“Now, for a treat, I’m serving one of Bella’s creations for dessert. Nutty honey brittle ice cream. It’s to die for, I promise.”
A hint of a smile crossed his lips. Lips she had every intention of testing out before the night was over, regardless of his sudden announcement. Her natural ebullience resurfaced. Better to have loved and lost than never loved at all. At least that was the saying. She’d find out soon enough if it was true or not.
“I think I’d like that. Thank you.” He tipped up his wineglass and drained it. “Did you want me to make coffee to go with it?” He glanced over at her coffee machine. “My machine is the twin of yours so it’s safe to let me loose with it.”
“Sounds wonderful. We can snuggle on the couch and eat if you like while we talk about whatever comes up. Much more comfortable.”
He eyed the purple monstrosity with a twitch of his lips as if it would bite him. “Sure.”
As they sat amongst the bright patchwork of throw cushions, April pushed her ice cream around the bowl until it melted, just the way she liked it. She picked out the bits of toffee, crunching them between her teeth and let the shattered crystals melt on her tongue.
“Tell Bella from me that she has a new fan for her ice cream. Does she sell it?” He ran his spoon around the bowl again in the faint hope of getting another taste.
“Nope. But she does make it for us now and then, and sometimes Mari has it on the menu at the hotel. If I tell her she has a man drooling over it and it would make me look better if I supplied him with some to cement our budding relationship, she might take pity on me.” April had no qualms about letting him know she wanted something between them while she had the opportunity.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” He leaned over and put his bowl on the coffee table.
“Why not? We’re both free agents and I thought you liked me.” She patted Hamish who sat drooling waiting for a lick of her bowl. Probably not a good idea with David watching her. She had the thought he wouldn’t approve and the last thing she wanted to do was scare him off with dog germs. No matter how often she pointed out that everyone needed germs to grow a good immune system, it didn’t make it easier for them to believe.
“I’m determined to return to the city and, to be honest, even as much as I like you, April, we’re too different for things to go smoothly between us. It can only end in disaster.”
“You know what they say. Opposites attract.” She snuggled down and leaned her head against his chest, heard the quick intake of breath.
“They also say that you should have something in common for a relationship to work or it’s doomed to fail from the beginning.” He stroked her hair and April closed her eyes enjoying the sensation.
“We do have things in common. You like ice cream, I have the right contact. You like to give your staff flowers, I design them. What’s wrong with that?”
His chest rose with a deep breath. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up that we would be good together and then you get hurt when I sell the business.”
“I’m a big girl. Are you afraid you’ll be the one getting hurt?” She twisted around looked up at him seeing how her words affected him. He swallowed and looked away. She was right. He was still smarting from his last relationship. That woman had a lot to answer for. She wondered if it was part of the reason he wanted to go back to Seattle, to try be with her again.
David was a lovely man. Everyone said so and from what she’d already seen, he was the caring, kind nice guy that she wanted to be with. How was she going to convince him they should give it a go? Would he change his mind if they clicked and possibly stay? Her inner voice spoke up. Give him a chance. Be yourself. Don’t push him in case you push him in the wrong direction. But the voice on the other shoulder cried foul. He’ll leave you as soon as he gets what he wants. You’ll be left alone, again.
April sat up. “Look, let’s be friends, okay? I’m not saying that we would work but I want to see where this goes and who knows – you might decide to stay here anyway.” She ignored the flicker in his eyes. “I know we’re both different and have ideas that might clash now and then but change is good for you. Look at me. I’ve changed everything to be where I am today and its working for me. It could work for us. Friends?” She held her breath and hoped he’d agree. It wasn’t everything she wanted but it would be a start. Who knew how long it would take for him to fall for her?
“Friends.” He held out his hand. “But no promises.”
“I want to try something first.” April leaned in and pressed her lips to his. He blinked but she closed her eyes and slid a hand around the back of his neck, bringing him closer. A moan escaped his mouth before she took possession of the most kissable lips she’d seen in ages. David was hiding his passion under the stuffed shirt exterior and she was going to make the most of it while she could before he backed off. She pressed her tongue between his lips, swiped it across the front of his teeth before searching for more.
He met her with a move of his own. David pressed her back against the settee, plundering her
