Sabrina didn’t think she’d ever get enough of watching her work. Even just making a sundae for the two of them, Adley took her time, was precise and creative at the same time. She sliced one of the thick, fudgy brownies she’d made that morning through the center so it was like a sandwich. The bottom went into a bowl, and she topped it with the peppermint mocha chip ice cream she knew was Sabrina’s favorite. The top of the brownie went on, then she added homemade whipped cream, then drizzled the hot fudge over the top. The finishing touch was a dusting of cocoa, and it was ready. She looked over at Sabrina and held up two spoons.
“Doesn’t really get any better than my own personal ice cream chef,” she said, taking a spoon. She popped herself up so she was sitting on the counter.
“And sex on your desk.” Adley grinned and dug her spoon into the brownie.
“And sex on my desk. This will go down in history as a perfect day.”
Adley held her gaze as she chewed. “Yeah?”
“Absolutely.”
And that really was the truth of it. They ate the sundae and talked about the day, what went well, what could use tweaking, and it was like they’d been doing exactly that for years. Sabrina had a strange flash then, an image in her mind of the two of them doing exactly this years down the road…and being ridiculously happy while doing it. Settled. Content.
It was wonderful and weird. Slightly uncomfortable, which made sense to her. And mostly, it was just the best. Perfection. And exactly what she wanted…andthatwas the real realization.
“You look like you just saw a ghost or something,” Adley said, startling her back to the present. “You okay?”
And those dark eyes on her, the note of concern in Adley’s voice…Adley had her. Sabrina just knew that. Adley had her and wouldn’t let her fall, and she knewthat. She smiled at Adley then. “It might’ve been the ghost of ice cream future.”
When Adley returned her smile, Sabrina could have sworn the room lit up. Seriously. Like the sun came out. “Yeah? What did it show you?”
“Us.” Sabrina didn’t hesitate. In fact, she was done hesitating. Just like that. Finished. “Years from now. Right here, running our business. Together.”
“Oh yeah? Was there sex on the desk?” Adley’s tone was playful, but when she scooped up a spoonful of the sundae and met Sabrina’s eyes, the smile faded and her expression went serious.
“There was. And so much more.”
Adley swallowed audibly. “Like what?”
“Like love.” Oh, sweet baby Jesus in a hot air balloon, she’d said it. Out loud. And…it was okay. More than okay. It was right. She felt a relief she hadn’t expected, and she kept talking. Couldn’t stop, even if she’d wanted to. Which she didn’t. “There was love. So much love. I love you, Adley. I’m sorry. I do. I think I have since the first night I met you.” She set down her spoon and braced. Teagan would kill her when they found out what she’d said. That she’d just blurted it out. But she’d had to. She knew it in that exact moment. She had to. There’d been no choice. Adley deserved to know, didn’t she?
Adley’s eyes went wide, but her face softened, and her eyes filled with unshed tears. She held Sabrina’s gaze for what felt like a year and a half before she finally spoke. And her words set Sabrina free. “Well, thank fucking God because I love you, too.”
And then they were in each other’s arms and kissing and crying and laughing and kissing some more. Sabrina had Adley’s face in her hands, looked in her eyes. “I’m never letting you go. You should know that right now. Never. And I can’t believe how these words are just spilling out of me, but I can’t seem to help it. This is it for me. You’re it for me. I want you to know that. I’m sorry.”
Adley was laughing, but not at her. With her. The most beautifulsound in the world. “You did warn me that you babble when you’re scared. This is the second time I’ve seen it in action.”
Sabrina sighed and looked down at her feet. “It’s true. I’m sorry.”
And it was Adley’s turn to lift Sabrina’s chin and hold her face in both hands. “For what? For loving me? Don’t you ever, ever be sorry for that. I don’t know where you came from, Sabrina James, but I’m so glad you landed in my town. In my shop. In my life.” Her voice went very soft. “In my heart. I love you, baby.”
More kissing. But soft. Sweet. Gentle. Loving.
Sabrina pulled back with a start. “Oh, damn it.”
“What?”
“Well, we’ve just admitted our love for each other—fucking finally.” They both laughed and then Sabrina continued, “And I want more than anything to take you home with me and make love to you all night long.”
“That sounds incredible,” Adley said, burying her face in Sabrina’s shoulder, nuzzling her neck, their positions putting them at an equal height.
“Except there’s another couple and a baby at my house.”
Adley’s head snapped up. “Oh, crap. I forgot.”
“Me, too.”
They held one another’s gaze for a beat before they both burst into laughter. Deep belly laughs that came with tears and snorts and playful shoves. It was several moments before they became serious again.
