more grace than her previous tries. To her utter surprise, it landed on one of the milk jugs in the center, slipping over the bottle’s neck as if there’d been no question of the outcome.
“I did it.” She started to turn, but Gray held her fast.
“One down,” he said. “Two more to go.”
He stayed at her back for the second toss, which clinked against the rim of a bottle but still slid into place.
The third toss landed between two bottles, but when Gray pressed the final ring into her palm, Avery was determined to make it count.
“I’ve got this,” she murmured, more to herself than him. Gray pulled away slightly, and her body immediately wanted to protest. Instead she closed her eyes and visualized the motion of the ring soaring toward its target, then opened them again and tossed it into the air.
She held her breath for the seconds it took the ring to drop onto the neck of the third bottle. “That’s three,” she said, pumping her fists in the air.
“Nice, lady,” the teenager working the booth told her as the pack of boys groaned and gave each other grief about being beaten by a chick. “Pick your prize.”
“The bear,” she said. Her grin widened as he handed her the stuffed animal with the bow tied around its neck.
She turned to Gray, only to find him huddled with the boys. There were four of them, each with his eyes cast to the ground. After a moment, Gray nodded and the boys approached her.
“Good job with your toss,” the tallest said. “And not because you’re a chic—” He paused when one of his buddies smacked him on the arm. “Because you’re a lady.”
“Yeah,” another boy agreed, adjusting the bill of his baseball cap. “It was just good.”
“Thanks,” she said as Spot trundled forward to sniff the row of grungy sneakers.
“Can I pet your dog?” baseball cap boy asked.
Avery opened her mouth to explain that Spot didn’t belong to her, then simply said, “Spot’s a girl and she’d love to be petted.”
The boys crouched down for the flop and roll routine while Gray winked at her. “Nice teddy bear.”
“It’s for you,” she told him.
He blinked. “You won me a bear?”
“You can give it to Violet.” She gestured to the three stuffed animals he’d won over the course of the morning, all of which he’d handed to her. “I’ve got plenty.”
As the boys finished loving on Spot and wandered off, she stepped closer to Gray. His cheeks were suddenly tinged with pink.
“Are you blushing?”
He grabbed the stuffed bear from her outstretched hand. “I don’t blush.”
“Except you are.” She picked up the prizes he’d given her. “It’s cute.”
“Firefighters are manly and hot,” he countered, sounding affronted. “Not cute.”
“You’re cute,” she said with a laugh.
“Supporting the local economy,” Malcolm Grimes said as he stepped into their path. “Just what I like to see at Summer Fair.”
“Hey, Mal.” Gray shook the mayor’s hand. “Another success on your hands.”
“I try.” Mal lifted the straw hat from his bald head and waved it like a fan in front of his face. “I must admit I’m looking forward to things cooling off when the sun goes down later.”
“I’ll be back in my air-conditioned apartment by then,” Avery told him. “Preferably on the couch with a glass of wine.”
“But you’ll be back for the fireworks tomorrow?” Mal arched a thick brow. “You know, one of your father’s most popular paintings depicted the town’s annual fireworks display.”
“I’m familiar with it.” Irritation pricked at the bubble of happiness that had surrounded her during her time with Gray. When she’d first received the letter revealing her father’s identity, she’d spent a hazy night with a bottle of Grey Goose, trolling the internet for information on Niall. She’d scrolled through pages that displayed the images of his most prominent works. Had there been a fireworks scene among the hoards of mawkish paintings? Maybe. “I’ll try to make it back,” she said, knowing she