BOOK 2

Justine swallowed and stared at her cone. This was definitely one of those times she considered herself “wigged out.”

“In fact, there’ve been only three times I ever saw you eat ice cream.”

Her gaze jerked to his as memories flooded. “Graduation day,” she remembered. “I got my diploma and got sick, I was so nervous.”

“That’s what happens when you’re smart enough to be valedictorian.” It gave Mitch a rush of pride, even now, to remember. He’d been several years ahead of her, already in the navy, but he’d gotten leave.

“I gave my speech, then threw up on your shoes.” She laughed. “I was mortified.”

“For about three minutes,” he remembered dryly. “You recovered quickly, and insisted we share a gallon of ice cream. I got all of three bites.”

She laughed harder, and it relieved him. Some of the tension had left her shoulders, so he went for the rest. “Do you remember the second time?”

“Yes,” she said softly, turning her head away from him to study the oak tree in front of her car.

Gently,