Free A Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad Page A

blundering ways. He was out of her league, they didn’t agree on the important matters of life, and she’d only embarrass herself further if she accompanied him.
    “I don’t understand.”
    “That’s the problem.”
    Hiking up her skirts, she hurried up the pavilion’s steps. She had to get away before she said yes to the biggest mistake of her life.

    Carter thrust his hands into his pockets as Emily disappeared inside the pavilion. Asking her had been a mistake—an enormous mistake.
    “Hey.” Ducky strolled down the sidewalk. “I’ve been searching for you. What have you been doing, and why do you look like you just struck out?”
    “I guess you could say I did. I asked Emily Graham out for supper. She turned me down.”
    “Then ask her again. That’s what I always do. I guess this is a new problem for you, though, huh?”
    Carter shrugged. “I asked her to ice cream earlier today too. I can’t get her out of my head, but it’s probably better this way.”
    Ducky chuckled. “Maybe so. Maybe not. But I think you’ve got that count wrong. Sounds to me like you have two strikes. You’ve got one more time at bat.”
    “What’s the use? She’d rather shoot me than spend a moment alone with me.” He punched his palm. He hated not winning. If he could get her to say yes just once, then she’d see he wasn’t the ogre she made him out to be.
    “In that case, want to come with some of the boys and me to the Midway?”
    That was it. The Midway.
    “Ducky, you’re a genius!”
    He’d make her an offer she couldn’t refuse.

9
    Perched on a park bench, Carter watched for Emily’s reappearance. She couldn’t stay inside the pavilion forever.
    He didn’t have to wait long. When she emerged, she paused at the top of the stairs before beginning her descent. Afraid his sudden presence might frighten her and cause her to slip, he waited beside the last step with his back to her. Once she was firmly on even ground, he faced her. “Hi, Emily.”
    Her breath caught. “Why are you s till here?”
    “Walk with me?” When she hesitated, he quickly added, “Please.”
    Despite her obvious misgivings, she fell in step beside him. “You didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?”
    “We’re going somewhere together.”
    She halted. “We most certainly are not!”
    He grinned and met her wide, moss-green eyes. “I’m not taking no for an answer this time.”
    “Carter—” The resolve in her voice weakened. “We can’t do this.”
    “We can, and we are.” He took her hand and tucked it in the crook of his elbow.
    She yanked her hand away. “Just where do you think you’re taking me?”
    “To the shooting gallery.” Carter crossed his arms over his chest. “Then, if you want to kill me, at least you’ll have a gun.”
    “Does it shoot real bullets?”
    “Yes.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “In that case, it sounds fun.”

    Nestled at the east end of Lake Manawa, the Midway wasn’t far from the Grand Plaza and pavilion, but to Emily it seemed like a mile as they walked in silence. Lively organ music from the Midway contrasted with the anger pumping in her chest. The audacity of Carter Stockton. She’d told him no—not once, but twice. Now, mixed with the irritation, her nerves tingled in the sweetness of his presence.
    Even without looking, she could feel his confident gait and broad shoulders beside her. And she hadn’t forgotten the feel of his muscles beneath her hand when he’d placed it in the crook of his arm.
    She risked a glance at his face. As usual, coffee-colored curls tumbled from beneath his hat. Carter Stockton was too handsome for his own good. She should have flatly refused. Although the more ill at ease she felt, the more the prospect of shooting him tempted her.
    Why was he doing this now? She’d made it clear she didn’t need or want his well-intentioned offers. So why did he insist on her company?
    “I’m glad you came.” His baritone voice, warm like hot