AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You should be selling this stuff, with this ice cream, and your fantastic nuts.” She sucked on the tip of the spoon again. “It’s like crack.”
He stared at her mouth for a beat, his silence filling the air with sexual tension. When he finally spoke, it was a relief. “My mother owned this shop, once upon a time, so I guess you could say it’s in my blood.”
She froze. “She did?”
“Yes. That’s why I work here occasionally.” He scooped up more ice cream, savoring it with a sigh. “It makes me feel closer to her, somehow.”
Well, crap. He had to go say something so sensitive, so freaking perfect, that it blew everything she thought she knew about him out of the water. A man who missed his mother like that couldn’t be all that bad. “How old were you when she died?”
“Twelve.” He ate another bite of ice cream, but she could see he was in another place and another time—more than likely with his mother at his side. He smiled, but it was as sad as his eyes. “She was a good woman. A great queen. An even better mother.”
Reaching out, she squeezed his hand, locking eyes with him. He inhaled deeply, holding it in as he held on to her hand. And, though she didn’t want to admit it, there was no denying the fact that she didn’t want him to let go. “I bet she was.”
“How old were you?” he asked softly.
“Six. I don’t really remember her.” She swallowed, reluctantly taking her hand back. She missed his touch immediately—which was a bad, bad thing. “She was shot on the subway on her way home.”
They hadn’t spoken about this in New York. They’d been too busy falling in love.
“I’m so sorry.” He set his spoon down. “That’s awful.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Death always is.”
He leaned in and brushed a smear of chocolate off her mouth, and she froze, heart racing at the speed of light. When he spoke, his voice was hypnotic. “We’ve both lost too m
uch, Alicia. Being here with you reminds me of what we had, all those years ago. And I’m going to be honest and admit that I don’t want to lose you again.”
She touched her lip where he had, fear pulsing through her veins instead of blood. She wanted to pull him closer, but was also well aware that she had to do the opposite, for the sake of her own heart. A heart she wouldn’t let him break twice. “Leo, I—”
His phone rang, cutting her off, and she reclined in her seat, letting out a short breath of air. The interruption was a relief, because she had no idea what she’d been about to say…but it probably would have been something she would regret afterward.
Something impulsively romantic.
He glanced at the screen, frowning. “It’s my father. I have to take this. Do you mind?”
She shook her head. “Of course not.”
“Thank you,” he said. Then he swiped his finger on the phone, lifting it to his ear. “Dad? Are you okay?” Silence, and then: “I will. Did you get some rest before you got the call?”
His father spoke in reply, and she swore she heard her name.
She leaned in closer.
“Good.” After another short pause where his father spoke, his voice too low for her to make out, Leo rolled his eyes. “Over my dead body. Bye, Dad.” He hung up and glanced at Alicia. She shoved ice cream in her mouth, trying her best to look as if she hadn’t been trying to listen in. “My father isn’t able to join us for dinner after all.”
She paused, blinking at him. “Was he supposed to?”
“Yes. I just hadn’t asked you yet.”
“Why not?” she asked, cocking her head.
“Because I figured you’d tell me no.”
She pressed her lips together and lowered her head, playing with her mostly eaten ice cream because it was easier than looking at him. He was so handsome that sometimes it hurt—like gazing directly at the sun. “You’re probably right.”
“Can we just—?” he started.
“I told you, I don’t do second chances,” she said flatly, avoiding his gaze. If she looked at him, she might waver. And if she wavered, he’d end up hurting her again.
