His Southern Sweetheart

“They have the best affogato.”

“Gelato or ice cream?” Amelia perked up.

Nate’s lips pursed together. “You know your desserts?”

“I know my frozen desserts,” she replied with a nod. “My folks used to own an ice-cream parlor downtown.” A part of her wondered why she’d told him. She hated talking about being from Southwood.

“No kidding?”

“I promise.” Amelia crossed her heart with her forefinger and raised her other hand in the air. “The Scoop, off Main Street.”

“Original.” His nod of approval caused her to beam. “Did your folks retire?”

“They live in the California mountain area of Little Tujunga now,” she said, sitting back. Their waiter came over to clear the table and take their dessert order. Having a combination of gelato and coffee didn’t sound like it would help her get any sleep tonight and she’d already tossed and turned last night, no thanks to Nate.

Now with a clean table, Nate reached across and held out his hands for her to take. For some strange reason, she did. “Do you get to see your parents often?”

“Good God, no.”

“Why do you make it sound crazy?”

“How often do you see your folks?” she countered.

“I saw them for the Fourth of July and I’ll see them Labor Day weekend for the Crystal Coquí.”

“The what?”

The way Nate shrugged his shoulders, she thought he might be playing down this event. “It’s a banquet my family puts on once a year to honor the big business contributors to the community.”

“Sounds fancy.”

“Tux-and-evening-gown fancy,” Nate confirmed. “It is embarrassing.”

“Wearing one?”

“The event.” The corners of Nate’s eyes crinkled. Amelia’s stomach did a flip, but she contributed it to the massive heap of whipped cream on the dessert bowl the waiter placed in front of her.

“We should have ordered a small one to share,” said Amelia.

“I’m greedy.” Nate swiped his spoon across the chocolate shavings on his dessert. “I don’t share.”

A familiar pang of desire that tugged inside her stomach had her somehow wishing he wasn’t talking about the dessert. “You don’t have an ounce of fat. I don’t know how or when I’m going to work all of this off.”

“I’ll help you.” Nate’s eyes now narrowed on her. This time she understood he wasn’t talking about the dessert.

Amelia cleared her throat, hoping to keep the heat of the threatening blush from being exposed. “Tell me more about this Crystal Coquí. Why is it embarrassing?”

“I used to think it was more of a way for my family to feel better about themselves.”

“Better?” Amelia’s inquisitive nature was piqued. Natalia mentioned Nate came from a good family.

“Ah, it’s probably my pops talking.” He shook his head as if to get the notion out of his mind. Amelia leaned forward, literally on the edge of her seat. She wanted to learn everything about this man. Lord only knew when she’d get a chance to be around someone not in the business again.

“Tell me.”

“My dad, Esteban Reyes,” Nate began after one big bite, “he always felt he needed to compete with my mom’s family, the Torreses.”

“Compete how?”