Free A Case of Love by Wendy Stone Page A

hand, pulling her toward the entrance.
    The park wasn't huge and had been there a long time. In the showy lights, it looked bright and beautiful, but under that thin facade were the dents and dings of age, sometimes barely covered with the glitz of show business.
    It sat on a large stretch of land that was bordered on one side by a trailer park and on the other side by the Atlantic Ocean, the beach stretching as far as she could see.
    Mackenzie let herself be dragged off, feeling a spurt of excitement. She hadn't done anything like this since she was a kid.
    "What do you want to do first?” he asked, reminding her of the kid she used to be. He grinned and her heart seemed to flip in her chest.
    "The Merry-go-round?” she asked, tongue in cheek.
    "What are you, ninety? I thought you reporter types liked to take chances and live dangerously?"
    "I think I've used up my quota of living dangerously this week,” she said, but allowed him to pull her towards the ticket booth. He bought them each a bracelet, allowing them to ride as many rides as they wanted and then, hand in hand, he led her to the first.
    He was just a big kid, she thought, watching his face as they headed toward their car on the first ride. He helped her in, leaning over and kissing her quickly before sliding in next to her. The safety gate shifted over them and they leaned on it, listening as it clicked into place. A few moments later, the ride grumbled to a start and Kenzie found herself spun and twisted, laughing as she felt herself being pushed by gravity to lean against him.
    His arm came around her and he turned her face to his, his lips finding hers, his tongue sliding into her mouth. She moaned, pleasure sharp and instantaneous filling her, made even more delirious by the spinning of the ride. His hand moved from her shoulder, his other sliding around her and holding her as close as they could get on the small bench seat.
    So wrapped up were they, neither felt the ride slow or heard the click of the bar as it unlatched, freeing them.
    "Excuse me,” a gravely voice said, clearing his throat loudly.
    Hawk lifted his head, staring around blankly then smiled down at her. “Oops. Ride's over, sweetheart."
    Mac blushed, stepping out of the ride and, not waiting for Hawk, made her way down the small wooden planks towards the exit. She felt his arm wrap around her waist just as she made it to the grass and she looked up at him, bursting into laughter. “Are you planning on doing this every ride?"
    "Everyone I can,” he chuckled, dropping a quick kiss on her lips. “Come on."
    They walked through the park, riding the Pirate's Ship, the Tilt'o-whirl, the Scrambler and the Swings before reaching the first of the two main rides this park was famous for. The rollercoaster was a huge wooden structure with a metal track that curved and twisted in and around itself, promising the rider a glorious trip.
    Hawk pulled her in line, setting her in front of him so that he could wrap his arms around her, pulling her back against his chest. Her head reached the bottom of his chin and he leaned against her, feeling her hands come down over his. “Have I told you how glad I am that you walked into that warehouse?” he whispered, bending his head to reach her ear.
    "No,” she said, turning to grin up at him. “You just enjoyed the free feel you got."
    "Yeah and what part of me being male did you miss?” He laughed, his hands stroking over her stomach and landing on her hips as the line moved forward. “I have to admit to being a little awestruck when Kenny brought you in. That little red dress...was...wow."
    "That little red dress went back to its owner,” she said, laughing at his disappointed expression. “Maybe Selena will let me borrow it again sometime, just for you."
    He hummed into her neck, his lips nibbling along her skin. She shivered and he smiled, enjoying what he was doing to her. The line moved quickly and soon they were filing on to the platform that