Free The Fairest of Them All by Leanne Banks

“Well, it complicates things. It could mess up our friendship. It makes me feel confused.” It makes me hot.
    With a knowing light in his eyes, Russ nodded. “You’re worried about losing our friendship?”
    “Yes,” she breathed, feeling a surge of relief. He understood.
    “We’ll always be friends, Carly. No matter what else happens between us. I can promise you that.” He flicked his gaze over her quickly. “I can also promise you that I won’t touch you unless I ask you first and that I’ll stop when you ask me to.” He moved closer and held his hands out by his sides, signaling that he was playing by her rules. “But stopping the touching won’t stop the wanting.”
    It has to, she thought desperately. She needed to get a grip on this. She needed to gain some perspective, bring this insanity under control. Carly cleared her throat. “Let’s just try it.”
    “Okay.” His face was serious except for the devil’s glint in his eyes. “But this goes completely against my nature. I’m not sure you know how hard this is gonna be.”
    Carly smiled in spite of her inner tension. “Yeah,” she said dryly. “Just think of it as a character-building experience, Russ.”
    He chuckled. “You’re tough.”
    “Between you and my brothers, I’ve got to be.” She glanced at her watch and exclaimed over the time. “I need to close up and get home.”
    Russ noted the way she grouped him with her brothers. It irritated him. He’d have to fix that later. Right now, he had to make sure she didn’t slip away completely. “I wanted to remind you about Games Day for the hospital on Saturday.” She looked as though she’d forgotten. That further irritated him. “Is there a problem?”
    “No,” Carly assured him quickly and gave a self- deprecating smile. “I just can’t seem to hold anything in my brain for more than a few minutes lately. I’ll make sure everything’s covered.”
    “Good. I’ll pick you up around eleven o’clock.” His gaze fell to her breasts, and he shook his head. “If you want me to stick to this no-touch rule, you’d better wear a bra.”
    Her eyes rounded, and she gave a choky laugh. “Anything else?”
    Russ grinned slowly. “Nah. I’d suggest a paper bag, but it wouldn’t slow me down.” He blew her a kiss. “See you Saturday.”
    Carly watched him swagger from the room. She withheld her groan for all of three seconds.

    It looked as though nearly everyone in town showed up for Games Day, Carly thought. She ought to be able to keep her senses in this innocuous situation. Russ wouldn’t be able to weave his enticing spell over her in George Killion’s fallow pasture full of men, women, and children. Beulah County wanted their emergency room better equipped, and the residents believed people shelled out money more readily when fun and food were offered.
    Carly heard a yelp and looked at the dunking booth. “Looks like Mayor Goodman got it,” she said to Russ.
    He grinned. “Yeah. It’s hot so he probably doesn’t mind too much.”
    She saw a couple of kids with blue cotton candy and smelled catfish frying. “Did you donate the fish again?”
    He nodded, then looked down at a piece of paper in his hand. “We’re supposed to lead the wheelbarrow race for the first hour, then the three-legged relay. We have to demonstrate correct racing positions and award the ribbons. Then we finish up with the tug-of-war over the creek.” He clicked his tongue.
    “Let’s get going. Wheelbarrow’s on the other side of the field.”
    They walked over and within minutes were surrounded by a group of eager participants.
    “Six pairs at a time,” Russ directed loudly. “Everybody behind the starting line while Carly and I show the correct wheelbarrow racing position.”
    Suspicion flared within Carly when she watched Russ advance toward her with amusement on his face. His metal whistle bounced against the University of Tennessee tank shirt that did nothing to conceal