Damian’s eyes darkened. “All right, all right, I didn’t mean to offend you. You’re old enough to make up your own mind.”
“Thank you for that,” she said. Turning away from him, she rested her hands on the railing and stared into the serene waters below. “I remember once when I was about six years old coming to this bridge and crying my eyes out,” she murmured.
“What were you so upset about?”
“You,” she said, turning back and jabbing a finger at his chest.
“Me?” Jessica had never seen such an expression of outraged innocence. “What did I do?” Damian demanded.
“Your father was taking you and Evan to the roller coaster at Cannon Beach. My dad was out of town on business, and our mothers were taking the shopping cure. They weren’t keen on having to drag me along, and I can’t remember who, but one of them suggested I go to the carnival with you and Evan.”
“And I didn’t want you with us,” Damian finished for her.
“Not that I blame you. No fifteen-year-old wants a six-year-old girl tagging along.”
Damian chuckled. “Times change, don’t they?”
Her mother had said the same thing earlier. Indeed, times do change.
To Jessica’s astonishment, Damian reached for her hand. He linked their fingers and tugged her off the bridge. “Where are we going?” she asked.
He looked at her in surprise. “Where else? The beach. From what I gather, that roller coaster’s still in operation. The party here is starting to wind down, and I don’t think we’ll be missed, do you?”
She couldn’t help but agree.
Four
Carrying a sticky cone of pink cotton candy in one hand and a purple stuffed elephant in the other, Jessica strolled leisurely with Damian down the long pier. The tinny music of the merry-go-round played behind them, mingling with children’s laughter. The scent of the bay and fresh popcorn swirled around them like smoke from a cooling fire. The night was perfect. The sun had set, and clusters of bright stars blinked down on them.
“I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed myself more,” Jessica said to Damian. She held the cotton candy toward him and he helped himself to a handful. Taking another bite herself, she savored the sugary sweetness melting on her tongue.
“We still haven’t gone on the roller coaster,” Damian reminded her.
“That’s because you spent all that time trying to win this silly elephant.” She hugged it against her, belying her words.
“Are you game?” Damian asked, gesturing toward the huge steel structure.
Jessica shrugged. “I … I don’t know if that’s such a good idea after all the junk we’ve eaten.”
“Trust me.” He looped his arm through hers and pulled her along, not giving her a chance to protest.
“Great, first you fill me up with popcorn and cotton candy, then you insist on dragging me onto one of the biggest roller coasters in the country. That’s not smart, Damian, not smart at all.”
The crowds were thicker than ever, and Damian took her hand as he led her toward the ride. The line was long, and the wait was sure to be at least thirty minutes. A list of arguments crowded Jessica’s mind, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good. The determined set of Damian’s jaw told her that much.
“What am I supposed to do with the elephant?” she asked, clinging to it tightly as they edged closer.
“Hold it.”
“If I’m holding the elephant, how am I going to hold on?”
“I’ll hold you,” he assured her calmly. “Stop looking so worried.”
“I should tell you, Damian Dryden, the last time I rode on this thing I had a near-death experience. I don’t suppose you know when this ride had a safety inspection.”
“Thursday.”
“You don’t know that!”
He laughed, seeming to enjoy her unease. “True, but it sounded good. Listen, this roller coaster has been running for twenty years without a single mishap. Well, there was that one time …”
“Damian!”
“I was joking.”
“Don’t tease,” Jessica muttered furiously. She flattened her palm against her stomach and sighed loudly. “My stomach doesn’t feel right.”
“You won’t be sick.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Experience. Anticipation’s the worst part. The ride itself is fun. The only problem is that it doesn’t last long enough. The whole thing is over in no time.”
For all her complaining, as the minutes passed, Jessica found herself beginning to look forward to their turn. At last the silver cars came to an abrupt halt in front of them.
“Just promise me you won’t fling your arms up in the air in that bizarre descent ritual,” Jessica murmured as the bar fell into place, securing them in the seat.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Damian said, “not when I promised to hold on to you.”
Jessica colored slightly, but didn’t respond. She dared not look down. She generally avoided heights, which meant she was trapped into closing her eyes. The stuffed elephant was cradled in her arms, much the same way Damian was cradling her.
The cars slowly made their ascent, chugging up the steep incline, making a straining noise as if the weight was too much to bear. The line of cars topped the peak and started its rapid descent. A scream of excitement froze in her throat as they plummeted downward. Damian’s arm tightened around her shoulders. Her free hand gripped his, her nails digging into his fingers, but if she was hurting him, he gave no indication. Just when it seemed they were about to break the sound barrier, they climbed up another steep grade, which slowed the momentum, but once they reached the top they were cast on a crazy twisting, turning journey that left her stomach far behind. Her eyes were closed so tightly her face ached.
When at last they rolled to a halt, Jessica’s shoulders surged forward, then sagged with a twinge of disappointment as she realized the ride was over.
“Well?” Damian asked, taking her hand to help her climb out of the cramped car. “Did you or did you not have fun?”
Her legs felt a little shaky once she started walking. “Give me a minute—I don’t know what I’m feeling.”
Damian laughed. “Admit it. Don’t be shy. It was fun, wasn’t it?”
“Yes,” Jessica said with ill grace.
Damian laughed again and tucked his arm around her waist. His action seemed so natural, especially since it was evident that her knees had yet to right themselves. Although his touch was automatic, it had a curious effect on Jessica. She enjoyed being linked with Damian, enjoyed having his body close to hers. She’d experienced it while they were dancing, too.
“You ready to head back?” Damian asked as they neared the brightly lit arched entry to Cannon Beach.
She agreed with a nod, but in fact she didn’t want the night to end. Their time together had been perfect. Perhaps now Damian would understand that it was his company she sought and not his brother’s. Perhaps now he’d view her as a woman and not the pesky little girl next door.
And maybe Evan’s obvious attraction to Ramona would blossom into something more, and the Drydens would stop looking to Jessica for solutions.