Hakim gave her a startled look. “I was teasing. You don’t have to make dessert.”
She snorted a laugh. “Who said anything about making?”
“Now I’m extremely curious. Why don’t I clear the table and then we can have dessert?”
“Done and done. I’ll get everything out.”
Lauren went back into the kitchen and Hakim followed a minute later carrying the dishes. She had already pulled a carton out of the freezer and sat it on the counter. By the time Hakim had loaded the dishwasher, Lauren had dished the ice cream into two bowls.
He stood next to her and peered over her shoulder. Each bowl was layered, starting with a brownie, then chocolate ice cream, then chocolate syrup. Lauren sprinkled nuts on the top of the ice cream in each bowl and then picked up a can of whip cream and squirted out a whirled dollop on top.
“I don’t know, that looks like making dessert to me,” he said thoughtfully.
“Okay, well, it’s the easiest version of dessert out there. And don’t tell me you don’t like chocolate. If you don’t like chocolate, we can’t be friends.”
“As it happens, I do like chocolate,” he grinned. He watched her finish the sundaes off with a few chocolate sprinkles and wondered if they were becoming friends in truth.
Lauren turned to him. “What wine goes with ice cream sundaes?”
“Ah, that’s an excellent question. Hang on.” Hakim went to look through his wine racks; he pulled out one bottle and then another, before finding the one he wanted.
“What’s the verdict?” Lauren asked.
Hakim held the bottle up for her to inspect. It was a port wine, perfect for dessert.
Lauren nodded. “That’ll do.”
Hakim got two clean glasses, smaller ones that were designed for dessert wine. He carried the bottle and the glasses into the living room, while Lauren followed with the bowls.
Instead of sitting at the table again, Hakim put the glasses down on the coffee table next to the couch.
“Okay with you?” he asked.
She nodded. “After I eat all this, I may not want to move. Best to be comfortable.”
Hakim laughed in agreement. “Sugar and wine coma. Sounds like an excellent plan.”
Hakim flipped the switch to turn on the gas fireplace. Ice cream and a crackling fire might seem like a contradiction, but he thought the ambiance was nice.
They got comfortable on the couch and dug into the sundaes. Lauren closed her eyes in delight and Hakim relished watching her enjoy herself. She opened her eyes and saw him watching her. Even the way she wrinkled her nose was cute, he decided.
“I’m sure you don’t indulge in this kind of high-calorie therapy very often, but let me tell you, chocolate cures all.”
Hakim chuckled. “You don’t think I eat ice cream?”
Lauren rolled her eyes. “Please. Look at you.”
He raised one eyebrow and she shook her head.
“If you eat like this every day and don’t spend two hours in the gym, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”
That startled him into another laugh. “I don’t eat like this every day, no. And I don’t spend all my time at the gym.”
That got him another eye roll. “You so work out.”
“I run. With Zeus. You’ve seen how much energy he has. That’s what keeps me in shape.”
“Mm-hm.”
“Really. That’s all I do,” he insisted.
Lauren stared at him over her spoon.
Hakim stared back, and then finally broke. “Okay, yes. There’s a fully equipped fitness center at the office, and unless I have a business meeting booked, that’s where I usually spend lunch.”
Lauren nodded, vindicated, and Hakim tried not to read too much into the fact that she had blatantly been checking him out.
Trying to change the subject, he asked her about the first thing that came to mind.
“You obviously like dogs; why don’t you have one?”
“How do you know I don’t?” she retorted.
“Because you wouldn’t have stayed to cook dinner if you had a dog at home.”
Lauren acknowledged the point with a tilt of her head. “My apartment isn’t dog-friendly. Plus, over the last couple of years, my work days have been so long that I’m not sure I could do right by any kind of animal.”
“I’m sorry.”
And he was. Even on the days where he regretted not having a girlfriend to come home to, Hakim consoled himself with the fact that Zeus was a good companion. The dog was always happy to see him, and after seeing Lauren with him, Hakim was sorry that she didn’t have the same kind of welcome to come home to.
“You know, I thought about letting people bring their dogs into the office, or working with a local shelter to do dog-friendly days,” Lauren said.