I’d gazed longingly at that man like he was a giant ice cream cone I desperately wanted to lick. At first, I’d been embarrassed to be caught gawking those initial, awkward seconds. Until I realized he was watching me do it with a searing intensity in his eyes. He’d rubbed his hand across his mouth, throat working, and for one heady moment I’d thought he might loop his arm around my waist and drag me inside.

Dean laughed, the sound carrying on the light breeze. “I didn’t know you’d be this much trouble when you moved in next door. I think you claimed to be a quiet and respectful neighbor.”

“That was a lie,” I said, then handed him my container. “Here, I saved the last bite for you.”

His gaze slid to the side. “Is it that obvious I want more?”

“It’s super obvious, Mr. Machine.” I bit the tip of my thumb so I wouldn’t blurt out the real answer—that it was making me happy to see him happy and if he wanted a bathtub-sized trough of water ice, I’d haul it here in a flash.

My cell phone reminder alarm jangled, and I was disappointed again. I tugged it from my front pocket and shut it off as I reluctantly stood.

“It’s work,” I said apologetically. “I planned a late meeting with the marketing team from the hotel in Austin.”

He nodded and stood slowly next to me. We were just as close as we’d been sitting down, but peering up at him, feet almost touching, had my stomach flipping again. Until I saw him clearly hide a grimace.

I touched his wrist. “Are you okay?”

He rolled back his shoulders. “Don’t ever start boxing. Or train to be one. It makes a lot of things hurt, even years later.”

His tone was about as light as was possible for a man like Dean. I didn’t buy it. A litany of questions burst in my brain. How many times did you break your nose? Does your body still hurt every day? Do you really want to take that job in Las Vegas?

But he put his hand on his front door and pulled it open. “What do you think the next surprise activity will be?”

I had to work awfully hard not to appear too delighted by this question. I pinched my fingers together and mimed sealing my lips. His grin made it worth it.

“I liked this one,” he said. “A lot. Thank you. I needed it more than I realized.”

“Did you like it more than that time I accidentally fell into your lap?”

He shook his head, eyes meeting mine, filled with an alluring heat. “You’re the one whose gonna get us gossiped about. Not me.”

“But I’m not even a little bit scandalous.”