she did remembe
r Tilly crying when they walked away from her the last time. The decision to return her had been Tilly’s husband’s decision, not hers. Bryn liked to think that if she’d had a choice, Tilly would’ve kept her forever.
“Nice name. I like it.”
“Yea, me too.” She sipped on the cola Denver bought her just before they left the fairgrounds. “She’ll be good to cuddle with in bed.”
Great, Denver thought. Now, he was jealous of a stuffed bear he’s won for her himself. “I bet.”
“So, you have tapes of these shows?”
“I do. They’re probably on Netflix or Hulu, but I have them on tape.”
Bryn laughed wryly. “I have no idea what you just said, sometimes I feel so dumb.”
“I think you’re a breath of fresh air, sweetheart. Being with you is like seeing the world through new eyes.”
She knew he meant what he said to be a compliment, but she couldn’t help but wonder if her naivete wouldn’t become something he grew tired of quickly.
When they arrived at his house, they carried their food in to eat while they watched the television program Denver was so anxious for her to see.
“Come with me to the bedroom while I try to find where I stored them.”
“Okay.” She followed along behind him, taking a moment to notice how nice his behind looked in his jeans.
“You can sit on the bed if you want. I know I have them somewhere in here.” Denver rifled through an old cardboard box that had been tucked away in his bedroom closet.
Standing in his doorway, Bryn couldn’t take her eyes off his bed. She’d been in his room already, but only for a second or two. With the light on, she could see his bed clearly. The blanket was dark brown with a nice beige paisley pattern. Nothing fancy. No matter how plain, she wished she could jump right in and dive under the covers.
His sheets probably smelled like him.
Waking up in his arms would be amazing. Then, she remembered how he’d fled the sleeping bag they’d shared the one night she’d slept in his arms.
Bam!
Bryn jumped when Denver tossed an old boot over his head and out close to where she stood.
“Sorry about that,” he apologized over his shoulder, but kept rummaging.
“You missed,” she responded absentmindedly, leaning on the doorframe.
A jumbo jet could’ve landed at her feet and Bryn wouldn’t have noticed, she was still deep in her daydreams.
On Saturday mornings, she could see them lying in one another’s arms. “How many pancakes do you want, honey?” she would ask.
“It’s the weekend, babe,” Denver would groan, still half asleep. Reaching a big, strong arm out, he would pull her in close for a cuddle. “Let’s sleep in a bit.”
A rumble would come from low in Bryn’s tummy. “But I’m hungry.”
“I am too. How’s about I have you for breakfast instead?”
“Oh, my word,” Bryn gasped back in the real world.
Denver turned at her words. “Did you say something?”
The erotic vision of them laced together in Denver’s bed with him about to devour her caused a shiver to run up her spine. “No.” Bryn cleared her throat. “I’m fine. Did you find them yet?”
“I’m close, I just found my collection of Dexter. I just can’t believe you missed all this stuff. It’s probably wrong, but we’re all sort of shaped by this common experience.”
“I’ve picked up on that, people often mention things or reference stuff and I’m the only one who doesn’t understand. We didn’t have a television in the orphanage. Since it was supported by the church, any type of entertainment was against the rules.”
“Eureka!” Denver came out of the closet with a black box in his hand. “My mom was a huge fan of this show. I’ve probably seen every episode ever made. This is season two, episode five.”
Bryn had no idea what he was referring to, but went along. “What’s it about?” She opened the box and saw a tape with a label on it. “The Joker Is Wild.”
“Oh, you’re going to love this.” He was already laughing. “This is the one where Darrin meets Uncle Arthur for the first time. Paul Lynde at his finest.” He took her hand in his. “Come on. You need to see this.”
Leading Bryn to the couch, Denver hooked up the VCR. He and Louis had watched these old shows over and over as kids, laughing out loud at the antics of the Bewitched cast. Denver had taken a few of those old tapes when he’d left home and over the years, only two had survived. They were two of his most prized possessions and he couldn’t wait to share them with this girl who’d turned his world upside down from the moment he first laid eyes on her.
The video was fuzzy at first. “Damn tracking,” Denver cussed while fidgeting with the ancient technology. “Just a sec.”
Bryn sat demurely with her legs crossed on the couch. The space beside her looked so empty, she wished he’d hurry up and sit by her.
“You’re gonna love this,” Denver promised as he plopped down beside her on the old couch.
His considerable size caused the couch to slump to one side and Bryn was shifted over until her thigh was right up against his.
Turning the volume up with the remote, Denver was all smiles. “Watch.” They split the burgers and fries and began to eat.
Seeing how excited he seemed thrilled Bryn to no end. Looking at him from the side, she could see how wide-eyed he was, the smile on his face was as big as his eyes.
Bryn missed the first little bit because she was staring at him, but the laughing studio audience soon drew her attention and she was just as enthralled as Denver had said she would be. The humor was well set up and to Bryn’s surprise, rather wholesome. She was sucked into the show right away.
The first time Samantha wiggled her nose, Bryn laughed right along with Denver, but it soon hit her what he was trying to say.
“You think I’m a witch?” she whispered.
Denver turned to look at her, still laughing at the show. “You do seem magical.”
“The sisters would never have approved of this sort of television program.”
“The sisters sure had a lot of control over you, didn’t they?”
Bryn wasn’t laughing. She crossed her arms over her chest and the smile was gone.
“Oh, come on now,” Denver said when he saw she was bothered by his comparison. “I wasn’t calling you a witch for real. I just thought it was funny, the things Freddy said about you and then my winning the bear after…” A knot formed in his stomach. They’d been having such a good time, he hoped he hadn’t ruined things.
“Well, I’m not a witch. I don’t cast spells or anything.”
“Oh yes, you do.”
This time when she turned to glance at him, she saw heat in his eyes. “No.”
“Well, you sure as heck cast a spell on me, Miss Bryn.”
She couldn’t think. Bryn didn’t realize how messed up things would get, just because her tender heart couldn’t allow a tiny bird to die right in front of her. “I suppose it is a funny show.” Right on cue, the studio audience erupted in laughter.
“I’ve got a few more episodes, if you want to watch them.” Never in his wildest dreams had Denver thought joking around with her would hurt her and he wasn’t even sure why it bothered her so much. Her friend at work had been the first to do it, and he’d just gone with the flow. All he knew was that he loved spending time with her and especially loved having her in his home. He’d spent countless hours alone here on this very couch, wishing someone like Bryn Harmon was here with him.
“Can I kiss you?” Denver asked out of the blue.
Bryn’s mind raced as fast as her heart. She wanted to kiss him more than anything. But…what if he found out the truth? What would he say then?
She nodded subtly.
“Well, it’s not a nose twitch,” Denver said with a sinful smirk. “But I’ll take it as a yes.”
He leaned over, encircling Bryn with one arm, placing his other hand on the
back of her neck. Bryn’s breath caught in her throat and their lips came together. The kiss was soft and quick, their lips barely having enough time to say hello before Denver pulled back.
As wrong as it might be, he wanted more.
Thinking quickly, she said a little rhyme. “Whibbidy-bibbidy, Simplety-sin. Bring those lips back to Bryn.” She wiggled her nose.
Denver felt his blood run hot. “God in heaven, you are temptation itself. Come here.”
Taking her by the wrists, Denver reclined on the couch, pulling Bryn on top of him. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her over and over. She was so tiny he could barely feel her, but her warmth was exquisite. He loved how she fit him so perfectly. “I love holding you this way.”
Bryn pulled her face from his and laid across his chest, her cheek resting on his shoulder. “My heart is pounding so hard,” she purred.
“Did you like that?”
“I like everything you do to me,” she confessed into his ear.
“Oh, you’re my naughty girl, aren’t you?” he whispered in her ear as his hand slipped down to cup her bottom.
“Am I?” She sat up, the words making her think. Was she bad? She could vaguely remember Tilly’s husband telling Sister Mary Estelle that there was something wrong with her. She could remember the Mother Superior saying the things she did were an abomination. Chills of uncertainty swept over her. Bryn didn’t know what to believe.
Denver could sense he’d gone too far. Again. “Look, I’m sorry.” God, this was his fault. He loved being with her so much, he just didn’t know when to quit. He needed to remember how innocent she was and quit pushing her. “We don’t have to do anything, Bryn. Honest. We can just sit. No hanky-panky.” Denver knew it would be a tough row to hoe, he’d never been as affected by a woman in his life as he was by Bryn. She was worth the wait, even if he did end up with the worst case of blue balls he’d ever had in his life. “I promise.”
“I’m not feeling too well, I think I ate too much. Could we do this another time?”
Immediately, Denver felt contrite. “I’m sorry. I’ve kept you out late and you did eat a lot of rich food.” He stood. “Sure, I’ll take you home.”
Bryn felt guilty.