Summer on Lovers' Island (Jewell Cove 3)

They were nearly at the order window now. “We can still go out. I filled her with gas and there’s lots of afternoon left.”

“You don’t mind?”

They’d reached the window and had to pause to give their order. “One regular swirl cone please,” Lizzie said, and then Josh stepped up.

“Hey, Sally. I’ll take a double scoop of your butter pecan.”

Sally, who Lizzie guessed had to be in her sixties, raised an eyebrow at Josh. “Honey, you’ve been ordering the same flavor for as long as I can remember.”

“Why mess with a good thing?” he asked, and Lizzie watched as he winked at the older woman. “Come on, Sal. You can’t improve on perfection.”

Sally laughed and grabbed a cone, went to the soft-serve machine, and looked over her shoulder at Lizzie. “You have to watch out for this one.”

Lizzie grinned. “What, Josh? He’s harmless.”

Sally gave the cone a final flourish and handed it over to Lizzie. “He’d like you to think that, but I’ve known him since before his voice changed. Don’t let that angelic look fool you.”

“God, I’m standing right here,” Josh complained, and Sally laughed.

Sally began scooping Josh’s cone. “You know I’m right. And it’s three fifty for the both of you.”

“I’ll get it,” Lizzie said, reaching into her bag.

“Yeah, and then I’ll owe you. No thanks.” Josh took his cone from Sally and reached in his pocket.

But Lizzie handed Sally a five. “Thanks, Sally. For the cone and the warning. Well worth the cost.”

Sally was laughing as she took the bill, and then Josh spoke up. “Hey. What is this?”

“Butter pecan on the bottom. New flavor on the top. Dulce de leche. Fancy way of saying ‘caramel,’ but I bet you like it.”

He shook his head, but Lizzie grinned. It was clear who ruled the roost at the Dairy Shack and her name was Sally.

Lizzie and Josh wandered toward the docks, licking their cones along the way. “Are you really fooling me with your boy-next-door good looks?” Lizzie asked innocently.

“It’s worked so far,” he commented, and then she elbowed him in the arm and he laughed. It was a rich, full, easy sound that made her heart feel big.

“Now I know why you got a double scoop. You need to feed that giant ego of yours.”

He chuckled beside her. “Damn, I missed you the last few days.”

Lizzie stopped walking and stared at him. “Josh. You did?”

He met her gaze. “Yeah, I did. At the office, too. I like discussing cases with you. I like lots of things about you.”

Her ice cream was melting quickly, and she had to either swipe at it with her tongue or have it running all down her fingers. She chose to lick, right around the base where the ice cream met the cone. When she looked up at Josh, his eyes were twinkling at her.

“Shut up,” she said mildly. “I can only imagine what comments are swirling around in that brain of yours. Besides, you need to mind your own drip.”

He didn’t take his eyes off her as he licked the edges of his cone. And when he’d gotten the caramelly trickles under control, he winked at her and held out his hand.

“Come on. Let’s take the Constant out for a spin. You can tell me about your trip and I’ll fill you in on what’s been going on here.”

Now she understood the restless feeling she’d had when she’d driven into town today. She’d wanted to see him, get caught up on what had happened in her absence, see his smile, and hear his laugh. And feel his touch. Knowing exactly what she wanted, she put her fingers in his and let him tug her along down the ramp to where the Constant was tied.

* * *

Josh started the engine and eased the boat away from the dock. Lizzie sat in the opposite seat, her handbag tucked in by her feet. She looked tired. Tired but beautiful, with her hair falling around her shoulders and wearing a pair of tight jeans and a yellow top that reminded him of sunshine and lemons.