I gazed around at my choices. “How about that one?” Across from us was a booth that boasted milk jugs. To win you had to toss a ring over the top of a jug. I figured it couldn’t be that hard.

“Looks good to me.”

After we walked over, Rev paid the man for some tickets. I was handed three rings. My first attempt didn’t even make it to the milk jug. The next smacked against the bottom. And after I put some oomph into the third, it went flying behind the jug. When I dared to look at Rev, he gave me an innocent look. “Want to try again?”

“Sure. Why not?”

Once again he paid and I was handed the rings. Once again I managed to get them nowhere near where they were supposed to be. “Again?” Rev asked.

I shook my head as I fought the embarrassment I was sure was tinging my cheeks. “No, I want to find the nearest concession stand. I plan to drown my inadequacies at carnival games in some cotton candy.”

Rev laughed. “Sounds like a plan.”

It wasn’t too hard locating the food. We simply had to follow the delicious smells wafting through the air. I decided on a corn dog and fresh lemonade along with my cotton candy. Rev ordered a funnel cake and a beer.

When he once again got out his wallet, I sighed. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

I frowned. “I just hate you’re having to pay so much for me. I’ll be glad when I can find a local branch of my bank and have some money of my own.”

“I don’t mind paying.”

“I know you don’t. It’s me who minds.”

“If it will make you feel better, I can start you a tab.”

“Smart-ass.”

While we ate our food, we walked around the other side of the fair, taking in the rides and various booths. As dusk started to fall, I became a little apprehensive. There was something more menacing in being around strangers in the dark versus the daylight. Every little noise from the rides made me jump.

When a man who had clearly had too much to drink bumped into me, a scream burst from my lips before I could think better of it. Rev rushed forward, grabbing the man by the throat and pinning him to the side of one of the booths. “What the fuck are you doing hitting her like that?” Rev demanded as his broad chest rose and fell with harsh pants.

The man’s blue eyes widened in fear as he took in both Rev’s imposing size and the menacing expression on his face. “N-Nothing. I swear.”

Feeling ashamed at my overreaction, I tentatively reached out to touch Rev’s arm. “It’s okay. Rev, he didn’t mean anything by it,” I said softly, trying to calm him down. This hair-trigger-temper side of him wasn’t something I was used to seeing, and if I was honest with myself, it was a little alarming.

Whether it was because of my touch or my reassurances that I was fine, I didn’t know, but Rev calmed down enough to release the man. He apologized repeatedly as he stumbled away from us. For a few seconds Rev refused to look at me. When he finally did, his features had returned to normal. “I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s okay.”

He shook his head. “No, it isn’t. I scared you, which is the last thing I wanted to do.”

I closed the gap between us. “I would be lying if I said that scene just now didn’t alarm me.” Staring up into his apologetic blue eyes, I added, “You just seemed so different.”

“In my world, I have to be violent to get things done.”

Although there was regret on his face, his tone was matter-of-fact. I realized then that there was so much more to Rev than I had originally imagined, and I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to know everything.

“Guess we better head out,” Rev said, breaking the tense silence between us.

“Okay,” I murmured. As I clutched the dog he had won me tightly against my chest, I let him start leading us out of the fair.

Just before we got to the exit, Rev abruptly stopped. “Can I have just a few more minutes?” he asked.

“Of course.”

He took my hand and led me over to one of the few booths that were close to the exit. I watched as he handed over some tickets and then started to play. It wasn’t a shooting game, but Rev still managed to master it.

When the guy asked what prize, I half expected Rev to turn to me. Instead, he pointed to a green alligator wearing a pink tutu and ballet slippers. When he turned back to me, he wore an accomplished smile.

“Just who is that alligator for, Casanova?”

He laughed. “It’s for my niece, Willow. She’s a ballerina.”

I stared at him in surprise at that; he had never mentioned having a niece. From his tone when he spoke about her, coupled with the fact that he had gone to the trouble to win something for her, it was obvious he loved her very much.

“How old is she?”

“Six going on sixteen.”

I smiled at his summation. “I bet she’s crazy about you.”

“What makes you say that?”

“If you’re as kind and devoted with her as you are with me, then she would have no reason not to be crazy about you.”

With a grin, Rev replied, “I can’t speak for her, but I do know I’m crazy about her. She’s been such a blessing to my family since she came to live with us a year ago.” At what must’ve been my surprised expression, Rev proceeded to tell me all about his niece’s tragic early years with a drug-addicted mother, her mother’s murder, and how she came to live with his older brother, Deacon.

“Poor thing,” I murmured as we started out of the exit.