His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter, making his knuckles turn white. “I thought I’d give her a ring and we’d move here together. She wasn’t thinking the same thing.”
“Oh.” I could definitely relate to that feeling of a rug being pulled out from under you. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “It happens. I probably should be happy I found out when I did that she wasn’t as invested as I was.”
“At least your ex isn’t here harassing you to get back together.”
He glared over at me. “Is he still bothering you?”
I chuckled at the overprotectiveness in his voice. “No, not anymore. I think he finally got the message.” But I still couldn’t seem to avoid him.
“Good.” He nodded.
We were quiet again as the minutes passed, and it wasn’t long until he was pulling into The Shack’s lot. After he parked,we got out and fell in step next to each other as we made our way to the small building to order. I expected him to order vanilla or chocolate, maybe Rocky Road, and I couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up and slipped past my lips when he requested birthday cake.
He shrugged. “It’s my niece’s favorite. I was only allowed to order that anytime we went for ice cream.”
I shook my head. Being bossed around by a tiny human definitely did not fit the whole mountain man persona. Maybe I needed to consider changing his nickname.
“She’s scary when she doesn’t get her way,” he added.
“If you say so.”
Ice creams in hand, we sat down at one of the picnic tables scattered around the grassy area of the lot.
“Want to try mine?” I reached my cone out toward him.
His nose scrunched like he smelled something bad.
“Never mind, Mr. Serious.” I chuckled.
Before I could pull my arm back, he grabbed my hand, bringing the ice cream to his mouth, and took a bite. “Not bad. And what happened to Mountain Man?”
I shrugged. “Nothing. Just depends on what mood I’m in whether you’re Mr. Serious or Mountain Man.”
He extended his arm across the table. “Your turn to try mine.”
I leaned forward and took a slow lick of his ice cream. His gaze zeroed in on my mouth and suddenly the air grew tense as his gaze darkened.
The ringing of his phone broke through the moment, and he looked down at it.
“Sorry, mind if I take this? It’s my niece.” When his gaze met mine, there wasn’t any of the desire I thought I saw a moment earlier.
Was I just reading into it?
“No, not at all. Go ahead.” I nodded to the phone on the table that displayed a little red-headed girl in pigtails.
He picked it up and a huge smile lit his face as he answered the video call. I wasn’t sure I’d seen him that animated before.
“Are you eating ice cream?” The little voice said.
He nodded. “Yes. Your favorite.”
“Dad said you’re coming home this weekend for Poppop’s and Granny’s anniversary party?”
“Yes, I’ll be there. Told you last time we talked that I would.”
“Can you take me to get ice cream?”
