Page 115 of Playing a Player (Sweet Cravings 1)

He had a way of making me melt. “I love you too.” I thought after he quit La Patisserie that he’d no longer smell like cinnamon all the time. But the scent never left his skin.

“One more question,” he said.

I looked up into his hazel eyes. “Ask away.”

“Sweet Cravings. Why when all the ice cream flavors have such raunchy names is our shop named Sweet Cravings?”

“Because it’s ironic. But more so…because it makes me think of you. Because you, sir, are sweeter than any flavor of ice cream.” It was a cheesy thing to say. But I still meant it.

He smiled in that way that still made my knees weak.

“Hey, are you guys open?” someone asked from beside us.

“Yes!” I realized I sounded too excited, so I cleared my throat. “I mean…yeah.”

Rory laughed. “It’s our first day, but we’re officially open. What can we get you?” We both went inside our store and stood behind the counter all professional-like.

I knew you were supposed to smile at your patrons, but I didn’t have to force one on my face as I watched our first customer. He was a young lifeguard, just off the beach. And unlike my wonderful husband, he realized that shirts weren’t necessary.

“See…” I whispered to Rory. “You don’t need a shirt.”

“He’s a lifeguard,” Rory whispered back.

“I don’t see your point.”

Suddenly the lifeguard started laughing. “Wow.” He was staring at the ice cream flavors listed on the outside of our storefront. “You guys are going to kill it here.”

I was pretty sure I couldn’t smile any harder. “You like the names?”

“They’re hilarious.”

“And here my husband didn’t believe in them.” I hit my hip against his.

Rory held me to his side. “I just wanted to make sure we weren’t going to scare people away.”

The lifeguard shook his head. “It’s great. I’ll have a Dirty Sanchez, as long as you promise it’s actually ice cream,” he said.

“I swear it’s just chocolate,” Rory said as he went to get him a scoop.

“What’s your name?” I asked. “You’re our first customer and I want to ingrain this in my memory forever.”

The lifeguard laughed as he handed me some cash. “J.J. I’m sure I’ll be stopping by again soon. I’ll be working here all summer.”

“Well, it was nice meeting you, J.J. I hope you enjoy your Dirty Sanchez!”

He laughed. “Thanks.”

I squealed as he walked away. “We did it! We’re a success!”

Rory smiled down at me. “One customer doesn’t pay the bills. But…we officially opened our first place together.”

“And did you see what he was wearing? He was shirtless!”

He laughed. “I noticed.”

“So…you should take yours off.”

He lifted up our Now Hiring sign. “Maybe after we hang this up.”

---