Page 18 of Harvest of Love
His grin makes my stomach flip. “Let’s do it.”
“Dr. Gutierrez, welcome,” Ms. Eaton greets as we step into the creamery. The moment her eyes land on our interlaced hands, they widen almost comically.
“Hey, Ms. Eaton. How are you?” Manny asks with a gentle smile.
“Not too bad. I was just about to close. It’s been a slow day,” she says, moving to stand behind the freezer case full of ice cream flavors.
“Oh, I’m grateful you stayed open then. Dais is craving some of your delicious ice cream.”
Ms. Eaton lifts a brow, but the scowl forming on her face fades when Manny raises his in quiet challenge.
“I see things have developed now that Tommy is out of town,” she mutters, loud enough for us to hear.
My cheeks burn. Ms. Eaton’s never been known for her charm, but I’d hoped she’d at least keep her thoughts to herself.
“Things developed at the perfect time,” Manny says, his voice dropping low. Ms. Eaton startles, a hint of blush coloring her cheeks.
Good. She should be ashamed of her rudeness.
“Which flavor did you want, bebé?” Manny asks me, his arm sliding around my back. His smile is steady, reassuring.
I lean into him, grateful for his support. “I’d like S’mores and Pumpkin Pie,” I say after scanning the display.
“We’ll take a pint of each, Ms. Eaton,” Manny says firmly.
She nods, a reluctant smile tugging at her mouth. When she hands us the pints, Manny pays, and we make our way out.
He surprises me by pausing in the doorway—one hand holding it open, the other clasping mine. He turns back to Ms. Eaton.
“And next time we stop by,” he says evenly, “I hope you’re adjusted to the idea of me and Daisy being together. Feel free to tell the entire town we’re dating. And it’s serious.”
He winks, and I swoon.
I need to make sure this man knows how amazing he is. If he ever forgets or doubts himself, I’ll remind him as many times as it takes. Manny taking charge of announcing our relationship? So hot. We don’t need the town’s approval, but the fact that he owns it—unafraid to shout it from the rooftops—makes him that much more perfect.
He wants to be mine.
He says I’m out of his league. But he’s the extraordinary one here.
“I wanted to thank you for an incredible day,” I say as Manny pulls into my driveway.
He turns to face me and leans in slowly. “It’s been the best day I’ve had in a long time,” he murmurs against my lips before we get lost in a kiss.
My hands slide to his neck, desperate to touch him. He fumbles with the seatbelt, then lifts me fromthe seat in swift motion. A gasp escapes, followed by a laugh at his eagerness, and I straddle him with ease. Our sighs mingle as his erection presses firmly against my core.
“I really wanted to kiss you, taste you. Commit you to memory,” he says before his tongue slides into my mouth, and an involuntary moan slips out of me.
“If I’m being honest, I’ve been wanting more than to kiss you,” I admit, a half grin breaking through.
“Really? What do you have in mind?” He thrusts up against me, nibbling my ear.
“Yeah, more of that.” I shamelessly rub myself against his jean-clad erection.
“Coño, Daisy. Me vuelves loco, mami,” he breathes, sucking on my neck.
Hearing him switch to Spanish makes me slick and ready.
“I really want to be with you, but I don’t want the first time I make you come to be in the cabin of my truck,” he says between kisses, continuing his assault on my neck—licking, nipping, claiming.
