Free Heartbreak's Reward (Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight Book 2) by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel Page A

a thing like that to a cowboy who’s been alone…as long as I have been. I’ve as much as given up on women, so…I have no idea why I’m doing this.”
    He was in big trouble either way and lucky she didn’t wipe her hands all over him. “You’re asking for it. My hands are covered with chocolate ice cream now.”
    Jase chuckled, his hands tightening against her back. “What are you gonna do? Better start lickin’.”
    She didn’t want to do it. He gave her no choice. She took both hands and slapped his back.
    His body jerked and he arched right against her belly. “You. Did. Not. Do that!”
    Brenna laughed hysterically and dropped her forehead against his chest, her wet, sticky hands, cone and all, smashed against his back. “No, I didn’t do anything.” She couldn’t stop laughing.
    He gripped her arms. Brenna dropped the cones and wiped her hands over his back, broke out of his hold and took off running backwards. “I didn’t do anything. That’s not melted ice cream all over your back.” She peeked behind her. “Now what are you going to do?” If he rips his shirt off I’ll never be able to control myself. But he began slowly unbuttoning. “I bet that’s cold.”
    Jase took two steps toward her and she did a couple hops back. “You know I can catch you. My legs are twice as long as yours.”
    “Not even close. I took track in school.”
    “Yeah?” He ripped his shirt off and dangled it in front of him, shaking the soggy cone off, and tucked the top of the shirt inside his waistband. He wore a t-shirt underneath. “I jog.”
    “I can imagine what it feels like, Jase. Wet? Sticky? Eww.” She no sooner got the eww out and he took off. She ran down the street, laughing so hard she could barely keep running, but he caught up, grabbed her waist, and spun her around.
    “So, maybe you’ll get dizzy, eh, girl? You’re so funny smearing two—yeah—two ice cream cones all over my back. Not funny, Brenna.”
    “You left me no choice,” she squealed. Brenna kicked her legs out as Jase slowly spun around. Two people came around the corner and had to separate and walk one on each side of them. He stopped and leaned against a store wall, still holding her by the waist, her feet off the ground. “Put me down you animal.”
    He lowered her and she turned to face him, but he grabbed her up into his arms again. She wrapped her legs around him and they both stopped, and stared at each other.
    He lowered her to the ground. “Animal? You called me an animal? Think again.” He pulled his shirt out of the waistband and wiped the wet part into her face. “Now call me an animal.”
    Brenna laughed again, and she didn’t care that her face was all sticky now. “Lick it off my face, bad boy.”
    His gaze did a slow survey over the front of her. “I told you not to say that. Do you really want me licking you?”
    Brenna did a silent gasp. How delightful did that sound? She wanted to slap herself. The whole of her insides quivered. Searching for any kind of composure, she took a step back. The exciting look on his face was fun. “Jase, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mess up your shirts. Want help taking the other one off?” She ran her hands over his muscular arms, but had to calm down. She didn’t do stuff like this.
    “You realize what this means, don’t you?”
    “You won’t take me for ice cream anymore?” She wanted to snicker, but maybe it wasn’t appropriate right now. She’d get more sticky ice cream in her face. “What?” She caught their reflection in the window. The tall one, and her, standing close. A look she admired, and a smile snuck out.
    “Tomorrow you’re cleaning the inside of my truck because whatever is on my back will be on my upholstery. You still wanna smile about it?”
    Brenna didn’t recognize herself, her actions. This was too much fun. She forgot how to do this and liked the way her sensuality and laughter came back. “I’m not smiling about that. Come get me