Tempting Fate (30 page)

He was happy enough she wasn't glued to Roger's side at the moment. The thought of Cara with another man, one that she'd been intimately involved with for almost two years nagged at him. He'd been naked with plenty of women. Beautiful women, he vehemently reminded himself. But the twisting knot that clutched him hard when he was with Cara and Roger wouldn't ease up. It was high time he stopped denying it was jealousy.

“These carousels are beautiful,” Cara said to the woman behind the booth.

The woman returned a warm smile, obviously pleased with Cara’s appraisal. “They're hand made by a local craftsman.”

Cara placed her finger on one of the painted wooden horses lined up on the outside of the wooden stand. With a gentle motion, she pushed it around and around. The ribbons adorning the center pole and strung out to each of the twelve horses wound around the center pole. She let go and the carousel spun as each horse moved up and down with the motion, like a real carousel.

Devin stared at Cara’s childlike expression. He couldn’t help it. God, she was just too damned beautiful. She wore her long wavy hair down tonight, and the cool ocean breeze lifted her natural curls. He’d always like it when she wore her hair down, giving her an air that was almost untamed. He had the most incredible longing to tangle his fingers in her wild curls.

“Do you remember-” she started to say, but stopped short, glancing sheepishly at him and then the saleswoman as if she’d forgotten anyone else was there with them.

Devin knew exactly what memory had made its way back to her mind. He’d been thinking of the same night.

“Fourth of July at Revere Beach.”

Her face lit up like a blazing star. Of course, all the flashing white and red lights from the carnival displays might have had something to do with that, too. But no, he knew she was deep in the memory of their first and only real kiss. And so was he. It was amazing how vividly he remembered the feel of her soft lips pressed against his. And how much he wanted to relive that memory, see if her lips still were as soft as they looked right now.

They gazed at each other, both transfixed with the memory for a lingering moment.

That is, until Roger broke in.

“I went to Revere Beach once because my girlfriend at the time wanted to see a soap opera star who was going to be there.” He reached up to his neck, which was covered with pink calamine lotion and began to scratch. “I think it rained.”

“How much is it?” Cara asked, pulling her gaze away.

Without looking at the tag, the woman advised, “Three hundred and fifty dollars.”

“Let's go,” Roger sputtered, tugging on Cara's arm.

Cara's expression faltered slightly. “Thank you,” she said to the woman. She dug her hands in the pockets of her cutoff shorts and started walking away from the table with Roger at her side, the light in her eyes fading.

Devin couldn't help but notice the sneer on Roger's face.

Or how much Cara truly loved that carousel.

Devin fell into step with her. “Aren’t you going to get it? I know you'd love to have it.”

Cara’s face was almost regretful. “I didn’t bother to bring my checkbook tonight,” she said quietly.

He laced his fingers with her, not caring anymore that Roger was there, and tugged her back a step. “Come on. Maybe she’ll hold it for you. We can come back later or--”

Roger waved his hand. Although they were out of earshot from the table, he kept his voice low. “The wooden ones aren’t worth as much as the porcelain ones. What they’re asking for here is highway robbery. It’s not worth it.”

Worth it to who? Devin wondered. Where did this guy get off bursting Cara’s excitement over a price tag? It wasn’t as if any of them were in a position to have to cut coupons and eat nothing but macaroni and cheese.

Glancing at Cara, he saw a trace of embarrassment etched in her expression and decided not to press the issue. He got the distinct impression this wasn’t something new to her, just annoying.

“If you really want a carousel, we can get one when we get back to Boston,” Roger added, taking her by the hand again.

Anger coiled deep inside Devin and it was all he could do to keep from taking a swing at Roger. Cara couldn’t help it if Roger was a jerk, but what had gotten into her? If it were him making those same statements, Cara would think nothing of turning around and telling him where to stuff it. At least the old Cara would. What had this Roger guy done to his Cara? His Cara?

“Cara?”

She smiled weakly. “It's just one more thing to bring home to my condo with all the other boxes I've packed. Really, it's okay. There's a shop on Newbury Street that has carousels like this. I can always pick one up there.”

Devin pointed through the crowd. “Well, let’s at least ride the carousel. You always loved that.” With their hands still joined, Devin pulled Cara through the crowd to the ticket line.

“I haven’t done anything like this since...”

She looked up as if she were searching the deepest recesses of her mind. Then she looked at Devin, laughing. God, how he missed that fanciful laugh. He never realized it until just then.

“I think I was with you the last time I rode a carousel.”

Roger shook his head. “Look at you two. Don't you get tired of this kind of thing?”

“No,” they both said in unison, laughing.

Devin bought enough tickets for a couple of rides and they waited in line until it was their turn. It was no surprise that Roger decided to remain on the sidelines. All this togetherness was beginning to give Devin the hives as bad as Roger's poison ivy. Well, maybe not. Roger was getting pretty red under the collar.

Devin was just seeing red.

They climbed aboard the carousel and Cara chose a pretty white mare wearing a golden bridle with painted roses trailing off the mane. He chose the black stallion just opposite her. All the stars in the sky were drowned out by the flashing lights of the carnival and the zillions of red and white lights ablaze on the carousel ceiling.

Cara reached up and gripped the golden roped pole in front of her as the carousel began to move. The music blared, drowning out the sounds of the crowded wharf. She hadn’t felt so much excitement in years. And it was just a carnival ride!

As the horses moved up and down on the platform, the familiar tune Let Me Call You Sweetheart played. It fed the festive mood riding high inside her. The sweet smell of fried dough and cotton candy hung heavy in the humid night.

Unlike the dream she had the other day, Devin was here beside her instead of standing on the sidelines. She glanced over at Devin and smiled. The wind whipped through his dark hair as if he was riding a real wild stallion. As he reached up to catch the brass ring that teased them with each passing, the blur of the crowd in the perimeter took on a surreal look. All she could focus on was Devin.

If it hadn’t been for the fact that she knew Roger wasn’t having a good time, she’d be having a fabulous time. That crack shot comment he’d made about the wooden carousel was something she’d become immune to. She’d let it go, rather than make a scene in front of Devin or hurt the saleswoman’s feelings.

She saw the look on his face when they'd seen the wooden carousel, and she knew he saw how much she loved it. When they walked away from the table empty-handed, his face registered pure shock, as if he were disappointed by her cowardice.

With that embarrassing scene behind them now, Cara was starting to relax again. She couldn't remember having so much fun. At least not in recent years. Her face muscles actually hurt from laughing and smiling so much. She knew without a doubt that it was being with Devin that had cut through the melancholy she'd been feeling over her parents move. When she was with him, she didn't feel so alone.

His laughter broke into her thoughts and she was once against transfixed by the magic of the moment.

“Here comes the brass ring,” Devin called out to her over the music.

“Try to catch it.”

Laughing, he reached one hand up while holding the twisted gold pole in front of him for support. Her eyes fixed on the brass ring speed toward him. When it was almost upon him, he reached for it, but brushed right by his fingertips.

“Missed!” he said, settling back down on the saddle.

Cara had to wonder just what else she’d missed as the ride wound down and the revolving motion of the horses finally came to a halt.

Next was the double Ferris wheel, which they decided to ride three times before the cotton candy in Cara's stomach told her it was time to get off. When they walked through the gate at the end of the ride, Cara spotted Roger, who again decided to stay behind.

“Are you finally ready to leave?” he said, more than a little annoyed.

“Already?”

“I'm sorry, but a guy can get kind of lonely standing on the sidelines all night.”

Cara's heart sank. Roger was right. Although she was having the time of her life with Devin, it couldn't have been much fun for him.

“I had more fun tonight than I've had in years,” Devin said, looking at her with what she thought was regret in his gaze. “It's a shame to have it end now.”

With that Devin turned his attention in the opposite direction. Cara used that opportunity to talk to Roger privately.

“You really want to leave?”

Roger sighed. “Look, you know this whole thing isn't my kind of entertainment. If you want to spend some time with Devin, that's okay with me.”

“You won't be upset?” She knew better than to think Roger would be jealous.

Roger made a face. “Cara, I like to think of myself as an open guy. I know how you feel about me.”

“We all drove together. I don't want you to have to come back and get us.”

“Actually, I'm not sure Devin would mind if we both left now.”

“What do you mean?”

Cara twisted around and looked in the direction Roger was staring. Devin was turned in the opposite direction, talking to someone. He was standing in front of the person and all Cara could see were long slender fingers with bright red painted nails brushing up and down Devin's arm.

Her stomach recoiled. She would have liked to think that all this person was doing was asking for directions to the port-a-john, but that would be ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as the jealousy that gripped her when she saw the woman standing in front of Devin was Penny Brunelle.

Yes, this time she knew what she was feeling was jealousy. She'd been having a wonderful time having Devin all to herself. She didn't want to think about sharing him.

Taking her by the arm, Roger said, “Maybe it’s time for us to go.”

“You’re leaving?” Devin was standing by Cara's side now, a look of regret etching his features.

It hadn’t taken but a moment for Penny to cozy up next to him. She wore a provocative black catsuit with plunging neckline. She was on the scoop for a husband all right. And what better place to advertise than a festival where there were certain to be eligible men.

“Afraid so,” Roger said, holding out his hand to shake Devin’s.

“I hope you don't mind if I hang around for a while,” Devin announced, which brought a thorough smile from Penny.

A frosty chill filled Cara and she hoped it wasn't evident in her tone. “I don’t feel right leaving you. We drove, so how will you get home?”

“That won’t be a problem. My car is certainly big enough for the two of us,” Penny said in her throaty voice. Cara wondered if it was natural or years of practice with husband number one, two and three.

“Then I guess it's all set then,” Cara said quietly.

“I'll see you tomorrow,” he said.

“Okay.”

It wasn’t like Cara to be jealous but she was. No doubt about it. And she hated the feeling.

She turned and walked away, through the crowd. Just like in her dream, except this time she was with Roger.

Her foul mood hadn’t eased up when she and Roger finally reached the car. Jovial voices of the people having fun, and the sound of carnival music, drifted through the air, letting her know what she was missing.

She looked back at the bright lights staining the night sky and remembered the fun she’d been having with Devin, his lighthearted smile, and his taste for adventure that matched her own.

She sighed, her shoulders sagging.

Roger revved the engine as she got into the front seat next to him, slamming the door.

“Everything okay, Cara?” he asked, reaching over and taking her by the hand. It was a gesture that used to bring her comfort and now held no magic.

She hesitated a moment. Everything was not all right. She'd just left Devin at the festival with Penny Brunelle and she was jealous as all get out, regardless of whether or not she had a right to be.

“I'm fine.”

As they drove away from the festival, she turned back once and realized she'd just left a piece of herself behind. Maybe that was the demon she’d been fighting all along. This feeling that something was missing, something that only seemed to fade when Devin was near, was her wake up call, a magical fire that brought her to life.

And she'd just left all her magic back at the carnival.

# # #

Chapter Seven

“What do you mean you’re not going?”

Ruthie stood over Cara as she lay in her bed. Although Cara had pulled the pillow over her head, she was more than certain her mother’s hands were propped on her hips and she was scowling.

She whipped the pillow off and sat up straight. “I just don’t feel like going down to Penny’s shop to try on bridesmaid dresses. You have to admit that having bridesmaids for renewing your wedding vows is a little...” She searched for the right words that wouldn’t offend her mother.

“Un-traditional?” Ruthie supplied for her.

Cara shrugged. “Why don’t you just pick out the most beautiful dress in the shop and I’ll pay for it. I thought I’d stay back here today and help Daddy with some packing. You only have another week before you’re moving.”

Ruthie groaned and placed the back of her hand on Cara’s forehead.

“What are you doing?” Cara asked.

“You must have a high fever if you’d rather stay here and listen to your father scream about missing the Yankees game tonight, instead of going shopping.”