Saved by Love (Willow Valley Book 3)(20)

She felt a delicious shiver race through her and wished he would kiss her, even though they were around all these people. Being with Ethan seemed to make her forget everything else but him.

"So, I've been thinking," he began, still playing with the ends of her hair. "I asked you the other day to think about that beach trip."

Wishing she had a good reason to say no, because really she just wanted to say yes, Abby picked up the menu and pretended to look it over again, making a noncommittal sound.

"Have you?"

"I've been so busy I haven't had much time to think." About anything other than you, she added silently. What was she supposed to say? That she'd love to go, but she was scared out of her mind of getting out in the ocean ever again?

"I know it sounds kind of crazy to ask you to go away with me when we haven't even known each other for a week. But there will be lots of other people there at the house we rented. You'll have your own room. And I promise I'm not a psycho serial killer." He gave her a winning smile, as if that would convince her, and she laughed.

Oddly enough, that wasn't the problem. It should have concerned her that she wasn't worried about going off with someone she'd just met. But it didn't. She trusted Ethan. What she didn't trust was herself.

She'd thought plenty about it over the last few days. And while she was making a huge effort to let go of some of her fears and see what this thing was between the two of them, she didn't know if she was ready for that. Especially if it involved facing one of her even bigger fears.

Pulling the menu from her hands, Ethan caught her eyes. "Look, I'm not going to push you about this either. I want you to come. A lot. But I'll totally get it if you aren't ready for that."

Abby sighed. "It's not that. Even if I do question my judgment about running off with a near stranger." She smiled to let him know she was joking. How could she phrase this without having to dredge up memories she wanted to let lie? "It's just that when I left California, there were a lot of memories I wanted to leave behind. I don't know if going to a beach right now is a great idea for me."

He nodded, though she could see his disappointment. "Well, if you change your mind..."

Just then the waitress appeared with their ice cream, and Abby gasped, wide-eyed, covering her mouth with her hands. That was the most ridiculous dessert she had ever seen in her life.

What had to be ten scoops of all different kinds of ice cream were piled into an over-sized martini glass, covered with whipped cream, drizzled with chocolate, strawberry and caramel syrup, and topped with sprinkles, cherries, and what looked like chips made of waffle cone. It was every kids' dream.

The waitress set two spoons down beside it and smiled at them before leaving them alone again. Abby turned her still-huge eyes on Ethan.

"You've got to be joking. There is no way we can eat all this."

"Speak for yourself, sweetheart." He winked and scooped up the hugest bite ever, then shoved it into his mouth, closing his eyes and groaning.

Abby couldn't keep the laugh from bubbling out. "Were you deprived of sweets as a kid? Because you are enjoying this far too much."

He opened one eye and stared at her for minute before swallowing the massive bite. "Maybe. But don't judge until you try this." He scooped up a bite nearly as big as the one he'd just taken, getting at least three flavors of ice cream, all the syrups, a dollop of whipped cream and a cherry on the spoon, then held the spoon out to her.

She waved her hands in front of it. "No way. There is no way I can eat that." She couldn't stop laughing.

"Just try it." He edged the spoon closer to her mouth. "Don't make me tickle you again."

Covering her eyes with her hands, Abby managed to get her laughter under control, then peeked through her fingers at the crazy big spoonful of pure sugar Ethan was still waving in front of her.

"You're unbelievable."

He winked. "So I've heard. Now open up. It's starting to melt."

Abby lowered her hands and eyed the ice cream. She plucked the cherry off the top, and even though the amount of ice cream on that spoon was still ridiculous, she just might be able to fit it in her mouth.

With one final giggle, she opened her mouth and leaned toward Ethan. Somehow she managed to get the ice cream off the spoon without making a huge mess, but there were definitely traces of whipped cream on her lips. It was delicious, but she struggled to keep her mouth closed because of the laughter that threatened to take over again. Finally she was able to swallow the bite—not that it was anything close to actual bite-size—and she popped the cherry into her mouth.

"See?" Ethan said. "Delicious, right?" He held a waffle cone chip up to her lips, and she took a little nibble, nodding.

"Yeah," she said, once she had finally swallowed it all. "But I stand by my former statement. There is no way we can eat all that."

He shrugged. "It's all part of the experience. You can officially consider yourself a resident of Willow Valley now that you've had one of Kate's desserts."

"I had no idea that was part of the criteria."

He reached toward her mouth and gently wiped his thumb across the corner of her lips, then licked the whipped cream off his finger. "Can't let any go to waste."