Page 76 of Major Love

And I freaking love it.

“You’re so annoying,” I laugh, but I don’t mean it and he knows it, and a thrill zips through my belly as he settles his big palms on either side of my hips.

“Try it,” he murmurs, and I try not to let my breathing get out of control.

I dip my spoon into the ice cream, totally enamoured about how over the top he went with this. I’m not usually a dessert girl but, seeing as he made it with my name in mind, I already know that this is about to be the best thing I’ve ever tasted.

I slip the spoon between my lips, my cheeks lifting as I smile.

It’s unbelievably tasty, super sweet and icy cool – exactly what my ridiculously warm body is craving at this exact moment.

I swallow and one of his hands squeezes tight around my hip.

“How is it,chef?” he asks tauntingly.

I giggle and give him a playful elbow to the gut.

He laughs and hunches down so that he can press a firm kiss against my cheek, before moving to my side so that we aren’t standing so intimately.

I inhale a shaky breath. “The service is pretty good,” I whisper, and he laughs quietly as he grabs a spoon of his own, his big bicep brushing against my shoulder as we lean over the counter, eating together.

When he’s finished eating his half and starts diligently helping me eat mine, I lift myself up onto the smooth countertop, making him look up at me from under his lashes.

He swallows his mouthful and sets down his spoon, sensing that I’m about to say something.

I take his absence from the bowl as my opportunity to scoop up a big spoonful and his cheekbone twitches with amusement as he pushes his utensil further away. His silent way of telling me,it’s all yours, baby.

I take another scoop of the sundae and then set my own spoon down, placing my palms behind me on the counter.

“I’ve been thinking about Casey’s bar,” I tell him, and his expression instantly becomes a little guarded.

A slight frown touches his brow but he nods anyway, splaying one of his palms beside my thigh on the worktop.

“What about it?” he asks, his voice gruff but still gentle, his eyes searching mine as if he can read my thoughts before I voice them.

I cut right to the chase.

“I was thinking that we could use it for when Casey gets home from deployment.”

Jason’s brow lifts slightly, clearly not expecting that to be what I was going to say.

“Like, for a homecoming thing. If the bar is nearly finished being renovated, and the only things left are the finishing touches… well, I can help with that.” I swish my ponytail and add with a teasing smile, “I don’t know if you knew this, but I owned the most popular bar in Nashville.”

Jason breathes out a laugh, his cheeks heating as he ducks his head.

“Casey might’ve mentioned it once or twice,” he admits.

I beam at that, even more sure of my plan now than I was ten seconds ago.

“So, seeing as it’s a project that he clearly has his heart set on… we could finish it completely, and then surprise him with it when he gets home. I mean, obviously, he’ll then be able to change whatever he wants about it before he leaves again, but it might be a nice surprise for him to get home and have it done.” I think for a beat and then add, “And we’ll host a party, of course.”

He rubs his palm over his stubble, giving me a quick once-over before asking, “We?”

“Yeah,” I reply. “Your guys at Coleson Construction, your brother’s team, and me. And Haven.” Then I think for a moment and add, “And Tucker, too.”

“Four-year-olds are pretty good with heavy lifting and construction,” he teases, chuckling when I nudge his pecs with the toe of my bed-sock.

“You know what I mean,” I tell him. “We’ll plan it and invite everyone for when Casey gets back. Actually, let me rephrase,” I say, getting really into the idea now. “I’llplan it” – I point to myself – “you’llcarry in the items that are too heavy for me to lift” – I point at his enormous biceps – “and then everyone else will just get there before Casey does, so that he has a huge welcome home thing to make him know how loved he is.”

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