An hour later, we finally arrived at Disneyland. The moment we stepped through the bustling entryway, the excitement Aria exuded was certainly contagious, and I found I couldn’t hold back my own enthusiasm as we strolled along with the thick crowd. There were mostly kids, ranging from toddlers to young adult, along with their parents and sometimes their grandparents, which was cute.

As a pro Disneyland guest, Aria was animatedly acting as my tour guide, pointing out all the different types of adventure rides, if she had ridden on any of them before or not and, if she had, whether she enjoyed them or not.

Throughout the next six hours, I found myself by Aria’s and James’s sides, taking ride after ride. First we went on the Radiator Spring Racer, followed by Toy Story Midway Mania, which Aria really loved. After that, it was Hyperspace Mountain and Star Tours, which I found I personally enjoyed. Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Railroad followed that, which was fun. Then the highly recommended Indiana Jones Adventure, which Aria couldn’t join due to the height restriction. That one was exhilarating despite the long queue and the extensive time we spent waiting. Not that I minded because I got to spend time with James alone while Aria and Sophie had gone off to Fantasyland.

It had been at this time when I wanted to bring up the subject about Aria and Sophie but found I couldn’t because of the loud noises of random chatter from people surrounding us. When finally our ride was upon us, I had forgotten all about the subject and spent the next half hour laughing and screaming.

Once we were out of the ride, I found I’d had enough and simply wanted to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee and some food. James, however, suggested something else, the most thrilling of all, which was California Screamin’. The name alone made me want to scream and run in the opposite direction.

When I shook my head and adamantly refused to take such a roller coaster ride, he taunted that I was a wuss.

I glared at him and held my head high as I told him firmly that I was certainly not a wuss and arrogantly agreed to take the ride.

Once we were at the site of California Screamin’, I stared up at that gigantic, state-of-the-art steel superstructure of a coaster and wanted to faint. My knees started shaking because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to handle it. However, because in my mind it was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime sort of experience, I refused to back out and tarnish my good name.

Soon, I found myself standing in line with James, who was grinning from ear to ear. He even pulled me into his arms and kissed me lightly on the cheek in front of everyone to show me how pleased he was with me.

I loved it, him openly embracing me in front of such a big crowd of people as if I were his girlfriend, as if I really belonged to him. I couldn’t help myself and returned the show of affection by tightening my arms around him.

On tiptoes, I gave him a peck on the lips, reminding him of our passionate kiss this morning, which still burned hot in my mind. And I surely hoped in his as well.

When I pulled back, he said, “Aren’t you very forward today? Kissing me in the open. Are you sure Aria isn’t around?”

That had me blushing, and I hastily looked over my shoulder, scanning the thick crowd of strangers to see if Aria and Sophie were close by. Gosh, I definitely didn’t want Aria to see me kissing her dad; that was for sure.

James was amused by my reaction and chuckled heartily. I did not find it humorous at all and made a move out of his tight embrace. He wouldn’t let me go and tightened his arms around me so I was literally glued to him like a second skin.

“Don’t be mean,” he said as if he were wounded. “It’s fucking hard not being able to touch you. Reward me,” he demanded like a schoolboy.

Really? A ruthless billionaire who ruled underground businesses and dealt with gangs and cartels thought I was mean simply because I didn’t want to be in his arms in front of the crowd? Gosh! How was it possible for such a powerful, influential man to say such an ingenuous thing to me like that? Like a youth deeply in love? And to me of all people?

I sighed and smiled at him. I just couldn’t believe it. Was this really the James who I’d first met barely a month ago? The man who frightened me and made me want to run in the opposite direction the first time I laid eyes on him because of his powerful, sexy looks and his cold, arrogant, domineering demeanor he so easily exuded?

Obviously, there was a different side to James the deeper I got to know him. The side he didn’t show to outsiders, the caring side I found hard not to love.

I relented in the end and let him have his way. Eventually our turn was upon us, and I became nervous all over again. But I didn’t have the chance to change my mind and flee as James made me sit next to him in the coaster car and right in the front too.

Once the countdown began and the coaster car started heading out, I didn’t remember much after that, just that there were a lot of ups and downs and I was screaming a lot. I remembered holding on to James as if he were my lifeline and if I were to let him go, I would surely die. I felt sick and wanted to throw up by the time the ride had ended.

Once I was safely back on the ground again and standing there in the open, taking in deep breaths, I vowed I would never, ever ride on the California Screamin’ again if I ever had the chance to return to Disneyland.

James chuckled and offered to carry me in his arms since he knew it was hard for me to walk straight.

Even though my head was still spinning, my heart was still racing, and my knees still felt like jelly, I glared at him and firmly told him I was fine and didn’t need to be carried around like an invalid. This only made him laugh even more.

When we finally met up with Aria and Sophie at the Blue Bayou, I gladly took a seat beside Aria and eagerly ordered a cup of hot coffee and salmon for lunch. James ordered coffee as well and a slow-roasted beef strip. Sophie had already finished with her meal even before we arrived, while Aria was still munching away on her spaghetti Bolognese.

Once I’d had a couple of sips of my coffee, I felt better and turned my attention to Aria, who was very quiet eating her meal. It didn’t surprise me at all, because she was with the beautiful dragon Sophie.

“Did you have fun at Fantasyland, Aria?” I asked with interest.

Aria nodded in confirmation, smiling. After swallowing her food, she asked me in turn, “Did you have fun riding the Indiana Jones Adventure?”

I chuckled and nodded as well.

Aria cocked her head to one side as she looked at me closely under the twilight setting of the restaurant. “Then why are you so pale? Are you sick?”

At this query, James laughed, which drew not only Aria’s attention but that of the curious, envious Sophie as well.

“We went on the California Screamin’ after,” he said. “Mia couldn’t handle it.”

I glared at him. “Excuse me, but I certainly did. I survived, didn’t I?”

James smiled at me, his beautiful Prussian-blue eyes twinkling in amusement. “You certainly did. Good girl.” He praised me.

I felt like I was a teenage girl once again and blushed profusely, which I assumed might have brought some color back into my face and made me look like a normal human being again.

James’s and my food arrived then, and I heartily consumed mine with enjoyment while Aria happily recited her adventure at Fantasyland. Or mostly without Sophie from what I’d heard since her name wasn’t included in most of the tale.

I wondered if it would have been better if I were to have gone to Fantasyland with Aria instead, because I sure as hell would have done everything with Aria even if the adventure was meant for children. We’d have lots of fun together, like earlier this morning; that was for sure.

“So what do you want to ride next?” I asked Aria once I’d finished eating my wonderful meal.

Aria took a sip of her juice and shrugged her shoulder. After she’d swallowed the sweet liquid, she asked me instead, “What about you? What do you want to ride next?”

I shook my head. “Sorry, sweetheart, I think I’ve had enough for the day. The California Screamin’ was a bit too much for me,” I unashamedly admitted.

Aria chuckled. “Yeah, it looks scary. It’s too high.”

James asked, “Don’t you want to give it a go when you’re a bit older, Aria?”

Aria shook her head. “No thank you, Daddy. Mia looks so sick it’s funny. I don’t want to look pale and funny like her.” She laughed good-naturedly.

I chuckled. Well, yes, I thought it was a tad bit funny as well. Couldn’t be helped. It had been okay starting that California Screamin’ ride. But by the time the coaster car had gotten up to its highest point and about to descend and then ascend again, I had freaked out and nearly fainted. When it had started to do a nosedive, I had clung to James for dear life as I screamed my head off. I couldn’t help myself.

James being James, he’d been completely composed, as if the ride didn’t affect him one way or another, which I secretly envied.

God, I wished I had the stamina and the stomach to handle such a crazy roller coaster.

Aria turned her attention to Sophie then and asked, “Sophie, you’re not going to take any rides?”

Sophie smiled pleasantly at the little girl and shook her head. “Not today, Aria. I’m here to look after you. It’s my responsibility as your nanny, and I certainly don’t want to make a fool of myself, behaving like some street rat.”

The moment she finished speaking, I knew her words were meant for me. So I was a street rat now, was I?

I cleared my throat and said, “That’s too bad. The rides are so much fun. Right, Aria?”

Aria nodded in agreement. “Yeah. They are. That’s too bad, Sophie. I wish you weren’t my nanny so you could have fun too.” The little girl even gave her a cute smile.

I nearly spilled my coffee trying not to laugh at Aria’s innocent words. For the second time today, I wanted to give her a high-five. On my right, I noticed James was doing his damn hardest to keep his face straight also, and I secretly felt elated that he found the situation amusing.

Sophie looked pissed, which didn’t surprise me. And why wouldn’t she be? It served her right for behaving as if she were above everyone else. Well, especially me.

“What about Pirates of the Caribbean?” Aria suggested to Sophie.

Pirates of the Caribbean, eh? That sounded not too crazy of an adventure ride yet fun and exciting. I smiled and eagerly opted in, my previous sickness from the dreadful daredevil of a ride conveniently forgotten.

“Let’s do it,” I said, pushing my chair back, pumped and ready for another ride.

James chuckled and said, “Come on then.”

Aria held my hand as we started heading away, all the while expressing how excited she was. Behind us, Sophie reluctantly followed.