Fall Carnival

Chapter 1

Stephanie POV

I'm not sure how I got roped into this. I was trying to be the good aunt to Angie and Mary Alice by attending this small carnival and it seemed like a good idea to bring a few Merry Men with me. The guys enjoy playing with the kids and the proceeds were to benefit their school. So, it's a win-win situation right?

Lester flung an arm around my shoulder as we walked across the dying autumn grass into the rows of vendor booths and games. "I haven't been to a carnival in ...I don't remember when," he grinned, "Want me to win you a teddy bear?"

"Oh please," Bobby groans catching up to us, "You know I'm the one who has the touch. You have to finesse those weighted bottles!" I couldn't help but giggle as Les grabbed Bobby in a headlock and they veered off toward the games.

"Aunt Steph, Aunt Steph!" Mary Alice yelled excitedly skipping toward me. Her little arms wrapped around me in a desperate hug. "You've got to help Aunt Steph, the princess got sick and we need you to take her place. Please!"

Princess? I wondered, oh boy… dress up….Before I could form another thought she looked up at me with big puppy dog eyes and "Sure, honey whatever you need," was coming out of my mouth in response. Somehow I knew I was going to regret this…. She grabbed my hand and dragged me along to an ornately decorated booth with wispy ribbons and fairy tale looking cardboard cut-outs of princes and princesses.

"OH good!" a harried looking woman in jeans and a rumpled shirt said as she grabbed my arm pulling me behind a curtain. She pulled a green princess dress over my head and put a matching ribbon headdress down over my wild curls. "Wait," I said "What is it I'm supposed to be doing?"

"What does it look like?" the woman grunted at me, "You're our princess, now go out there and pucker up, it's a dollar a kiss!" and with that she shoved me in front of the curtain. I stumbled forward and nearly landed face first in the lap of a young man dressed as a prince. A couple of pubescent boys snickered.

"You're on that side" the prince pointed before taking a young woman's dollar and kissing her lightly.

When I got to my seat those two snickering boys had formed a line in front of me. "Isn't there an age limit?!" I demanded folding my arms in front of me.

"Yeah sign says you must be 18 or older," a deep male voice replied. I looked up recognizing the voice. "Hal, thank God." I smiled. The boys scrambled away as Hal moved closer. His face was flushed as he approached holding out a dollar. "I've never kissed a princess before." Suddenly I was very aware of my surroundings and the costume I'd been forced to wear. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mary Alice and realized I promised to help. How bad can this be? I mean the Merry Men are all hot; maybe I can convince them to keep the creepy guys at bay.

Hal blushed. "You think I'm hot?" he asked. "Of course, what woman in her right mind wouldn't?" "You can count on me to protect you," he said assuming guard stance off to the side. "Wait, Hal," I said waving his dollar bill "you didn't get your kiss" I said. I reached out and grabbed his collar pulling him to me. He braced himself against the booth and I gave him a kiss he wouldn't soon forget. His whole head turned bright red and I felt myself blush as I released him.

Lester POV

Wow, that was a sight I never thought I'd see-Beautiful kissing Hal within an inch of his life. Of course, if Bossman sees him, it will be the end of ole Hal's life. Ranger has it bad for that little girl even if he won't admit it. I was about to ask Bobby if he was seeing what I was when I saw him out of the corner of my eye stop dead in his tracks, "What the…?" he gasped.

"I think you got your dollars worth there big guy" I said pulling Hal back. He looked at me dazed and I suggested he pull up a bale of hay and compose himself. I pulled a 5 out of my pocket and held it up toward Steph. "I'll have what he had," I grinned and waggled my eyebrows.

"What are you doing Bomber?" Bobby asked stepping forward and setting a huge teddy bear down on the ledge of the booth. "Hey," I said shoving him behind me, "I got here first." Stephanie laughed. "Lester, you are incorrigible!" "Maybe...are you gonna give me my five kisses or what?" I demanded with a grin. She blushed a little and smiled "Anything for the kids."

I hopped over the ledge, pulled her into my arms and dipped her low, kissing her thoroughly. She blinked a couple times when I returned her to an upright position. That gave me an idea. I grabbed the back of pubescent Romeo, AKA the kid dressed as a prince, by the back of his costume and pitched him out of the booth. "Ladies, quality has gone up and so has the price, 5 dollars a kiss with a real man not that boy." Even I was surprised at the line forming in front of me. I heard Steph gasp then bust out laughing. Beautiful laughing is always music to my ears. I grinned at her and motioned for the first customer to step up to the plate.

Bobby's POV

Seeing this as maybe my one opportunity with Bomber, a charity fundraiser no less, there is no way Ranger could justify killing me; I pulled a five out of my pocket and raised an eyebrow in question. Ok, so I have a small crush on her. I have ever since I saw her bring a skip to his knees, then show such compassion and concern for Ram when he was grazed by a piece of flying debris from one of her exploding cars. She is quick to stand up for any one of us and more than willing to help if we need it. Yeah, we each love her in different ways but it is Ranger who has her heart even if he doesn't realize it and she's too scared to admit it.

Stephanie explained how she got roped into helping out with the booth and asked if we would stay with her and scare off any creepy guys. I started to rethink my "proposition" before she grabbed my collar and kissed me. Damn, ok Brown pull away…mmm her lips are so soft and taste so good…I tried to will myself away but found myself responding and pulling her closer. She leaned in cupping my face in both hands. My hands found her waist and pulled her as close as I could with the waist high booth between us. I could feel the heat of her body. My lips tingled as she pulled away.

After a few seconds to recover, I realized she was grinning at me. "I always wondered about you," she said.

"Wait…what? Wondered about me how?" Let her explain Brown don't jump to conclusions.

"All of you guys are so hot and I'm not dead you know. Plus you are always so gentle and caring when you take care of me…I just wondered if you were like that in other ways too," she said with a blush.

I can't believe what I am hearing but can't help myself from asking "Well? What did you decide?"

"I was right but I think there is a little devil in you Mr. Brown." She winks then blushes.

I'm speechless and I'll be damned if I'm not blushing too!

I announced that the price had gone up on this side too! The kissing booth line stared filling up quickly. Several Rangemen made their way over to the booth having the same thought I had about this charity keeping Ranger from taking us to the mats. Steph obliged racking up lots of money for the school.

Ranger POV

I had work to finish up before I could make it out to the kiddie carnival at Steph's niece's school. This wouldn't be my first choice or even my top five ways to spend time with my babe but I'll take what I can get.

I pulled into the parking lot and watched a dozen kids race past me to get to where the games and fun awaited. I could feel Steph's presence but I haven't see her. It gave my heart a warm flutter to see her niece Mary Alice with Tank. She was on his shoulder giggling as he tickled her. A grin opened up his usual stoic face. I headed into the booths and games section and paused seeing Santos in a booth. He pulls a well built woman to him and practically rammed his tongue down her throat. I looked up and saw it was a kissing booth. "What the…?"

I moved closer and saw Hal off to one side in obvious guard stance. Who are we protecting here and why is Santos in a kissing booth? I moved closer and saw Bobby sitting on a bale of hay nearby. I can feel Steph is near, but where? I don't see her. I glanced around and stopped frozen at what I was seeing….."Dios Mio!"