“No, not really. I was just going to find a park. Take a walk. I’ve been working a ton the past few days, and the walls were beginning to close in on me.”
“Please let me buy you an ice cream.” Then, a genius idea struck him. “How about we get them to go and take them to the campground?. We can wander around, and you can see the land you’re helping the ladies develop.”
Her eyes lit with interest. He had her.
With a slow nod, she said. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
“Perfect.” He held out an arm as though about to escort her to a ball while gesturing to his old Corolla with the other. “Your chariot, m’ lady.”
She giggled but didn’t make eye contact as she looped her arm through his.
“Now, you may be confused as to how I can afford to drive such a luxury vehicle, but I assure you, it’s not as nice as it looks on first impression.”
Though she remained tense as she strolled next to him, she did laugh. Guess he could call that a point in his favor. Was she uncomfortable because of how he’d acted the other day? Maybe she just needed some time to warm up to new people. She’d seemed perfectly at ease at his house the other day, but it was hard to stay distant around Kayla. Maybe he should have brought the baby.
When they neared his car, he released her then opened the door with a flourish.
After flashing him a shy smile, she took a seat.
“Nice, huh?” he asked.
“Mm-hmm. Not sure I’m worthy of such extravagance.” Her eyes sparkled with mirth.
There we go. Much better.
“Trust me, I know how you feel. I felt the same at first. But you’ll get used to it. We all deserve nice things occasionally.” With a wink, he shut her door and jogged around to the driver’s side.
Seven minutes and some stilted small talk later, he parked outside of his favorite place in the world, Coop’s Scoops. Once again, he’d opened her door, if for no other reason than to enjoy the flush it brought to her cheeks.
“Oh, my God,” she said as she stepped out of the car. “What is that smell?”
“Drool-inducing, right?”
She closed her eyes and inhaled, then let out a little moan.
JP shifted as his pants grew a little tighter. Christ, the woman seemed oblivious to how pornographic that sound was.
“Drool-inducing is right.” She licked her lower lip. “My mouth is literally watering.”
Mine too.
“Cooper, the owner, makes all the toppings and add-ins from scratch. Brownies, different types of cookies, cake pieces, all of it. The ice cream is all handmade on site as well.”
“Okay, now I’m seriously excited,” Hannah said as she bounced on the balls of her feet. This was the most animated she’d been since he’d met her. “Ice cream is my weakness.”
“Good to know.” He winked, and she blushed. “Well, let’s get that cute ass in there so we can sugar you up.”
Her steps faltered as though she’d never had anyone tell her how fine that ass was.
Impossible.
The overhead bell jangled as he pulled the door open for her.
“Thank you,” she said as she passed. Her eyes widened. “Wow. This is incredible.”
Coop’s wife decorated the shop to look like a classic, old-fashioned ice cream parlor. Everything from the white-and-red awning out front to the black-and-white checkered flooring and bowties worn by staff transported visitors to a simpler time.
“John Paul Benson!” Cooper yelled from behind the counter. “Get your dumb ass over here.” He came out from behind the counter and opened his arms wide.
Hannah’s slack-jawed, gaping stare had him snorting.
“Coop!” With a laugh, JP embraced his oldest and largest friend. At six foot five, with an equally large wingspan and the broadest chest known to man, Cooper was a mammoth. Add to it his fiery red hair and handlebar mustache, and no one could ever forget the man.
Coop slapped him on the back so hard, he nearly lost his breath. “Damn, JP, it’s been too long. You better not be cheating on me with that chain ice cream shop.”
Laughing, he pounded his friend just as hard then pulled away. “Hell no,” he said as he ran a hand down his stomach. “Just trying to keep my sexy figure.”
Cooper snorted, then slung an arm across JP’s shoulders. “Sexy as a raccoon,” he said in his deep boom. “But forget you. Who is this lovely lady you brought to my palace?”
“Hannah, this is Cooper Manning. Coop, this lovely lady, as you said, is Hannah.”
“Welcome, Hannah, nice to meet you.” Cooper dropped his arm from JP’s shoulders then extended a hand to Hannah.
She watched with fascinated eyes as her small hand disappeared into Coop’s giant mitt.
JP stepped back over to her. “All right, hands off. What would your wife say?”
Cooper let out a loud laugh. “She’d call me smart for recognizing a beautiful woman.”