Free Good Girl or Gold-Digger? by Kate Hardy Page A

months of working hard and trying to make ends meet.’
    And the ironic thing was that she, Bill and the fairground staff were trying to do the modern version of it—except they were the ones struggling to make ends meet.
    Next, she made him climb the stairs to the top of the helter-skelter, and handed him a rush mat. ‘Keep hold of the mat,’ she said, ‘and don’t try to grab on to the sides or you’ll burn your hands.’
    ‘Yes, ma’am.’
    The ride was much faster than he’d imagined, much more fun. Though there was one thing missing…On his third time round, Felix waited for Daisy at the bottom, helped her to her feet, then bent his head and kissed her.
    ‘What brought that on?’ she asked.
    She was aiming for cool and calm, he knew, but he could hear the breathiness in her tone. That kiss had affected her as much as it had him, even though it had been light rather than a full-on kiss. ‘Isn’t that the idea? Kiss me quick, squeeze me slowly?’
    ‘That,’ she said, ‘is a seaside slogan. We’re five miles from the sea.’
    He stole another kiss. ‘That one was for luck,’ he said, smiling at her. ‘Which I think is a valid slogan anywhere.’
    ‘Indeed.’
    But she was blushing. And she looked incredibly pretty. She didn’t need make-up or designer clothes to make her look good. She was perfect just as she was. Felix had to jam his hands back into his pockets to stop himself grabbing her and kissing her properly.
    She took him round all the rides, one by one. Then, finally, she took him over to the gondola. ‘Remember, when this was in vogue most of the passengers had barely seen a car, much less ridden on one. This one’s a bit on the slow side, but that’s because there aren’t any seatbelts. I have to comply with health and safety legislation, and this is the compromise they agreed.’ She smiled. ‘It’s still a great ride, though. And it was mind-blowing when it first came out.’
    ‘Are you coming in the car with me?’ he asked when she walked into the centre to start the engine.
    She shook her head. ‘I converted this to an electric motor, but I can’t walk about on this like I do on the platform of the gallopers.’ She smiled wryly. ‘I wish now I’d sorted this out on remote control, but never mind. Enjoy.’
    The lights were on and the fairground organ was playing, and Felix found himself craning over the side, looking for Daisy and waving to her when he passed her.
    When the ride slowed and finally came to a halt, she left the organ playing.
    ‘So what do you think?’
    ‘I enjoyed it. Though I did wonder if I was going to fall out when I went up the hills backwards and seemed to be going forward at a crazy angle.’
    She laughed. ‘That’s the point. I have to admit, this is my favourite out of all of them.’ She stroked the carved and gilded side of the gondola car. ‘My great-grandfather built this ride. My grandmother worked on it. My uncle rescued it. And I grew up with it. There’s a photograph of me riding on this when I was about eighteen months old, sitting next to Dad, smiling my face off. And now the next generation’s here: the twins love this one, too.’
    Felix could see now that the fairground was her passion; whenever she talked about it, there was that extra sparkle in her eyes. He couldn’t help wondering what it would be like if she were to redirect that passion on him. The kisses they’d shared so far had been fairly chaste affairs, but Daisy Bell was definitely a passionate woman; it showed in the curve of her generous mouth.
    She spread out the rug, sat down and patted the rug beside her. ‘Come on. I promised to feed you.’
    Felix discovered that the cool box contained crusty French bread, a creamy Brie, sliced tomatoes and rocket.
    ‘It doesn’t have to be a hot meal to be balanced,’ she said, opening a tub of hummus and a container full of crudités. ‘Notice—vegetables, protein and carbs. Sorry, I’m not quite up to Michelin-star