Page 56 of Love Marks

Luna and I stand off to the side as Wesley prepares to shoot. He glances over at me and starts whistling the tune from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. I roll my eyes.

This really shouldn’t be sexy. It’s just a carnival game. It’s silly, really. Ridiculous.

Except for what happens next. Wesley looks right at me as he lifts his arm over his head to stretch. His shirt slowly rides up, revealing his lower torso and— oh my god.

It’s the V. The dreaded V.

I bite down on the cotton candy, my throat unbelievably dry.

“Watch and learn,” Wesley says, yanking the gun out like we’re in an old western movie and shooting the bottles. He knocks them out like it’s the easiest thing in the entire world, then twirls the gun and pretends to holster it. He’s smirking the whole time.

This display of masculinity should bother me, but it doesn't. Desire pools deep in my stomach. Just when I’m thinking he can’t get any more ridiculous, he locks eyes with me and winks. He winks.

“I’ll take the big bear, please,” he says to the ticket guy, who reaches out and unclips the pink one, handing it to Wesley.

Luna jumps up and down, reaching for it.

“What do you say, Loon?”

“Thank you, Uncle Wes!” Luna shouts, reaching for the bear. He hands it to her and ruffles her hair as she hugs it tightly. He looks over at me.

“You want one?”

I scoff and shake my head.

“I’m serious. I’ll win you one.” He suppresses a smile, this one familiar. “Babe,” he tacks on with a cheeky grin.

“Oh my god, stop it.” I shove him a little, but he doesn’t move. God, he’s hard as stone. He’s like a sculpture.

“I’ll take another round,” Wesley says, handing the man a few more tickets. Before I can stop him, he’s shooting again, knocking down every single bottle with ease.

“Show off,” I mutter and Wesley smirks as he points to another big bear. I stop him. “No! I want that one.” I point to a smaller stuffed dog.

Wesley quirks an eyebrow at me, and I give him my best pleading puppy eyes.

“Alright, give me the dog.”

I try my hardest to stamp out my gleeful expression as we walk away from the stand with our new toys.

“What are you gonna name yours?” Luna asks me. “This is Mr. Thomas.” She points to her bear.

I glance at the dog, studying it. “I don’t know. What do you think I should name him?” I ask Luna.

“Wes! Like Uncle Wes!” Luna shouts.

I chuckle. “I don’t think so.”

“Hey! Why not?” Wesley nudges me. “I won it for you. You should name it after me.”

“Name my stuffed dog Wesley?”

His gaze turns serious. “No, not Wesley. Wes. You should call me Wes.”

I swallow a little too hard.

“I think you should call him Grumpy,” Luna announces.

“Great idea. See, now it’s named after you.” I smile brightly at Wes, petting Grumpy on the head.