She rolls her eyes, then smiles at the customer. “You are going to love this honey. And you can order online when you run out. That will be $7.45.” Then she turns to me and mouths, “Tease.”
“Good girl”plays on repeat in my head, my body reacting as if he was still touching me. I take a deep breath. Yeah, my sister has no idea of the teasing capabilities of that man. He has it down. I was so close to asking if he wanted to mess around some more last night. Overthinking it got in the way.
I slide down to the far end of the counter, bumping my hip against Daniel. “What’s on the menu?”
He shoots me a look that tells me he sees a lot that is tempting. It takes so little for him to fuel the fire inside me and the flames to reach my cheeks. “I was thinking later we could?—”
“Hi,” my sister says, bursting the bubble we had floating around us. Holding her hand over the counter, she smiles with her eyes wide on him. “I’m Winter. Summer’s sister.”
“Daniel,” he says, taking her hand, then patting Roman’s back. “This is my son, Roman.”
Winter hovers over the glass display. “What looks yummy?”
Roman doesn’t hesitate and taps the glass. “Honeycomb chocolate.”
“That’s my favorite. Cup or cone?”
“Cone.” She’s already reaching for a cone as if she knew the answer.
When she starts scooping, she peeks up at Daniel. “And what looks yummy to you this summer?”
“Excuse me?” His brows squeeze tight.
Winter’s laugh grips her as she bends to catch a breath. “Sorry,” she says, a hand reaching over the top of the counter to signal she’s going to live. I’m just here, mortified, while she finally gets a hold of herself and stands up. “I didn’t mean my sister . . .” She starts laughing again. “I meant what’s going to be your treat this summer, like the season. Oh God, I’m making this worse.”
“You are,” I deadpan, knowing she absolutely meant me with that loaded question. “I’m regretting visiting you today.”
She breezes her hand in the air like this joke is gonna go on forever. “No. No. I’m sorry.” Laughter still interrupts every word.
I glare at her, though I must admit it was a good play on words. She gave it her full effort despite telling us it wasn’t planned. I know Winter better than that. “I’m not sure how sorry you are,” I say, then plaster a fake smile on. “But you’re going to be, little sis. Now get the man his ice cream.” I laugh.
“I’m going to try the orange honey vanilla.” His eyes dart between us as he studies us. “Visually, you and Winter are opposites.”
“Like the seasons.” I walk to a new lotion I’ve not seen in here before and use the pump.
“Remarkable.”
“As if my mom knew before she met us.”
Winter hands him his cone. “Sorry to hear about your vacation being ruined.”
“It’s not ruined.” His little finger grazes the side of my hand just hidden from view from my sister. “We’re coming out ahead, if you ask me.”
Her eyes flick to mine, and we share all-knowing smiles. “I know Summer will take good care of you. She’s the best.”
The bell chimes above the door as a group of women from the local ladies’ club walks in. “Hello, girls,” Mara greets with her arm thrown in the air with flair. For twenty-five years, she’s voluntarily run the playhouse because of her love of the dramatics.
We’ve known her since the day we were born. She’s always been a friend to the family and came to help Dolly with us when our parents died. I give her a tight hug because it’s been too long. “How are you?” Her signature scent of Shalimar still provides comfort in the memories of her spending time with me when I was little.
“Wonderful, darling. We’re here for the best ice cream in town.” She spots Winter at the back of the store helping another customer. Tourist season is in full swing. Our town needs the monetary injection. “You know what I like, dear.”
“One scoop Ube Honey and one scoop of orange honey vanilla coming right up.”
Mara strolls over while the rest of the group heads toward the ice cream display. “How’s your Dolly?”
Folding my hands in front of me, I reply, “She’s doing good. Keeps busy.”
“I’ve tried to get her to join the ladies’ club, but she always has something else going on. We need her moxie to liven things up. I bring them here to get a sugar rush, but it wears off before we can get into any trouble.”So much like Dolly.
