Peter almost seemed more disappointed than her, and something tugged at her heart.
She walked up to the booth. “Gave it my best shot,” she said.
He nodded from his perch, chin jutting out. “That's all you can do.” He paused, then cocked his head. “Double or nothing?”
She stroked her chin, then glanced over her shoulder to the crowd, who began cheering her on. “Tell you what,” she said loudly. “Why don't we just cut
to the chase?”
The crowd cheered harder. She turned back to Peter, whose smile was slowly
evaporating.
“Wait. Kate?”
She grinned, pulled out a twenty from her pocket, dropped it on the ground,
and then shoved the target arm as hard as she could.
Peter plunged, and the look on his face was delicious.
The crowd went crazy.
“It's for charity, remember?” she said sweetly as he popped up, sputtering.
* * *
Twenty minutes later, he joined her at Carol's booth, hair wet, in a pair of sweats, a freshly-scrubbed look on his face.
“Enjoy your bath?” she said without looking up. She was busy painting a flower on a five-year-old's face.
“Surprisingly refreshing,” he said, swiping a hand through his hair.
“Thinking of getting one of those tanks for home.”
She nodded, finishing a striped daisy petal. “I'd be happy to assist you with
the dunking again.”
“No, I think tonight's humiliation is enough for now.”
Kate patted the girl's hand. “You're done, sweetie.”
The girl admired her cheek in the hand mirror on the table, then scooted off
to show her friends.
“Do you next?” Kate asked, standing. “I was thinking something aquatic.”
She faked surprise. “I know! How about I draw some gills on your neck?”
“Funny. How about you try the tank next? There's an opening at eight-
thirty.”
She shook her head. “No thanks. I prefer to do all my bathing in private.
Besides, you'd probably cheat.”
“I would not. And look who's talking?”
She could tell the minute he realized what he'd said. His expression froze, but oddly the old reminder didn't bother her.
She grinned at him. “I paid for that privilege fair and square. For charity,
remember?”
He nodded, stepping closer and looking relieved. “How about lunch, then?
Tomorrow?”
Her neck flashed. She'd been so worried about being in the gym, in being in
Golden Grove again, but it all felt like such a long time ago.
Which was the problem. Her smile faltered. “Oh. I can't. I have to work on
my proposal all day.” Work seemed like another life, another world at the moment.
