Page 169 of Titus

Except, I hadn’t been looking. I’d been perfectly content on my own, not dating and not needing a man in my life. Then Titus crashed into my world, turning everything upside down.

While I’d been resistant from the start and still a bit hesitant, I didn’t want to waste time trapped in my own head about it, nor did I want to sabotage something good because one man had broken my trust and convinced me that all men would do the same.

The coastline continued rolling past us. We passed through Malibu, small beach towns, and around hidden coves. All places neither of us seemed particularly interested in stopping to explore.

For once, the destination didn’t seem important, and the drive itself somehow felt like part of the experience.

Several comfortable minutes passed before something caught my eye. “Look at that!”

Titus immediately looked over. “What?”

I pointed to the opposite side of the road. “How adorable is that ice cream shack?”

A small roadside ice cream shop sat tucked beneath a cluster of old oak trees. It had flower boxes that lined the windows. String lights hung above a shaded patio, and a hand-painted sign gently swayed in the afternoon breeze.

The entire place looked like something straight out of a romantic film.

Titus instantly slowed the car.

I sat up. “No. You don’t have to stop.”

His mouth twitched. “Would you care to have an ice cream with me, cariño?”

I smiled at him. “I’d absolutely love that.”

His grin widened. “Excellent.”

Without another word, he steered the Jaguar into the gravel parking lot.

He was out of the car before I could unbuckle, and he opened my door. “After you, darling,” he said with that damn smirk I loved.

We walked together, holding hands, watching families sit beneath colorful umbrellas while children chased one another through the grass nearby.

We stood beneath the striped awning, studying the menu overhead when the teenage girl behind the counter nearly dropped her scoop when she looked up and recognized Titus.

I bit the inside of my cheek, trying not to smile. I had forgotten he had recently become an internet sensation among her age group.

“You’re Titus Hawk!” she said, grinning from ear to ear. “The billionaire with the yacht, right?”

Titus shrugged. “Most billionaires have yachts.”

“I know, but they’re not as hot as you.” She looked at me. “Sorry.”

“While I appreciate the compliment, my lady and I are here to enjoy some ice cream. If you don’t mind, could you please take our order?”

“Sure. Right. Yes. Sorry.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“What is your flavor of choice, my love?” Titus asked, looking at me with a smile.

“Strawberry.”

He turned back to the young woman. “We’ll have one scoop of strawberry and one scoop of chocolate, both on a cone, please,” he said.

A few moments later, we carried our cones outside.

“Look at us. Like we’re already an old couple on a Sunday afternoon drive, enjoying ice cream cones while overlooking the beach,” I said, sitting beside him on a small wooden bench beneath one of the giant oak trees.