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“How did you find this place?”
“Tanner.”
“Your business partner?”
“Yeah. Guy has three kids. Ruby is just a baby, and then he’s got two boys.” His smile lights up his entire face.
“You come here with them?”
“Every couple of weeks. They always manage to negotiate extra toppings when I bring them. They’ll be great in business when they’re older.” He chuckles, and his eyes leave mine as he scoops up more ice-cream.
He must bring the boys here by himself. I’m not sure why, but the discovery makes warmth spread through my chest. My sister Holly has two children. But she married an American actor and they live in LA. I don’t get to see my two nieces much.
I fill my spoon again, studying Drew at the same time. He’s still wearing his work suit. I suspect he’s come straight from the airport to see me after getting off the plane, but I don’t ask him, because a part of me would hate it if I’m wrong.
What the hell am I getting myself into?
“My thoughts exactly,” he muses, his eyes dropping to my lips as I lick the ice cream from them, having spoken out loud without realizing. I’m more tired than I thought. Meeting with Chelsea, Henry turning up… it’s been a long day.
“What?” I frown as he looks into my almost empty bowl.
“Rum and raisin?” He arches a brow in disgust, making me laugh.
“I like it,” I argue back, digging out a big spoonful on purpose.
“Okay.” He lifts his brows as I lick my spoon and narrow my eyes at him.
“You’re passing judgment on my ice cream choice like some sort of flavor connoisseur and I bet you’ve never even tried it.” I wave my spoon in his direction. “Where’s the fairness in that. Judge and jury all in one, Mr. Harper?”
He drops his spoon in his bowl. “Give me a taste then.” He rises from his seat and leans over the table, planting one palm on it as he moves closer. The days’ worth of stubble is more visible along his angled jawline as he waits in front of me. The sight has me wetting my lips.
I lift my spoon into the small gap between us like an offering, but he smirks, exhaling cool, minty breath against my lips. “Not like that.”
He presses his lips to mine and kisses me softly, chuckling, as my spoon drops and clatters loudly on the table. I ignore it, gripping onto his tie and pulling him closer so I can deepen the kiss. He kisses me back with more urgency, sliding his tongue between my lips and groaning as I run my other hand through the hair at the back of his neck.
He pulls back, ending it far too quickly.
“I told myself to take this slow,” he mutters around a soft smile as he sits back in his seat and looks at me.
“And I said I’d pick our next date. But I didn’t.” My gaze darts around the cafe, then comes back to meet his. “Things change.” I tip my head to one side. “But just so I know… slow?”
This is why he kissed me on the doorstep but never came in after our date. Is this how he dates? Throws the word husband and boyfriend around freely, but doesn’t attempt to touch me after the first night? Makes it a game, hoping I’ll be the one to chase him? I fight from rolling my eyes as disappointment gathers low in my gut. I don’t have time for games.
Warm fingers graze my chin as he turns my head, bringing my gaze back to his. “You deserve to be dated. Properly.”
I lean into his warm touch as his hand slides up around my cheek. A few words and I’m already lapping it up. How does he have this effect on me?
“What if I want both?” I muse, making no attempt to move away.
“Both?”
“Orgasms and dates.”
A chuckle rumbles from his chest.
“Would you think less of me?” I ask.
His expression turns serious. “I could never think less of you, Sophie.”
