Free Paper Kisses by Beth D. Carter Page B

me as someone you had to occupy
yourself with.”
    He picked up her hand and linked
their fingers.   “So, after having sex
three times the magic fades?”
    She shrugged and tried to tug her
hand away but he held fast to it.   “Don’t
make fun.”
    “I’m not making fun.   I just think you haven’t found the right
partner, because between the right people sex only gets better each time.   So, tonight, I definitely think you need
something special.”
      Her mouth went dry as she stared into his beautiful eyes.   “Okay.   Oh.   Wait.   The festival. I have
to work the kissing booth with CeeCee this evening.”
    “That’s okay, I’m patrolling.   Afterwards.   We have all night.   If I’ve only got four days with you I’m not
going to waste a minute.   Oh, and
speaking of our friend CeeCee , I would appreciate a
little discretion about my kink.”
    “Don’t you worry,” Alannah assured
him.   “I’m mentally shuddering at the
thought of CeeCee knowing anything.”  
    ****
    Sky dropped her off at CeeCee’s house on his way to work and luck was not with
her.   Her friend was bright eyed and bushy
tailed, waiting for her at the table with a notebook and pen.
    “What’s that?” Alannah asked,
nodding to the notebook.
    “I’m going to take notes.”
    “About what?”
    “Sky’s prowess.   I know that man’s packing a bazooka in his
pants.”
    Alannah shook her head.   “You’re not right, you know that?”  
     

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    Walking through the field at the
Strawberry Festival brought back a lot of memories.   Great memories.   Of course, she hadn’t ever worked the
festival before, but then again, the last time she was here she’d been
eighteen.   She saw workers putting up
booths and rides, farmers moving animals into barns, and sound crews working on
speakers.   The smell of popcorn and
funnel cake wafted through the air, making her belly rumble.  
    The kissing booth was near the
cotton candy machine, much to her dismay.   After Bryce had commented on her weight gain, she’d vowed to lose the
extra pounds.   In six months she’d lost
half of what she’d gained since her wedding day, so smelling that sugary
confection was going to test her willpower.   Of course, the Strawberry Festival got its name for all the different features
about how to prepare and eat them, which most of the time, included sugar.
    “I’m glad you finally showed up!” CeeCee called out, waving to her.  
    “Sorry.   Took a nap.”
    “Well, for that, you can hang the
garland.”
    She pointed to the top of the booth,
so the first thing she had to do was find a stepladder.   For the next couple of hours, right before
the festival officially opened, she and CeeCee worked
hard getting everything set up.   Rock and
roll played over the speakers, and every once in a while a country tune floated
in.   If someone had told her a month ago
she’d be working the Strawberry Festival alongside CeeCee she’d have laughed them out the door.   Now, there wasn’t any other place she wanted to be than here.
    As the first couple of people began
to trickle in, CeeCee took a step back to make sure
everything looked romantic.   Garland,
lights, paper hearts, they had the whole kit and caboodle.  
    “Does it look like Aphrodite’s
Kissing Cove yet?” Alannah asked.
    “Looks pretty
good!” CeeCee exclaimed.   “Yep, it definitely looks like a place where
a sophisticated gentleman can slap down a buck and pucker up for a wet one.”  
    “Oh, how romantic you make it
sound,” Alannah teased.
    CeeCee entered the booth and slapped Alannah’s butt.   “We’re done here.   The Cove is
officially open.   You and I together,
we’re going to make a fortune!”
    “You and Alannah together, now I
would definitely pay to see that!” Kevin called out as he walked up to
them.  
    Alannah threw a bit of garland at
him.   “Pervert.”
    “Ah, every man’s fantasy,” Kevin
said, waggling