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“I’ll have to check it out.”
She didn’t see that happening but kept mum on the subject.
“Just past that you’ll spy the Tipsy Barrel, owned by Max Williams. He was in my sister Mia’s grade in school, always a good guy and runs a clean bar. They expanded last year to add a distillery out back and have come up with their own brand of bourbon, which they bottle with a variety of flavor infusions. If stores outside our region ever pick up on them, Max is going to be set for life.”
Del paused at a four-way stop, allowing Isaac time to take in the two-story brick building, painted barrel brown. The bar’s blue neon sign hung off one corner of the building, the words “Tipsy” and “Barrel” flashing at offset intervals. As usual, the place was packed.
“His bourbon’s that good, huh?”
“Oh yeah. But you’ve gotta watch yourself—it’ll sneak up on you right quick.”
Isaac chuckled. “Duly noted.”
“Since I didn’t figure you’d want to go in anywhere tonight, we’re going to continue south. I do, however, need to make one quick stop.”
She offered him a devious grin and eased into a tiny parking lot on the street’s west side. Before he could argue, she raised a hand. “Don’t worry, you can stay in here. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll bring it to you.”
Isaac’s worried gaze shifted to the tiny lean-to across the small gravel lot, then to the large two-dimensional ice cream cone hoisted overhead.
“Frosty Falls is a staple here in the summer, and some of the best ice cream around.” She paused as Isaac’s stomach let out a loud growl. “And don’t even try to tell me you don’t want anything.”
He grinned for the first time since getting in her vehicle. “Oh no, I never turn down ice cream.”
“Excellent. So what are you craving tonight?”
“Not sure. What’s your usual go-to item here?”
She squinted toward the order counter. “Depends on what I’m in the mood for. Sometimes it’s a chocolate malt, but tonight I’m thinking a twist cone.”
“A twist cone sounds perfect.”
Isaac reached for his wallet, but Del waved him off.
“Oh no, this one’s on me. Consider it payment for pain and suffering, since I dragged you out of the house and all.”
With a grin, she slipped out the driver’s side door and angled for the ice cream stand. Even at this hour on a weeknight, a small line of people waited to place their orders. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be gone too long—poor Isaac was likely on the brink of a mini panic attack. Seriously, she’d never met anyone like him before.
But as quirky as he could be at times, he’d earnestly listened when she was telling him about the fundraiser decisions made so far. The research he’d done ahead of their talk tonight had also blown her away. Then there was his whole speech about how he shouldn’t have crossed the line with her on Sunday.
Darn it.She hadn’t meant to let her thoughts go down that path again tonight after his little confession earlier. Kind of hard not to, though, sitting mere inches from him and that amazing cologne of his. If the guy really didn’t want them to do more kissing, he shouldn’t have worn that cologne.
Unless maybe what he’d said back on the porch and what he wanted were two completely different things.
Mia’s words of warning tugged at Del but she pushed them aside. What harm could a little kissing possibly do?
She ordered two twist cones and headed back to share with her hermit, who cracked his door mere inches to receive the offered cone.
“Thank you,” he said, pulling the door quickly shut.
Del just shook her head. His behavior was amusing if nothing else. Inside the cab once more, she gave him an imploring look. “Well?”
“Thank you, again.”
She laughed. “You’re welcome, but that wasn’t what I was asking. Have you tried it yet, or were you too busy being paranoid?”
He cast a wary glance to the parking lot. “Uh…”
“Stop staring and start eating, will ya? I’m telling you, this is the best ice cream around.”
