Page 67 of Paradise West
“What is that?”
He chuckled at her enthusiasm and grabbed her hand. “Come on. I’ll show you.” He walked over tothe porch and laid the diary down carefully, then walked her around the cottage to the main walkway. “It’s time for the Conch Cruiser.”
Charli scoffed. “The what?!” She gave Jack a look that suggestion he was a few pliers short of a toolchest.
He pointed down the bricked lane toward the three-wheeled cart that was slowly ambling their way. The driver grinned when he saw them and waved as he continued to pedal in their direction.
“That’s the Conch Cruiser,” Jack answered. “It’s a cart that bikes around the island a few times a day handing out free ice cream.”
Charli laughed, her eyes sparkling. “You’re kidding me.”
“Nope. I’m totally serious,” Jack replied with a firm shake of his head. “And the ice cream they hand out isn’t just your everyday variety. It’s Italian gelato.”
Charli grinned and threaded her fingers through his and tipped her head in the direction of the approaching cart. “Well, this is too good to pass up. We have to try it.”
His heart swelled at the delight shining in her eyes and squeezed her hand.
Gus’s plan is working!
He leaned down and kissed her briefly. “Come on, baby,” he breathed into her lips, then pulled on her hand as he started walking down the lane.
“Well if it isn’t my buddy, Jack!” the driver shouted as he approached. “I knew you couldn’t stay away.”
Jack chuckled. He hadn’t been sure if the staff would remember him or not. He’d been a regular figure on the key from time to time while completing renovations, but this little island saw a lot of different people come through on a regular basis.
“Hey there, Mike! Still cycling around the island, I see,” he responded.
Mike smiled cheerily. “Damn right, man. It’s the best job on the best island in the keys.”
Jack chuckled. “I’ll give you that. Got anything special for us today?”
Mike’s gaze drifted to Charli, where they lingered with interest. “Just the regulars.” He popped open the top of the ice chest and winked at Charli. “I’ll let the beautiful lady choose what she’d like. I have vanilla, chocolate, and salted caramel.”
Charli bit her bottom lip. “That’s a tough one. Chocolate is my favorite, but that salted caramel sounds fantastic.”
Mike’s eyes twinkled. “It definitely is, ma’am.” He leaned toward her as if imparting a top secretmessage. “But I’ll be back around in a few hours and you can pick whichever one you haven’t tried yet.”
Charli laughed lightly. “If that’s the case, I’ll take the chocolate.”
“Yes, ma’am!” He reached into the chest and drew out a pint, handing it to her with a flourish. “Chocolate for the beautiful lady.” Mike turned to Jack. “The usual for you, Jack?”
Charli snorted. “The usual? How often do you get ice cream here?”
Mike grunted and pointed at Jack. “When this guy was working on the island, he’d grab a pint every time I came through.” He laughed. “It was a miracle I didn’t run out of salted caramel.”
Charli lifted her eyes to his and smiled. “Salted caramel is your favorite, huh?”
Jack shrugged with a grin, not fazed at all that he had been the topic of discussion. “It’s my favorite of what Mike’s offering. I keep trying to talk him into expanding to chocolate chip cookie dough or mint chocolate chip, but I haven’t been successful so far.”
Mike snorted. “As if I have any control over that, man.” He plopped a pint in Jack’s hands. “Here. You’ll take what I’ve got and you’ll like it.” He tilted his head in Charli’s direction. “You have a great day,ma’am.”
Charli giggled. “Thanks, Mike.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she squeezed Jack’s hand. “Come on. Let’s head back to the cottage and get some spoons.”
Jack followed along, his face creasing in a goofy grin as he stared at her ass as they strolled back to the cottage. Thoughts of the creative ways he could eat his ice cream danced through his mind.
13
Key West, Florida
