Heat flares in his eyes, and a low tug in my belly answers. I want to drizzle the caramel on him instead of this scoop.
I’ve never done anything like that, and my brain stalls on the image, wondering if it would taste good to lick caramel off the skin of a man like him.
Bad Gemma! Don’t lick the customers.
My cheeks feel so hot they must be bright red when I hold out the cup.
His fingers brush mine as he slowly reaches for it.
The little zing makes my breath catch.
Our gazes lock.
His slowly takes the bowl and sets it aside. He reaches for his wallet. "How much?"
"You have to try it first. To see if I'm right."
He sets his wallet aside and digs the spoon into the ice cream. He lifts it slowly—chocolate and vanilla in equal measure—and slides it between his lips.
Dear god this man even makes eating sexy.
He slowly draws the spoon out, and because I'm staring like a creeper, I see the swipe of his tongue before he says in that deliciously deep voice, "The combination of vanilla and chocolate is... unexpected. The vanilla is too sweet to mix with the darkness of the chocolate."
"I think they would complement each other." I swear the air between us grows heated. It feels like we aren't talking about ice cream anymore.
I don't even know his name, but I want to lick the sweetness off his lips.
He eats a few more bites of ice cream until only the chocolate remains and sets the bowl down. Then he digs a $50 bill out of his wallet and drops it on the counter. "Thank you."
"I'll get your change."
"No need. It's yours."
Is he serious? That's almost a $45 tip. "But..."
He tucks his wallet away, gives me another lingering look, then heads for the door.
"Wait!" I hustle around the counter after him.
He turns back, one dark eyebrow raised.
"I'm Gemma."
His eyes skate to the windows and back to me. For a moment, I think he might walk out without another word.
Then he replies, "I’m Dallas."
Dallas. A city of contained energy. Like him. He doesn't move free and easy like most people. He moves like a panther. Prowling instead of walking.
"Thanks for coming by Sweet Scoops. I hope you'll come back."For me."We have the best ice cream in the city."
Lame Gemma. So lame.But I couldn't think of anything else to say. I just… don’t want him to leave yet.
A flicker of regret crosses his face. He heads for the door.
I trail behind him. Disappointment sinks like a rock in my gut. I’ve never felt this breathless or flushed, and he’s about to walk out of my life as fast as he came in.
"Nice to meet you, Dallas," I say softly.
