“You know it’s illegal to have an open container on a public beach.”
Roger knew the officer was in the right. “I do. However, as you can see, the bottle is corked and we are not drinking.” Roger also knew that where they were wasn’t considered a public beach. The restaurant owned it, even though they allowed anyone to use it. If it came to that, he’d push the subject. As a former DEA agent, he wasn’t going to sit back and get bagged for something that wasn’t illegal. The waitress knew exactly where he was taking the bottle of wine when she sold it to him.
“Are you really going to argue the law with me?” the young officer asked.
Roger stood up, nice and slow, not wanting to aggravate the officer. “I’m not arguing; I’m stating. If you haven’t noticed, the sign to the left shows that we are not on public property. If you have questions regarding what they do or don’t allow on their section of the beach, I’m sure they would be happy to answer them for you. Ask for Jim. He’s the owner.”
The officer turned and appeared to look at the sign. The scowl on his face said he wasn’t pleased with being proven incorrect. Roger wasn’t trying to give him a blow to his ego. Then again, he wasn’t taking a citation for something he hadn’t done either. There are many things I could’ve been charged with over the past few years. This isn’t one of them.
The two men glared at each other but eventually the young officer turned his attention to Gia, tipped his hat, and said, “Have a good evening, miss.”
Roger noticed her sweet smile in return. “You too, officer.”
As soon as the guy was gone Roger turned back to Gia who was laughing. “What’s so funny?”
“I guess my wish did come true,” she replied still giggling.
“You wanted a cop to come and harass us?”
Shaking her head, she answered, “Not exactly. I wanted a night I wouldn’t forget. Almost getting arrested surely fits that request. Just not as I imagined it.”
Roger almost asked what she had imagined, but he could figure that out on his own. Kissing her, he could feel the fire building between them. Maybe it was a good thing that cop interrupted things. Otherwise tonight might not be ending with just a kiss. And I’m not out to break her heart.
“Hope that wasn’t the highlight of the evening,” Roger teased. Even in the moonlight, he could see her blush.
In her usual way, she deflected his question. “The lobster was amazing as well.”
Since he was already standing, it might be a good time to call it a night and head back to Boston. “I don’t know about you, but I could use something sweet.” But nothing will be sweeter than your lips were.
“Ice cream sounds wonderful, but only if you allow me to pay.”
Roger wasn’t the type of man who let a woman pay his way. Then again, it was only ice cream. Was his own damn pride getting in the way? Probably. Instead he used what seemed to come very natural between them. Humor.
“Are we talking whipped cream?” Roger asked playfully.
As she folded the blanket Gia answered, “And chocolate jimmies.”
Damn she’s adorable.He wasn’t sure if she knew it or not. Which only made it more intoxicating. “I hope you know I have no idea what a chocolate jimmy is.”
She laughed. “Oh, it’s a Rhode Island thing. I think the rest of the world calls them . . . sprinkles.”
“Maybe you can expand my vocabulary over ice cream.”
Gia smiled. “You have no idea what you’re asking. We have a lot of . . . unusual sayings and words. We might need to order a super sundae to get through them.”
I won’t care if it takes all night.
Roger was in no rush for them to part ways. But after ice cream he was taking her home. And if it meant he stayed in the Jeep, he wasn’t going to act on what his body was yearning for.
Damn, Brice better hire her soon, or I might just change my mind.