To Kiss A King. Maureen Child

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       Two

      She was driving Garrett just a little crazy.

      And not only because she was beautiful and funny and smart. But because he’d never seen a woman let go and really enjoy herself so much. Most of the women who came and went from his life were more interested in how their hair looked. Or in being sophisticated enough that a ride on spinning teacups would never have entered their heads.

      But Alex was different. She had the girls eating out of her hand, and, without even trying, she was reaching Garrett in ways that he never would have expected. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

      That wide smile was inviting, sexy—and familiar, somehow.

      He knew he’d seen her before somewhere, but damned if he could remember where. And that bothered him, too. Because a woman like Alex wasn’t easily forgotten.

      At lunch, she had bitten into a burger with a sigh of pleasure so rich that all he could think of was cool sheets and hot sex. She sat astride a carousel horse and he imagined her straddling him. She licked at an ice cream cone and he—

      Garrett shook his head and mentally pulled back fast from that particular image. As it was, he was having a hard time walking. A few more thoughts like that one and he’d be paralyzed.

      Alex loved everything about Disneyland. He saw it in her eyes because she didn’t hide a thing. Another way she was different from the women he knew. They were all about artful lies, strategic moves and studied flirtation.

      Alex was just…herself.

      “You’ll like this, Alex,” said Mia, who had appointed herself Alex’s personal tour guide. “The pirate ships shoot cannons and there’s a fire and singing, too. And it’s dark inside.”

      “Okay, kiddo,” Jackson told his daughter, interrupting her flood of information, “how about we give Alex a little rest?” He grinned at her and Garrett as he steered his family into the front row of the boat.

      Garrett took the hint gratefully and pulled Alexis into the last row. A bit of separation for the duration of the ride would give them a little time to themselves.

      “She’s wonderful,” Alex murmured. “So bright. So talkative.”

      “Oh, she is that,” Garrett said with a laugh. “Mia has an opinion on everything and doesn’t hesitate to share it. Her kindergarten teacher calls her ‘precocious.’ I call her a busybody.”

      She laughed again and Garrett found himself smiling in response. There was no cautious titter. No careful chuckle. When Alex laughed, she threw her soul into it and everything about her lit up. Oh, he was getting in way too deep. This was ridiculous. Not only did he not even know her last name, but he hadn’t been able to pin down what country she was from, either.

      Not for lack of trying, though.

      The sense of familiarity he had for her was irritating as hell. There was something there. Something just out of reach, that would tell him how he knew her. Who she was. And yet, he couldn’t quite grab hold of it.

      The ride jolted into motion and Alex leaned forward, eager to see everything. He liked that about her, too. Her curiosity. Her appreciation for whatever was happening. It wasn’t something enough people did, living in the moment. For most, it was all about “tomorrow.” What they would do when they had the time or the money or the energy.

      He’d seen it all too often. People who had everything in the world and didn’t seem to notice because they were always looking forward to the next thing.