Could she risk giving her heart again? What if he turned out to be no better than her ex-husband, Jack? Was that what scared her?
Chapter Twelve
“I can’t let you pay for our groceries.” Sela shook her head when Ceno pulled out his credit card.
“Why not?” Ceno insisted on paying for everything. After all, his family was about to descend upon them like a swarm of locusts if he knew his brothers.
He also had the feeling that Sela and Clyde lived rather close to the edge and he’d already accepted a night’s board and two meals from them. That had to be worth something.
“It’s too much.” She crossed her arms with a scowl. “Heck, I gathered enough to fill my freezer and my cupboards, which were almost totally bare.”
“Old Mother Hubbard, huh?” He smiled, remembering bits of the tale he’d heard about the old woman from someone in Magic.
“Yeah, only I don’t live in a shoe.” She tapped her foot as the cashier had him insert his card into the reader and then gave him the receipt.
“Let him pay.” Her grandfather said as he pulled back on the handle of the electric cart. “Watch it, boy! You almost got your foot caught under the wheels.” He grinned and kept driving the cart through the lane, almost upsetting a display of canned goods. “Whooeee! This thingamajig moves fast when it’s empty.”
“Can we get help with this?” Ceno nodded toward the carts.
“Sure thing, sugar.” The cashier smiled and cracked her gum. “I’ll help you myself.” The girl stepped away from her register amidst a series of complaints from the people in line behind them. “Oh, I was just kidding. I’m gonna find them a cart guy. Keep your pants on. I’ll be right back.” She rolled her eyes and headed for the door.
“Ready, Sela?” Ceno glanced at her and frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“No. Nothing’s wrong.” She glared at him as the cashier closed her line down to help push a cart out to her truck when she couldn’t find anyone else to help them. “I’ll take that.” She pulled the cart away from the girl and bared her teeth with a smile. “You should probably go back and help those people who were behind us.”
“Maybe I was wrong about this one,” Gramps said as she stopped the cart next to the bed of the truck and opened the storage compartments.
“What do you mean,” she asked absently as she started handing things up to Ceno who had hopped into the back.
“I never saw you get jealous over girls flirting with Jerk—I mean Jack. And this one has his own money. Do you have a job, Ceno?”
“As a matter of fact, I’m part owner of a full-service gas station and garage in Magic, New Mexico. Why?”
Clyde grinned up at him. “I think I’m starting to like you.”
“Grandpa, really!” Sela had never been more mortified in her life. “Stop embarrassing me.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Sir.” Ceno grinned at him as he stashed the groceries in the lock boxes. Spinning around, he glanced at one of the boys on the other side of the truck. They’d hurried to help when they’d seen them exit the store with four carts and an old man in a store-provided scooter. “Did you get the refrigerated items into the coolers in the back seat?”
“Sure did, mister. Only there’s a lot that won’t fit.”
“Hand it up here, along with those thermal bags. There’s still some room in these boxes.”
“How could there be more room,” Sela asked with a frown. “There was enough stuff in those carts to fill those boxes twice.”
“I pack things well.” Ceno shoved the cold things into the thermal bags and lowered them into the big silver box that should have been full to overflowing. He zapped them with the minimizer he’d brought with him and made room for more.
If he wasn’t mistaken, Sela had purposely bought so much stuff so they couldn’t possibly secure it all. That way they would have to grab something cheap for dinner, like fast food. She’d made it clear that she didn’t want Ceno spending any more money on them.
“Damn,” she said under her breath.
She no doubt thought he couldn’t hear her. However, his hearing, as well as his sense of smell, kept getting better and better. The more time he spent with her, the more his other half developed. It was only a matter of time before it would insist he claim her or leave her. His kind couldn’t stay around a prospective mate for long without a claiming.
“Are you two ready to get something to eat?” Ceno locked the box and jumped over the side of the truck. He slipped the boys a couple of bills. “Thank you. I hope you’ll be here to help the next time we come to stock up.”
“You won’t be here when it’s time to stock up again. I’ve got enough stuff here to last us a couple of months.”
“You forgot I told you my family was coming to help, didn’t you?”
“Oh, God. Didn’t I tell you to call them and cancel that?” The color drained from her face. How could she possibly ask him to leave now?
“If it’s that much trouble, I can call them and tell them to turn around. Though...” he checked his watch. “I’d wager they’re over halfway here by now. I’d bet they’ll be here first thing in the morning if not sooner. I told them about Johnson and how I’d most likely pissed him off. I just thought it prudent to have backup, just in case.”
“Well I...” She bit her lip and glanced at her grandfather. “What do you think, Gramps? After all, it’s your house, too.”
“I think you should let them come. Cause if Cal Johnson gets a bug up his ass to come after you or Ceno, there’s safety in numbers. I know old Betsy would love some exercise, but she’s just an old gal and might not be up to the challenge.”
Ceno didn’t want the old man shooting anyone for him. He didn’t know if he could live with himself if something happened to the old man because he’d wanted to impress Sela.
“Then it’s okay if they come?”
“I guess,” Sela said as she climbed into the driver’s seat. “Time to go. We have to get all of this food home and packed away in the freezer.”
“I thought we were having supper in town.” Clyde climbed into the back.
“No whining, Gramps. You got out of the house, had your ride in the electric cart, and managed to talk me into buying you a triple scoop of ice cream from the deli counter. It’s time to go home.”
“Sela.” Ceno rested his hand over hers on the gearshift. “He’s an old man. Let him have his fun.”
He watched the emotions play across her face. She didn’t want to spend more time with him than she had to. That much was evident. Did she regret what happened between them in the bunkhouse? Goddess, he hoped not. Their encounter had been the best thing that had ever happened to him.
Still, it didn’t take much to realize she would do things for her grandfather that she would never do for herself, like let him take them out to a sit-down restaurant. Something told him they hadn’t had the money for that kind of thing in a long, long time.
“Okay. But we have to hurry. I don’t want the cold stuff to go bad. Do you hear that, Gramps?” She called over her shoulder. “We can eat here, but we can’t stay long. We have to get this stuff home before it spoils.”
“It’s going to spoil anyway,” he groused. “Who needs twelve gallons of milk?”
“We’re going to freeze it, Gramps. Not only will it be there when we need it and we won’t have to drive all the way back here to get more in a week, but it'll also keep the deep freeze cold if the power goes out.”
“The generator does that, you silly nit.”
“Not when it’s broken down or has no fuel. You know what happened the last time.”
“Yeah, that son of a bitch Johnson stole all our gas for the generator.”
“Gramps!”
“I won’t apologize for calling an ass an ass.” The old man crossed his arms, pursed his lips and stared out through the window.
Sela took a deep breath and put the truck in gear. “Everyone belted in?”
“Yes,” Ceno said as he smiled and pointed. “But you aren’t.”
“Yeah, right.” Her cheeks darkened as she glanced toward the back seat. “What about you, Gramps.”
“I have the damned fool thing on.” He pulled on the shoulder strap. “See?”
“Then we’re ready to go,” she said after buckling herself in.
“Damned straight we’re ready to go, and I better get my steak dinner, or there’s going to be hell to pay,” Clyde mumbled as she stepped on the gas.
Ceno smiled. He loved his new family already. He only hoped they could love him at least half as much in return.
Chapter Thirteen
Sela sat across from Ceno, watching him eat. She wasn’t sure why, but even watching him eat made her hot. The way his lips moved as he chewed, the way his fingers held his fork and knife. He was almost too perfect.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and tried not to think about it. This was nothing more than an average meal. But there was nothing average about Ceno. She couldn’t let herself get attached to a man who was too perfect to ever want anything to do with her on a permanent basis, no matter what he said.
His ice blue gaze had a way of capturing hers and holding it hostage. What was it about the way he smiled and the little dimple that formed on his right cheek? Why did she find it so difficult to keep herself from reaching out and touching it?
She glanced at her grandfather and smiled, glad she’d given in and let him have his night out on the town.
His rheumy blue eyes sparkled with laughter, and his normally pale skin filled with color as he laughed at the stories Ceno told of his work and the people of his town, not that any of the stories he told were true. Who ever heard of a town with werewolves, vampires, and aliens? Still, he told his stories so well, Sela even had a difficult time remembering they were fiction.
“Did you save room for dessert?” The waitress stood by their table, a smile on her pretty face.
Sela almost refused until she saw her grandfather rubbing his hands together with anticipation.
“I know just what I want, young lady.” He gave the waitress his practiced flirty grin that made every woman smile as though dealing with her own elderly relative.
“And that would be...” She gave him a wink that must have made his day.
“Well, sweetie, I’d love to have a taste of that fried ice cream.” He leaned over and whispered to Sela, “I have to see that. How do you fry ice cream?”
“Anything else?”
“No. The ice cream should be plenty.” He grinned. “I had some ice cream earlier, and I know better than to press my luck, asking for much more.”
Grinning, she turned to Ceno. “Did you save room for dessert?”
“I’d like to have an order of the chocolate lava cake.”
“Are you sure? That’s a dessert you share.”
“You could help me eat it.” He winked at Sela.
“No. I’m not having dessert.” Sela shook her head.
Hell, her ass was wide enough, already. She didn’t need to add chocolate cake, hot fudge and ice cream to it.”
“I’ll take that, just the same,” Ceno said with a smile, “and bring two spoons, just in case.”
“Yes, sir.” The waitress spun on her heels and hurried toward the kitchen.
“Just in case?” Sela raised a brow. “Just in case you want to eat with both hands?”
“In case you change your mind, of course.”
“What makes you think I’d do something like that? You’re a virtual stranger. I don’t think it would be wise to share anything with you. What makes you think it’s okay to share something with me?” She tried not to think about how she’d almost stuck her tongue down his throat in the bunkhouse and then had sex with him. Her face burned, though she refused to look away.
He met her gaze, his eyes solemn. “I have a feeling we’re going to be more than strangers. In fact, I thought we already were.” He cleared his throat, shooting a look toward her grandfather. “You don’t have a problem with our getting better acquainted, do you, Clyde?”
“Me?” Her grandfather shook his head. “I don’t have a problem with you courting my little granddaughter. In fact, I would love it if you courted her. She needs a good man in her life. She’s gotten way too big for her britches if you ask me.”
“Grandpa!” Sela glowered at them both. “You’re both lucky I don’t pull out my keys and leave, this minute.”
“No.” Ceno shook his head. “You’re lucky.” A slow smile split his face as the waitress approached the table. “Because something tells me you’re going to want at least a couple bites of what’s coming.”
“Here you go,” the waitress, whose nametag identified her as Marge, set the fried ice cream in front of her grandfather. He took a deep breath and smacked his lips. She then set the lava cake in the center of the table with two spoons. “Dig in!”
“Cinnamon. I love cinnamon.” Picking up his spoon, her grandfather dug into the crispy shell of his dessert with delight. “I don’t know how they do it, but this sure is fried.”
Sela stared at the cake, her mouth practically watering as the gooey center oozed out of the top. Two scoops of vanilla ice cream slowly melted on each side as globs of fudge slid from the top of the cake and pooled around them.
“I love chocolate.” Ceno took a bite of the warm cake and closed his eyes. “Mmm... It’s like sex, only better.”
“If that’s what you think, boy,” her grandfather said with a snort, “you’re doing it wrong.” He barely took his attention off his ice cream to comment.
Ceno winked at her and took another bite with slow relish. “Yes. This is edible sex.”
“Yep. You’re doing it wrong. Hee, hee.”
“Gramps.” Sela shook her head.
After holding out for a full two minutes, she couldn’t take it anymore. It was chocolate, and she was missing out because she was stubborn. How stupid was that?
Taking a tiny bit of cake and fudge, she scooped up a small bite of ice cream and took a bite.
“I think you might be right.” She closed her eyes and moaned. “I think it is better than sex.”
“No wonder she left him. The lazy so-and-so,” her grandfather mumbled.
Sela couldn’t suppress a giggle. “So, now you know why I divorced the creep.”
“Yep. Ole Jerk... err Jack was a real piece of work. I hope you pick a better one the second time around. He canted his head toward Ceno and waggled his brows.
“Grandpa, really,” Sela whispered, her cheeks burning.
“Stop pretending you don’t find him attractive. The boy’s so pretty, you could put him in a fancy dress and pass him off as a bride.”
“Excuse me?” Ceno said with a frown. “I don’t think—”
“Don’t mind Gramps. He’s not saying you look like a girl. That’s just his way of saying you’re attractive enough for him to notice it.” Sela threw her napkin at her grandfather with a glare.
“What’d I do?” He looked so confused, Sela almost laughed.
“Eat your ice cream.” She took another bite of cake.
“I knew you wouldn’t be able to help yourself.” Ceno grinned.
“You don’t play fair. You know, chocolate is almost every woman’s weakness.”
“It’s a man’s weakness as well. Every one of my brothers loves it. Well, the ones who have tried it, anyway.”
“What do you mean, the ones who have tried it?” Sela laughed. “What planet are you from that you have brothers who have never eaten chocolate?”
“Not one you’ve heard of, I’m sure.” He grinned. “Eat your cake.”
“Don’t you mean, eat your cake? You ordered it.” She scooped up another bite and popped it in her mouth with a smile. “If you’re not careful, I might just clean the plate, and then, where will you be?”
“I will be in a most enviable position,” Ceno said with a chuckle.
“And just wha
t do you mean by that?” She licked the ice cream off her spoon, getting a little thrill when his eyes darkened, and he gave her a smoldering look.
Sela’s face burned, and her body warmed as he stared at her as though she were his dessert. What was it about him that made her insides melt and her body hot and cold at the same time? Whatever it was, it certainly ratcheted her pulse up and had her blood zinging through her veins at hyperdrive. No wonder she’d thrown herself at him the night before.
“What I mean by that,” he said as he leaned across the table and whispered in her ear, “is you will owe me something else sweet to eat.”
As tempted as she was to eat the rest of the lava cake just so she could feel his hot mouth on her again, Sela set her spoon down and took a sip of water.
“Is it hot in here?” She held the cold glass to her forehead.
“Nope.” Her grandfather said as he scraped the bottom of his bowl. “It’s kind of chilly.” He rubbed his arms. “It might have been the ice cream.” He stared down at his empty bowl and sighed. “It sure was good. How do you suppose they do that?” He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
Sela knew that look and started shaking her head before he even opened his mouth to ask.
“Do you think you could make fried ice cream?”
“I doubt it, Gramps.” She almost rested her elbow on the table, before changing her mind and crossing her arms instead. “Our freezer most likely doesn’t get cold enough, and our deep fryer broke almost a year ago.”
“Then how’ve you been cooking my tater tots?” He glared at her through narrowed eyes, as though she had lied just to get out of making the dessert.
“I’ve baked them.”
“Baked them!” He wrinkled his nose. “Yech!”
“Well, you’ve been eating them and liking it for almost a year. It’s too late to cry foul, now.”
“Who said anything about chickens?”
“Gramps, really!” Sela laughed. “Be serious for a minute, will you?”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.” Ceno frowned, his gaze shifting between them.
Chapter Fourteen
Magic, New Mexico: Seducing Sela (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Zolon Warriors Book 2) Page 7
