She pushed her cart and he followed. “Yes, I’m back for good.”
He loped along at her side. “I may as well come with you. You’re what they call size challenged. In case you need something else from the top shelf, I’ll come in handy.”
“Oh you’re not going to use the S word? Go on then. Short. I’m short.”
“Why, Ms. Mendoza, I do believe you’re yanking my chain. I think you’re more fun sized than short.”
She blushed. “I don’t know why they have to have shelves that are so high to start with. How do all the little old ladies get their cereal anyway?”
“Darlin’, they eat Cheerios and mother’s oats. All that fancy organic stuff is on the high shelf ’cause it’s just you city girls who eat it. I’d check the sell-by date on it, just in case it went bad in 2010 or something.”
“There’s not a darned thing wrong with wanting healthy options.”
He grinned again. “I’m teasing. Well, I’m telling the truth, but also teasing. Heck, we converted the farm into an organic operation three years ago. I’m always happy when people want the healthier option.”
“You did? That’s awesome.”
Before she could ask more questions, they had to skirt around a gaggle of women who gave him the once-over twice.
“I see it’d be impossible to take you anywhere.” Caroline gave him a raised brow.
He held his hands out all innocent-like. “You, sweet thing, can take me anywhere you like. In any case, I can’t be blamed for being so handsome and charming.”
She laughed. Good Lord he was adorable.
“So you’re working with Edward Chase then?”
“I bet the gossip already knows what color my sheets are too. Yes. My first day is Monday.”
“Makes sense you’re a lawyer now. You did love to argue back in school.”
As if he’d ever noticed her! Had he?
She managed to pretend she was cool and not giddy. Probably worked. “My uncle says it’s a wonderful thing when you can make a living off your most annoying trait.”
She paused to put some soup in her cart. “Can you?” She pointed toward the chicken broth.
“There’s cans of it right there,” he said as he pulled the carton down.
“I have to buy three of the cans to make one of those cartons. And I can use the carton more than once. It has a screw-on top.”
“Ah.”
Back toward the front of the store he paused, turning to her so she was caged in by the buggy and his body.
Her heart sped as he seemed to block out everything but him.
He lowered his voice, getting just a little closer. “You grew up gorgeous, Caroline.”
She licked her lips, his gaze locked on her mouth. A blush crept up her neck, and she tightened her hold on the buggy before she grabbed him by the front of his shirt and hauled him close for a kiss.
So close she could see the gold flecks in his green eyes. The shadow of the dent in his chin even through the scruff of his beard. His skin was sun kissed, his body one of a man who worked outside a lot.
The heat of his body washed over her as the scent of him—of the cold air outside, the detergent from his shirt—reached her nose. It turned out to be pretty difficult not to lean in and sniff him. She bet he smelled really good where his neck met his shoulder.
“Whatever can you be thinking? I hope it’s really dirty.”
He was without a doubt ridiculously sexy. There was chemistry between them, for damn sure.
It was…sweaty palms, dry mouth, slow-dance-in-a-high-school-gym chemistry. He made her giddy and silly even as he made her tingly and super hot for him. All in the freezer section of the local grocery store in Petal. That took some major testosterone.
“I’m pretty sure the frozen peas don’t need to hear my dirty thoughts. As for your compliment? Uh, my genes thank you. Except the ones that made me short. Though I sort of think fun sized is a good descriptor.”
“I bet the peas would be as excited to hear you talk dirty as I am. You should give me your phone number so I can call you and ask you out.”
Lord he made her smile. “I should?”
“Oh yeah. I give really good date. How long’s it been since you’ve been dancing, Caroline?”
“Too long apparently.” She cocked her head and looked up at him. “Well, Royal, I’ll make you a deal.”
“Oh yeah? Let me hear it then. I’m sort of easy for big brown eyes.”
It had been years since she’d flirted like this. It felt really good.
“You find me in town, and the next time I see you, I might just give you my number. Until then thank you for your assistance with the high shelves.”
She winked and moved past him. “It was very nice to see you again. And for the record? You grew up awful sexy.”
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
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Forsaken
Copyright © 2014 by Sarah Ballance
ISBN: 978-1-61922-262-5
Edited by Holly Atkinson
Cover by Angela Waters
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Original Copyright: 2011
First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: September 2014
www.samhainpublishing.com
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