Page 143 of Ice Princess

Leaning forward so I’m inches away from her face, I gaze at her softly. “I could spend all day looking at you and it wouldn’t be enough.”

Rebel’s eyelashes flutter.

Her gaze darts to my lips.

“That’s sosweet,” a voice chimes.

I startle and Rebel does too.

We both turn to take in April who’s hovering over the donut container.

“I meant the donuts.” April blushes.

“I bought enough for everyone.”

“You’re such a gentleman,” April says. Scooping up the container, she makes a run for it. “Delia! Look! Donuts!” She waves to the quiet, dark-haired mechanic who’s half-buried inside a car.

I reluctantly let Rebel go. “What are you doing tonight?”

“I’m working late as always. Gotta keep up with the demand here at the garage. And then I’ll be planning the first of the sponsored community service activities. Why?”

I step back, astonished. “You’re going to keep working with Rodney Howard?”

“His money didn’t do anything wrong and besides, I don’t want my personal issues getting in the way of helping people. That’s the whole reason I started this.”

Mom said something similar yesterday but, somehow, the thought of Rebel continuing to get involved with Rodney Howard and Benji makes me uneasy.

The wealthy business owner was willing to drop asignificantamount of cash for Rebel to consider dating his son. I’ve been around determined businessmen like Rodney Howard before. They don’t stop because they hit a challenge.

“What’s with that face?” Rebel tilts her head.

I glance at the floor, saying nothing. I’m already awful with words and if I try to explain myself now, it’ll sound like I’m a dangerous, controlling guy. It’s better if I don’t say anything at all rather than start a fight.

A brief smile flits across my face and I jut my chin at where April and Delia are devouring the doughnuts.

“You should get over there before there’s none left.”

“They wouldn’t!” Rebel twists, her eyes trained on April. “Hey! Save a few for me!”

“You better hurry up then,” April warns.

Rebel takes a few steps toward her friends and then she turns back. “Do you want to come over tonight?”

“Come… over.”

“Yeah.” She tosses me a distracted smile. “I’ll wrap up everything I need to do around eight. Is that too late or…?”

I shake my head so hard if I were a bobblehead, my springs would have popped out. “No.”

“Great.” Her eyes sparkle. “It’s a date.”

Instantly, all my unease about Rodney Howard and Benji melt away like they never even existed.

I walk out of the garage and let my smile loose again.

Softly, victoriously, I whisper to myself, “It’s a date.”

CHAPTER

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