Page 54 of The Riskiest Move

Her eyes sparkle with interest as she scans the options. “Ooh, they have marble cake. That’s my favorite.”

“Marble it is,” I say, grabbing the dessert. “Do you want some ice cream to go with it?”

“Yes!”

Grinning at her childlike excitement, I lead us down the aisle. “What flavor are you feeling?”

“Vanilla complements anything.”

“I agree. It’s an underappreciated flavor,” I say.

“Right? It doesn’t need to be flashy. It’s understated and soothing.”

“And delicious,” I add, grabbing a carton from the freezer before we head to the checkout.

The cashier eyes our formal attire as she rings the items up. “Special occasion?” she asks.

“Just a dessert run,” I say, tapping my debit card against the sensor.

The cashier nods, looking amused. “Well, you two certainly know how to do it with style.”

Scarlett laughs. “Go big or go home, right?”

We thank the cashier and head back to the car, our prized dessert in hand. As I open Scarlett’s door for her, she pauses before getting in.

“This was a great idea. Much better than that sad excuse for carrot cake.”

I grin. “I aim to please. Now, the question is, can we make it to your house before it melts?”

“Mmm,”Scarlett hums when she takes the first bite. “You’re a freaking genius.”

“I was inspired by my awesome date.”

“I am a pretty awesome date.” She removes her shoes, letting out a sigh of relief, then crisscrosses her legs on the couch underneath her dress. “There. That’s much better.”

Removing my tuxedo jacket, I toss it on the couch next to me and then slip off my shoes. “You have the right idea.” I remove the bow tie, tucking it in the pocket of my jacket. Undoing my cuffs, I roll up my sleeves. Picking up my bowl, I sit back on the couch and rest my feet on the coffee table. “Good idea, Scarlett.”

“You can take your shirt off if you want. I won’t mind,” she says, displaying an impish grin.

Setting the bowl in my lap, I undo the buttons down the front of my shirt. I untuck each side from my pants and peel it from my shoulders and down my arms.

She slaps her leg. “Dammit. Foiled by a t-shirt.”

I chuckle. “Sorry to disappoint you.”

“You don’t disappoint at all.” She gives me an appraising look. “I still find it difficult to believe you’ve never had a girlfriend. Were the women in Ohio all blind?”

“Back then my faith played a large part in my lack of dating. My dad is fantastic in a lot of ways, but he really pressured Cassie and me to save ourselves for marriage.”

“As in no sex?” She spoons the final bite of cake and ice cream between her lips, setting her bowl on the coffee table.

I nervously tug on my earlobe. “Yes.”

“When did that change for you?”

“By my senior year of college I’d been on my own long enough to form different viewpoints than the ones we were taught in church.”

“Was that when you lost your virginity?”

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