so stubborn, I figured you’d said or done something that pissed her off. It was a gamble and it paid off.”
A clank sounded as Davis dropped his gun and put his hands up. Jarred dashed around the counter and gave the businessman his rights while he handcuffed him and took him outside to a waiting squad car.
“You okay?” Michael asked.
“Yeah.” Shock pouring through her as the reality of everything slammed into her. “W-What happened?”
“Before Davis arrived, I went out back to make sure he didn’t come in that way and surprise us.”
“I didn’t see you do that.”
“Hey, I have years of practice of sneaking past my parents to go out partying. You think I can’t walk right past a distracted young woman who’s watching the door like the bogeyman might burst through?”
“Guess you’re right.” She shrugged. “So what happened?”
“Wells had knocked Jarred out.” He stuffed his hands into his front pockets. “Figured both Davis and Wells had guns, I didn’t, so I got some water and revived Jarred. Told him what was happening and he figured Wells was the bigger danger. Both of them struggled. I got locked in the freezer for my trouble.”
Lily reached out to thank him and jerked her hand back, feeling his skin colder than the ice cream. “Oh my God, you’re freezing. We need to get you to the hospital or something.”
“I’m fine, Lil.”
A peace she couldn’t explain settled over her.
Jarred stomped in, shaking his arms from the snow that covered him. Rushing over, he nearly knocked Michael out of the way. His fingers were warm as he cupped her face. “Are you… Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine.” Behind Jarred, Michael mouthed goodbye and left them alone.
Jarred hauled her into his arms. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve known Wells was in on it. I risked your life.”
She trembled. “This wasn’t how I thought it was going to happen,” she said against his shirt, his body warming her. Wells and Jarred were supposed to protect her. Run out and yell “ freeze!” as soon as Davis showed probable cause. She could’ve died.
“No, it’s not. That guy would’ve killed you. Probably me too.” A rumble sounded in his throat that reminded her of the sound of the growling dog earlier, but that had to have been her imagination.
“What happened back there?” She stepped back to see his expression. “I didn’t hear anything, yet you and Michael both look like you fought quite a battle. Well, except for a dog.”
He gave her a cocky smile. “I think you were too distracted by adrenaline to hear us.”
“What about Davis?” she asked. “He didn’t even flinch.”
“Probably cause he figured Wells would win. He didn’t count on Michael being there to help. I was releasing him from the freezer when I heard the gunshot.” His hazel eyes darkened. “I should’ve left him there and come straight to help you.”
She entwined her fingers into his shirt as she leaned against him. The adrenaline that had kept her upright was vanishing and she didn’t think she could stand on her own. “Michael could’ve frozen to death if left in there too long. What if you hadn’t succeeded against Wells? What if he had shot you?” Michael’s skin had felt like ice, yet he appeared to be okay. Later she’d check on him. Shit, she could’ve died.
“I’m glad you’re all right.” He let out a breath and ran his thumb across her bottom lip.
She pushed aside all the fear and doubt that had boiled over inside her since her mom’s death. Somehow, she believed her mom’s spirit had helped her through this with Davis. That her mom would’ve wanted her to continue running the ice cream shop.
Now, she wanted to take a chance on finding her own happiness and trusting in love. Rising on her tiptoes, she kissed him. His lips were soft and warm and sending shivers through her entire body.
Chapter Fifteen
Halloween decorations bobbed and swayed along the street as Lily sat with
A clank sounded as Davis dropped his gun and put his hands up. Jarred dashed around the counter and gave the businessman his rights while he handcuffed him and took him outside to a waiting squad car.
“You okay?” Michael asked.
“Yeah.” Shock pouring through her as the reality of everything slammed into her. “W-What happened?”
“Before Davis arrived, I went out back to make sure he didn’t come in that way and surprise us.”
“I didn’t see you do that.”
“Hey, I have years of practice of sneaking past my parents to go out partying. You think I can’t walk right past a distracted young woman who’s watching the door like the bogeyman might burst through?”
“Guess you’re right.” She shrugged. “So what happened?”
“Wells had knocked Jarred out.” He stuffed his hands into his front pockets. “Figured both Davis and Wells had guns, I didn’t, so I got some water and revived Jarred. Told him what was happening and he figured Wells was the bigger danger. Both of them struggled. I got locked in the freezer for my trouble.”
Lily reached out to thank him and jerked her hand back, feeling his skin colder than the ice cream. “Oh my God, you’re freezing. We need to get you to the hospital or something.”
“I’m fine, Lil.”
A peace she couldn’t explain settled over her.
Jarred stomped in, shaking his arms from the snow that covered him. Rushing over, he nearly knocked Michael out of the way. His fingers were warm as he cupped her face. “Are you… Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine.” Behind Jarred, Michael mouthed goodbye and left them alone.
Jarred hauled her into his arms. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve known Wells was in on it. I risked your life.”
She trembled. “This wasn’t how I thought it was going to happen,” she said against his shirt, his body warming her. Wells and Jarred were supposed to protect her. Run out and yell “ freeze!” as soon as Davis showed probable cause. She could’ve died.
“No, it’s not. That guy would’ve killed you. Probably me too.” A rumble sounded in his throat that reminded her of the sound of the growling dog earlier, but that had to have been her imagination.
“What happened back there?” She stepped back to see his expression. “I didn’t hear anything, yet you and Michael both look like you fought quite a battle. Well, except for a dog.”
He gave her a cocky smile. “I think you were too distracted by adrenaline to hear us.”
“What about Davis?” she asked. “He didn’t even flinch.”
“Probably cause he figured Wells would win. He didn’t count on Michael being there to help. I was releasing him from the freezer when I heard the gunshot.” His hazel eyes darkened. “I should’ve left him there and come straight to help you.”
She entwined her fingers into his shirt as she leaned against him. The adrenaline that had kept her upright was vanishing and she didn’t think she could stand on her own. “Michael could’ve frozen to death if left in there too long. What if you hadn’t succeeded against Wells? What if he had shot you?” Michael’s skin had felt like ice, yet he appeared to be okay. Later she’d check on him. Shit, she could’ve died.
“I’m glad you’re all right.” He let out a breath and ran his thumb across her bottom lip.
She pushed aside all the fear and doubt that had boiled over inside her since her mom’s death. Somehow, she believed her mom’s spirit had helped her through this with Davis. That her mom would’ve wanted her to continue running the ice cream shop.
Now, she wanted to take a chance on finding her own happiness and trusting in love. Rising on her tiptoes, she kissed him. His lips were soft and warm and sending shivers through her entire body.
Chapter Fifteen
Halloween decorations bobbed and swayed along the street as Lily sat with
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