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I took long strides in her direction, yanking her by the elbow away from the counter.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
“You ran from me. What did I tell you?” Christ. I sounded as if I was panicking.
Suzannah narrowed her eyes, placing one hand on my chest. “I didn’t run. I thought we were playing, enjoying our time together. I was right here. I just wanted some ice cream.”
Now I felt like a shit. Exhaling, I glanced at the girl behind the glass who was staring at me with terror in her eyes. “Don’t do that again.”
“You were really nervous? Is there something you need to tell me?”
“I’m surprised you don’t understand that enemies can be everywhere.”
“You were worried about me. My, oh, my. Does that mean my fiancé actually cares about me?” She glanced down at her ring, and I wanted to drag her over my lap, giving her a hard spanking for scaring me.
“I meant what I said before. No one is allowed to touch you.”
“Hmmm… Okay, tough guy. Would you like an ice cream cone to cool your jets? My treat.”
She twirled the ring on her finger and all bets were off as to if I could make it until we reached the hotel before ravaging her all over again. She had a way about her that drove me insane.
“Well, if you’re buying.”
Her laugh returned and she took my hand, maintaining an attachment as she pulled me to the small window. “What is your flavor of choice or let me guess. A man like you doesn’t eat ice cream.”
“It’s been a while. Why don’t you make a selection for me?”
A smirk followed by a wrinkle of her nose fell across her face. “O-kay, but don’t you dare complain if you don’t like my choice.”
“Who, me?”
“Yes, you.” She had such a playful attitude at times that it was hard to see her as a member of the same family who’d orchestrated my father’s death. She pointed her finger at me then clapped her hands. “A scoop of white chocolate and black cherry on a sugar cone for Mr. Grouchy and I’ll have a single scoop of butter pecan with sprinkles on a sugar cone.”
The girl grinned. “Comin’ right up.”
She pulled out her credit card, humming to whatever country song was coming from the outdoor speakers of one of the bars and I stood with my hands in my pockets watching her. To think I’d spent fifty grand on the ring without batting an eye and hadn’t been satisfied with the selection. I’d even had a crazy thought of replacing it when I was able to talk with my preferred jeweler.
That’s why seeing her conversing with the girl, the clerk eyeing the ring and squealing as Suzannah showed it off struck me strangely. This was all just pretend.
Or was it?
She finally turned around, a look of mischief on her face as she presented me with the cone. “This is the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Anywhere.” As soon as I wrapped my hand around the cone, our fingers touching, another jolt of electricity soared through us.
Her eyes opened wide and she leaned forward, dragging her tongue across my two scoops. How could such a simple act be so sensuous? She laughed as she pulled away, forced to dart out her tongue once more to capture the few drops that had trickled past her lush lips.
“You are quite the tease,” I told her.
“I just wanted to perform quality control. You know. Since you’re clueless about ice cream.” She backed away again, almost tripping, her laugh floating into the air around us. Even though she concentrated on her cone, she kept her eyes locked onto mine.
Seconds later, I realized the top scoop was threatening to fall off. That forced a smile and I took a huge bite.
Her eyes opened wide.
Suddenly, mine did as well as a moment of ugly pain tore through my head. “What the…”
“Brain freeze.”
“What?”
