She slid the bowl in front of him with a wink. “And don’t you forget it.”
He laughed as he picked up his spoon. “Wait, so if I taste this, am I getting a taste of you?”
“The only taste you’re going to get.” She sauntered back to the freezer to put the ice cream away.
“Challenge accepted.” He dug in.
“I didn’t mean that as a challenge.” She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder.
He pointed to his full mouth to avoid answering. She may not have meant it as a challenge, but the gauntlet had been thrown down nonetheless. All in all, the flavor combination wasn’t bad, but he could only eat a few bites. “It’s too rich for me.”
She sputtered a laugh.
It took him a second to catch on that he’d impliedshewas too rich for him. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Sure you didn’t.” She consulted a list taped to the counter and made her way to another freezer. “Maple Pecan with Sea Salt Caramel.” She held up the container with an orange lid. “Charlie wants to put this one into production next month. It’s been through several rounds and should be pretty good.”
“Maple is my mom’s favorite flavor.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wished he could take them back. Just mentioning his parents had taken the temperature in the room down an additional five degrees. And, for some odd reason, it made Kenzi slow her movements.
“Well, if that’s the case, then she has a high standard for what’s right and wrong and she is socially conscientious.”
Nash stared for several seconds, shocked to have his mother summed up in an ice cream flavor. And here he’d thought she was complex because she professed to love him yet had turned her back when he’d gone to prison and brought shame to the family. “That’s on the money.”
“Around here, we say, ‘That’s on the spoon.’”
“You do not.”
“Who’s fun and funny now?” She cocked her hip.
“I’d say you’re flirting again—where’s the chocolate?”
She stuck out her tongue before taking a bite. “Is your mom mad you got married and didn’t invite her?”
The sweet cream and salty caramel went bitter on his tongue.
“I only ask because my sisters were teed off. I think theywantthe matching bridesmaids’ dresses.”
Nash remained quiet, hoping she’d keep talking. When she didn’t, he looked up to find her studying him.
“Well?”
“I haven’t told her.”
She leaned forward and whispered, “Are you ashamed of your billionaire wife?”
He chuckled, appreciating her keeping it light. “Well, I didn’t want to say anything, but come on. I can do so much better than a billionaire.”
She rolled her eyes. “Would she be mad?”
He dragged his spoon through the ice cream, catching a nut in the process and leaving a jagged hole. “She would love you to pieces and probably smother you.”
“Sounds horrible.” Kenzi mock shivered. “But you haven’t told her about me—us?”
“We don’t talk.”
“It’s not like you have to bare your soul. It’s a simple ‘Hey, Mom, I got married last week.’”
Nash stared at his bowl, watching the ice cream melt.
