In 1934, life in Brookburn, Indiana, is quiet, simple, and peaceful, but young dreamer Levi Beckerman yearns for more. When the carnival shows up for the Fourth of July, he’s entranced by its many temptations. None is more seductive than the charismatic barker, Sebastian Gustineau.<br><br>Seb’s been a part of the carnival for almost a decade. Once, it provided him the escape he needed from a life he thought he didn’t want, but now, he craves things it can never offer. Flitting from dusty town to dusty town, he loses himself in pretty dalliances. Levi seems like the perfect distraction, until a single conversation convinces him that preserving Levi’s innocence and way of life is more important than his momentary satisfaction.<br><br>However, his plan to discourage Levi goes horribly wrong. When Levi’s family is threatened, Levi fights to protect them, doing what he can to hide the secrets he’s sheltered his entire life. The only person he trusts is Seb. He just isn’t sure if the growing bond between them is enough to save them all.

A Simple Charm

Levi sagged when it shut. In that moment, he looked as defeated as Seb felt.


This was his chance. The opening he needed to get Levi alone and sweet-talk him into keeping his appointment. But Seb’s feet remained firmly planted behind the tree, his legs as stalwart as the aged trunk. While this might be perfect timing for getting the task done, it was also his one opportunity, a real one, to do something completely unselfish. Maybe he could find something else Bertie would be willing to barter for, to keep Levi from—


A flutter of Levi’s fingers derailed his thoughts. He watched, enraptured, as Levi skimmed his palm along the top of the fence. In its wake, splinters of wood eddied in the air, twisting around in a wind Seb didn’t feel, coming together to bind, merge into a single smooth piece. The slim stick tumbled atop the fence once and then again, trailing after Levi as he ambled to the rear of the yard, his mind clearly elsewhere.


Chapter 18