chasing demons. ***completed***

#7 a sweet kiss

they made their way to the town square where there were tents lined up all through the town. they parked a block away since parking was fairly limited. Dan looked over at Emma after parking. " thanks for not telling anyone I saw you naked and leave out the by accident. " he saw a huge grin form on her face.

" you have to admit it was pretty good. the whole thing was funny. now if you had done it on purpose..." she let her voice trail off.

Dan leaned in towards her ear as he softly whispered. " I do have admit it was pretty good." he placed a kiss on her neck just below her ear and watched as goosebumps formed were his lips touched. when he pulled back he could see her face had turned a bright pink.

" Come on let's go! they have cotton candy and a pie eating contest. I plan on eating the cotton candy and all the pie I can in thirty minutes. " Emma jumped out of the truck. she opted for a dress and flats. she hadn't worn a dress or really even dressed up in a long time. She wanted to do something out of the normal. Dan seemed to have gotten under skin and inked his way in.

Dan got out of the truck following her through the crowd. she reached back grabbing his hand into hers and he stopped for a moment staring down at their hands together. his heart picked up a little. she was the first woman in years that made him feel anything. he had thought he was broken but here he was holding her hand and feeling his heartbeat faster every time he looked at her. Emma stopped and looked back at him. he looked up into her eyes shaking off his shock and something else. a feeling he wasn't sure of. " you plan on eating as many pies as you can in thirty minutes? where is it all going to go?"

she laughed and a snort came out as she pulled her other hand over her mouth to stop from snorting again. " usually it stays in my ass and I have to work out extra long to take off the extra weight"

he gently pulled her hand down away from her mouth. " I like your laugh. it's genuine." he smiled down at her and they continued making their way through the crowded square. Dan looked around at the crowd of people staring at them and whispering to one another.

Emma smiled at him. " well that's the thing about small towns where everyone knows you. they talk a lot of s**t and gossip even bigger s**t. I suppose by tomorrow you and I will be married with three kids." She shrugged and stopped in front of the first booth. Dan looked at the booth. cotton candy, funnel cake and corn dogs were written across it.

" I got this. if a woman wants cotton candy then you get her cotton candy. I'm also pretty excited to see how many pies you can eat. I also think your ass is just fine." she let go of his hand looking deeply into his eyes. there was pain inside them. something that went deep to his soul and she could see it there just below the surface. she could also see a kind heart. she was feeling things she never let herself feel. she looked down as they stepped up to the booth to order. she had to remind herself he was only temporarily here. a flash in her life before he went off to start his.

" 1 blue cotton candy please." she needed to stop allowing herself to think there could be more than just what they had right now. she had already been hurt by Rory and she needed to stay guarded, so it didn't happen again. she wasn't sure this time she could make it through another broken heart.

" and I will take 1 corn dog please." Dan pulled out his wallet and paid the lady.

" here ya go Emma. you comin to service on Sunday?" the woman had fiery red hair pulled back in a tight ponytail.

" I have a case I'm working on tomorrow. new client coming in from out of town. I'm hoping to be done but it all depends on how this meeting goes. have a good day Martha." Emma smiled sweetly at the girl and handed the corn dog over to Dan. "Come on captain Dan. let's go eat this over on that picnic table."

" why do you call me captain Dan?" her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him.

"I don't know your last name so I can't really call you by that. And it kind of sounds like a forest gump movie. plus, you kind of remind me of a Viking or pirate or something." she shrugged her shoulders. " captain Dan. " she slid in next to him on the bench. " try this cotton candy. it's the best!" she shoved some in her mouth as she moaned. " mmmmm, love this so much." Dan watched as her tongue traced the bottom of her lips. he wanted to taste the cotton candy from her mouth. he hadn't even realized how close he was to her. he didn't even think about what he was doing in that moment. not until he felt his lips on hers and then he slid his tongue across her lips tracing them and tasting her.

she didn't pull away. instead she leaned in and opened her mouth allowing him to stick his tongue inside tasting the sweet flavor of the cotton candy on her tongue. his tongue explored her and tasted every inch. finally he pulled away putting his forehead on hers. resting it there with his eyes closed. " best tasting cotton candy I have ever had. I'm not sure I could ever eat it without you again." he watched as her lips curled into a smile and she went in for another kiss.

"I think I agree with you." they sat there for a moment longer. the crowd melted away and it was just the two of them in their own world staring into each other's eyes. Emma took a deep breath in and sighed. " Come on. I need to sign up for the pie eating contest. are you going to join me?"

"I don't want to win."

" you really think you could win me? I'm a two year champion. no one has won me in this town." Emma smiled as she stood up.

" I'm pretty competitive. what do I get if I win?"

"hhmmmm," she tapped her finger on her lips. lips he was just a moment ago tasting. "how about a date? I will cook for you and make you a special dinner tonight if you win. now what do I get captain Dan if I win?"

"hhhmmmm," Dan mimicked her thinking and tapped his fingers on his lips." how about I make you dinner and cook for you and clean up the dishes?"

" my place or yours?"

" wherever you want."

Emma looked at him for a moment. "definitely my place. you have a deal!" she put her hand out for him to shake. he didn't let go. he laced his fingers in hers and they walked hand in hand. " hey Betty we are here to sign up for the pie eating contest."

Betty looked up at Emma. " you have won two years in a row miss Lally. you gonna let the anyone else win this time?"

" well this guy right here thinks he has a chance!" Betty took down their names and gave them a paper with their numbers on it. " you pin this to your shirt so they know you by your number. good luck up there." Emma smiled at Dan as they made their way up to the tables. " so the rules are no hands. only your mouth and no throwing up or you are out. you got thirty minutes or last man standing. may the best man or woman win." he couldn't help but love that goofy grin. Dan looked around. there was about thirty people lined up with numbers pinned to their shirts.

" this town takes its pie eating contest pretty seriously. "

" winner gets part of the proceeds. I usually donate mine to the local group home for kids. I figure they need it more than I do."

before Dan could react the announcer started speaking. " alright folks it is time for our annual pie eating contest. all contestants must keep their hands behind their backs at all times and no cheating. mouths only or you are disqualified and no throwing up. we keep eating for thirty minutes or until the last man or woman standing. on your marks, get set and start that clock!" everyone started digging in pie across their faces. Dan finished his first and moved on to a second. close behind him was Emma tearing through her pies. he pushed her out of his mind and began eating faster. three pies down. she was close. people were already starting to drop out by the third. number four pie down. his stomach was starting to hurt but he was determined to either win or have Emma win so he kept pushing forward. five. six. Emma was starting to slow down. other contestants dropped out. he could hear another start throwing up. he closed his mind off and finished off his seventh pie. he was slowing down. he looked over and realized it was just him and Emma left. she was finishing her seventh pie and it was at that moment he decided he was going to lose just so he could make her dinner. it was worth the sacrifice. he took his hands from behind his back and placed them on the table. a blow horn rang out loudly. the noise triggered him to flash back to Iraq. he could hear Emma next to him. her voice softly speaking in his ear. " shhhh, it's ok. I'm right here. I got you." her voice was pulling him back to the here and now.

" sorry. I must have had too much pie."

Emma softly smiled at him pie all over her face still. they were handed towels to wipe off. " I know what PTSD is. been through it with Kevin many times." she wiped her face with the damp towel as she spoke to him. "you still good to make dinner? I won."

he stood up straight. his forehead still sweating from the panic attack. " I definitely am looking forward to it. we should go grocery shopping first. what's your favorite thing?"

Emma gave a big goofy grin. " I like a good steak and beer with potatoes of course."

" a woman after my own heart. not only can you beat my ass at eating pie but you like a good steak and beer. I may have to marry you to prove to my mom women like you do exist." he realized what he said a little too late. he just hoped he didn't scare her off.

"you can't afford to feed a woman like me. hell I can barely feed me!" she smiled as they made their way down the stage steps and over to the winners booth. " hey Ed! just donate it to my usual place."

" you know miss Emma. he was on the track to win. you almost got beat this year. maybe he can come back next year and win!"

Dan smiled at Emma. " hmmm, maybe he will Ed. see ya!" they drove silently to the grocery store. Dan reached over placing his hand on top of hers. he liked the feeling of her close to him. he liked feeling.