"Let's enjoy the rest of our day."
I nodded. We still had a few hours before we had to meet his family for dinner. I would need to get changed, but we still had an hour to kill.
"What do you want to do now?" I asked, trying to hide the mischief in my tone.
Jace eyed me warily. "What do you want to do?"
"I want to go to an ice cream parlor with you." I grinned excitedly as he pondered my request.
"I haven't been for ice cream since I was really little." He shook his head in wonder. "It's probably been almost twenty years."
"No." I gasped. "You're joking."
He shook his head. "No, it's been a while."
"You were like...seven then." I shook my head. "You never went for ice cream?"
"We were busy." Jace said stiffly at the memory.
I swallowed my frustration at his lack of a childhood. Even I, who'd had a crappy childhood, went for ice cream every now and again. "What was your favorite flavor?"
Jace chuckled. "I was pretty boring."
"Go on, what was your favorite?" I prodded.
"Vanilla."
"That's not boring. It's delicious." I beamed. "Can we go?"
His eyes glowed as he glanced at me. "You really want ice cream?"
"I do."
"All right then." He nodded. "Where do we find an ice cream parlor?"
Chapter 23
I stepped closer to the lady behind the ice cream counter. Jace stood uncomfortably at my side. He was, so obviously, out of his element, but I wanted him to know there was so much more to life then his work. I wished I knew a little more about him so I could judge his reactions to places like these. There was no doubt in my mind, I loved Jace...but, I didn't know him very well. I made it my mission to get to know him better. I wanted to know everything about him. I wanted to know his favorite drink, fruit, place...I wanted to know his dreams and fears. I wanted to be the one he trusted to confide his innermost desires. I wanted it all with Jace...the good, the bad, and the ugly.
"What can I get for you?" The lady asked politely.
I looked up at Jace. "You have to get a cone dipped in chocolate. They are the best."
His eyes widened. "What are you getting?"
I shook my head and turned back to order. "May I please get a white chocolate cone dipped in sprinkles with a scoop of white chocolate ice cream."
She nodded. "And you, Sir?"
Jace shifted. "I'll have a cone dipped in white chocolate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream."
I couldn't help but laugh, as the words rushed from his mouth. He looked so terribly uncomfortable, it bordered on hilarious. I weaved my fingers with his as I stepped to the cash register. I pulled my wallet from my purse and Jace stiffened, glaring haughtily at me.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm treating you to an ice cream." I said factually. "Please, let me."
"No."
I shifted uncomfortably as he handed the nervous teller his debit card. When he finished pressing his pin into the machine, I shook my head, reached for my ice cream and walked out onto the patio. I left him to follow me.
I cringed as I watched Jace chewing off the top of his ice cream. Jeez, that had to hurt the teeth. I thought, as I licked mine the way normal people eat their ice cream. "You like it?"
He shrugged. "I've always liked ice cream."
"Hum," I nodded. "So, how did you come to be the owner of Rush Industries?"
He gave me a hard look as though the question had the force to punch him in the gut. "My father passed it onto me."
"Oh," I nodded. "You always wanted to take over?"
His eyes were serious as he answered. "No. I wanted to be an architect."
I was taken aback. He wanted to be an architect? How did he end up running a multi-billion dollar corporation? "Why didn't you?"
"Life held responsibilities I simply could not turn away from."
"You must have loved your father dearly to take over his company when it was not your interest to do so."
He laughed, but there was no joy in the sound. My skin tightened over my bones. "I loathed the man."
I was speechless. "You loathed you father?"
"I did." He nodded. "He was a controlling son-of-a-bitch."
"But, why would you take over his company then?"
Jace shifted, popped the end of his cone into his mouth and chewed. "We should leave. You will need to change for dinner."
I frowned as he stood, waiting for me to follow suit. I nodded crisply, dropped the remainder of my cone into the nearest can and followed him to his car. We drove in silence to his condo.
"Why are we here?" I asked. "I don't have any clothing to change into here."