Free Smittened by Jamie Farrell Page B

were any indication, she was just as happy to see him.
    Mikey Diamond might’ve been the kind of guy to fall in love after all.

    THE MILKED DUCK was empty, save for Dahlia’s two part-time helpers, but they were all rushing around, anticipating the first guests for her Risqué Flavor Tasting event any moment now.
    The up front freezers were stocked with Chocolate Orgasm, Peachy Passion, Sexual Favors, Mikey’s favorite Cherry Popper and more. She had a case of Sin on a Stick treats ready to go and a temporary menu up on the board behind her. After word had gotten out that Billy Brenton would be stopping by, she’d sold out of tickets.
    She’d also prepped a case of pints of various flavors in case anyone wanted to take some home.
    Mikey kept insisting he’d buy all of them, usually with suggestions of which of her body parts he’d lick the ice cream from, but she’d already had to wash ice cream out of her sheets twice this week.
    She smiled to herself and put her cool fingers to her warming cheeks.
    This had been a very good week.
    And not just for her body.
    Mikey Diamond had a sweet side that was utterly impossible for a girl to resist, and he topped it off with being so not needy that Dahlia couldn’t quite believe he was real. In fact, she’d even coerced a confession out of him that he’d spent all those days flirting with women in her shop just to bring in business.
    And it had worked.
    Sales were already up enough that she could pay her rent this month.
    The ice cream truck song rang out. She adjusted her Milked Duck apron, checked that her two assistants were ready, and then smiled at the first of her guests coming in from the dark, cold evening. Soon, the coatracks in the corners were full, conversation drowned out the doorbell tune, and sample cups were being passed around, along with speculation about the secret ingredient that made Sexual Favors the early favorite in the crowd.
    There was also speculation about when Billy Brenton might arrive.
    Dahlia, though, was more curious about when Mikey would arrive. She didn’t know if he were one of those fashionably late people, or if he’d gotten tied up working on a song, or if—or if he’d simply gotten everything he wanted from her already.
    How a person could get tired of laughing so much with someone else wasn’t something she could understand. Or how someone could whisper so many secrets and confide so much in another person and then decide it wasn’t worth it anymore.
    She shook off her doubts and handed over another sample of Chocolate Orgasm. She needed to slip away and check her phone. Just for a second. In case—
    A waft of cold air swept through the room, quickly followed by gasps and whispers.
    There he was, all tall grace and easy movements, still in his ever-present ball cap. She didn’t need to see Will—funny how Dahlia thought of him as Mikey’s friend now, even though she’d probably have a heart attack and a half if Will knew her name—to know he was with Mikey. The shift in energy in the room said as much.
    Mikey’s gaze landed on hers, and Dahlia smiled.
    Let everyone else fuss over Billy . Dahlia had a different idea of what made a guy a rock star.
    Mikey smiled back, soft and goofy, and Dahlia’s heart did the same thing it had been doing all week—it thudded to the floor with a happy, whimpering sigh.
    She was in it deep this time.
    He said something to Will, and the two of them moved through the crowd toward the counter.
    No, wait—not two of them.
    Three of them.
    Mikey leaned over the counter to kiss her on the cheek. “Hey, sweet pea. Nice party.” He nudged his friend. “Billy, this here’s Dahlia. She might could solve some of your problems if you take some of her ice cream home.”
    Will turned a soft brown-eyed smile on Dahlia. His well-groomed stubble made him look rugged, and his red plaid button-down open over his white T-shirt was classic Billy. “Real pleasure, Miss Dahlia.”
    She shook his hand