Page 50 of Phillip

And that was only the chocolate. They had similar containers with vanilla, hazelnut, peanut butter, and more. The choices and combinations seemed endless.

This time when Miranda left, they dove in. Playing with the chocolates served as enough of a distraction that Ashley loosened up again. The more she relaxed, the more he did too.

They tasted what they made, then offered and fed their own creations to one another. This time, they enjoyed the heavenly desserts but equally enjoyed their time together.

When the door opened again, Miranda appeared. A slice of disappointment rested in Phillip’s chest. He didn’t want their time goofing around to end.

“Now, are you ready to put it all together?” Miranda asked in an upbeat fashion.

“Is it ice cream time?” Ashley whispered with awe and reverence.

“Let’s see what we can find.” Miranda beckoned them from the chocolate room.

Phillip rested his hand at the small of Ashley’s back, guiding her to follow Miranda and enjoying the way she leaned into him. “Ice cream time. Let’s celebrate.”

She eased under his arm and looked up. “I think we’ve been celebrating for a while now.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Their time at Bliss had been nothing short of delicious. With a sugar buzz and her guard down, Ashley let herself go. She forgot about her mother, the past, how she should control her feelings for Phillip, and simply stayed in the moment. She hadn’t known how hard that would be at first, but then she embraced the newfound freedom.

“Do you need to head home?” Phillip took her hand as the front doors of Bliss closed behind them.

The sun shone high overhead. It was a beautiful day, but it couldn’t compete with the magical time they’d just had. She didn’t want their day to end. “No.”

His eyes danced, and Phillip gave her hand a squeeze. “I have something I want to show you.” Their SUV pulled up as if it had known the exact moment of their departure. “Give me a second.”

He let go of her hand and met their driver before he’d opened their back door. Their conversation was quick, but when Phillip turned around, eagerness lit his face.

“You look excited,” she said and let him shepherd her into the back seat.

He settled beside her and closed the door. “I am.”

“Another secret?”

He grinned. “We’ll be there before you know it.”

“You haven’t let me down so far.” She didn’t move from the middle seat.

He draped his arm over her shoulder. “I don’t intend to start now.”

Ashley closed her eyes. The scent of sugar clung to their clothes. She relaxed into him. His chin rested on top of her head. Her heart skipped a beat.

The driver took his seat, and they rolled away from the curb. Ashley wasn’t tired, but she couldn’t ignore the lull that pulled at her eyes. She let them remain shut and soaked in the way he held her to his chest.

“We’re here.” His lips tickled against her ear.

She blinked, surprised to have drifted asleep, then glanced out the window as the SUV’s smooth drive rumbled. A thick forest of trees lined their route. “Where?”

They slowly rounded a wooded turn. She read a rustic sign.Camp Sunshine.Her jaw fell. “This is your place.”

“Since we were so close, I thought we could stop by.”

She couldn’t explain why this seemed like more than an inconsequential visit. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“Truth is, I’ve never brought anyone here before.” He shifted and stared out the window.

Ashley knew that wasn’t true. Athletes and celebrities had made their rounds through the camp, but yet she knew what he meant. Family and friends. “Why?”

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