Page 88 of Echoes of Us
"Entirely stupid," she agreed, taking another big bite."Best flavor in existence!"
Cole laughed, his eyes crinkling with a warmth that made her heart ache.
“So,” Ashley began, catching another drip before it hit her glove."Why, what's your go-to flavor?"
"Guess."
She pretended to study him, though she knew exactly what he'd pick."Something unnecessarily complicated.Five different chocolates with a pretentious name."
He nearly choked on his ice cream."I do not-"
"Triple Chocolate Fudge Explosion?"
His silence was damning.
"Called it."She grinned, then immediately regretted it as the cold air hit her teeth.
"At least my choice makes sense in winter," he grumbled, but his eyes were bright with amusement."You look like a strawberry yourself right now – nose all pink."
"Whose fault is that?"
"Hey, I didn't force you to get ice cream in a snowstorm."
"No, you just dared me with those judgy eyebrows of yours."
"My eyebrows are not judgy!"
"They're absolutely judgy.Look, they're doing it right now."
He tried to school his expression, which only made it worse.A laugh bubbled up from her chest – real and unexpected – and suddenly they were both giggling like idiots, ice cream dripping down their hands, breath forming little clouds between them.
"You've got-" Cole reached out, his cold thumb brushing the corner of her mouth where some ice cream had smeared.The touch was tentative, almost shy – so different from his usual confidence.His hand lingered, and Ashley watched as his smile softened into something wondering.
"What?"she asked, heart hammering despite the cold.
"Nothing, just..."He shook his head slightly."You're not what I expected, Ashley Carter."
"Is that a good thing?"
"Ask me when I can feel my fingers again."But his eyes said something entirely different – something that made her breath catch.
A particularly fat snowflake landed on his eyelash, and without thinking, she reached up to brush it away.His arms circled around her gently, his ice cream forgotten.
Then he was kissing her, tasting of strawberries and winter air, his cold lips somehow warming her entirely.When he pulled back, his eyes were filled with unadulterated lust.
"You taste like my ice cream," he noted, sounding surprised.
"Guess you have good taste after all."
His grin turned wicked."Was that a compliment?"
"Absolutely not.It's just the hypothermia talking."
"Sure it is."He studied her face for a moment, snowflakes catching in his eyelashes."You're shivering."
"I am, in fact, a little cold."
Cole pulled her closer, his hands sliding around her tighter.The heat radiating from his body made her breath catch.When he kissed her again, she felt like she was finally home.
