“Are you okay, Serenity?” Gabriel asked as soon as they were in the kitchen alone.

Serenity opened her mouth to give the standard, “I’m fine” line, but changed her mind. “No, I’m not okay. You holding me and touching me has my body all in an uproar, and I want everybody to go home so you can finish what you started. Any other questions?” She almost laughed at his shocked expression. He stood speechless for several seconds. “I thought not.” She washed her hands, then uncovered the pan of brownies, cut them, and placed them on a plate.

He came and stood close to her. “Would it help if I told you I wanted everyone gone the moment I walked in the door?”

They stared at each other for a lengthy moment, then both burst out laughing, releasing some of the tension. She grabbed two more plates and lined one with mini peach cobbler bites and the other with bite-size molded chocolate cups.

“What’s going in these?”

Serenity retrieved a container from the refrigerator and handed it to him. “These chopped strawberries and raspberries. The little cups are all chocolate.”

“You mean the entire thing is edible?”

“Yep.”

Gabriel got a spoon out of the drawer, scooped some of the mixed fruit into one of the cups and popped it into his mouth. His eyes widened as he chewed.

“Good?”

He placed a hand over his heart and groaned pleasurably. “Beyond. If I can have these and the brownies for the rest of my life, I’m never leaving.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, she saw the excitement in his eyes dim, as if he hadn’t meant to blurt it out. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him if that’s all it would take, she’d gladly make them. But rather than make things more awkward, she kept her mouth shut. Instead, Serenity removed a large container from the freezer. “Oh, that’s cold!” She hurried over and nearly dropped it onto the counter. “I always forget to use a towel.”

“I can’t believe you made homemade ice cream, too,” Gabriel said, finishing filling the last of the chocolate cups with the fruit. “The stuff from the shop in town is good.”

“It is, but you know me when it comes to food. I don’t do anything by half.”

He smiled. “No, you don’t. Okay, all done. Are we ready to take these out?” He picked up a plate. “I’ll get the ice cream, too.”

“I think so.” The plates and utensils were already outside. She waited for him to move, but he just stood there. “What?”

Placing the plate back on the counter, he closed the distance between them. “I need one more kiss to hold me.”

“Yeah, I could use one, too,” she murmured.

“Good.”