saying? No man wanted a woman that looked like her, let alone one who admitted to being addicted to ice cream.
Tears pricked her eyes and she abruptly turned and raced her cart toward the check-out counter, blinking rapidly. If the older woman behind the counter noticed her glossy, red-rimmed eyes, she didn’t comment.
She heard Seth approach, and she knew he’d purposely created a racket so she wouldn’t jump again. The man might be big, but he was light on his feet. The woman behind the counter glanced at Seth and then smiled at her as if she knew a secret.
“I got mint chip, pecan praline and rocky road,” he said as he placed the three half gallon tubs on the little conveyor belt. “My freezer won’t hold one of every flavor, so we’ll get another three next time.”
She shook her head, on the verge of rejecting his gift, but when she looked up at him a wide smile lit up his face. He went from handsome and sexy to downright lethal. If she got too close, she’d never recover, but his smile was contagious. She couldn’t help smiling in return.
She didn’t know his intentions, but the simple gesture touched her heart and her eyes welled up with unshed tears, causing his image to become blurry. A single drop escaped out of her right eye and she turned to wipe it away.
He used her momentary weakness to his advantage.
“Add these on, Cora. I’m paying for everything.”
“Seth—” She snapped her head toward him.
He looked at her and raised an eyebrow, as if daring her to protest, and she held her tongue. She didn’t need to cause a commotion her first week in town. As it stood, the rumor mill would go crazy knowing he’d not only bought her ice cream, but he’d paid for her groceries, too.
He picked up both bags and she led them out of the store. She continued walking toward her apartment and he followed.
“So, we’ve got dessert. How about I make us dinner to go with it?”
She contemplated how to answer. She wanted to spend time with him and he’d offered the perfect opportunity. She’d get to see the inside of his apartment, and still get to taste a home cooked meal.
Made by him.
If things went well, she might get the chance to touch him.
That was the danger. She feared if she touched him, he’d ruin her for all other men, but then what did it matter? She already knew she’d live out the rest of her life alone, and if the thugs caught up to her, she’d be dead sooner than later anyway. It would be nice to have some fun.
“Before you say no, keep in mind that I’m the one with the ice cream. Three flavors, too,” he winked and she couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped.
“Okay, you win. Dinner sounds great.”
They made a quick stop at her apartment and he waited outside while she ran in and put her single bag of groceries away. Then he escorted her to his home.
The layout was bigger than her living space, but it hadn’t been what she expected, though she couldn’t put her finger on why. She looked around the room and realized the furniture, though old and well kept, had a feminine quality to it.
Dread washed over her as she briefly wondered about his marital status. It hadn’t come up in conversation, but she didn’t want to be caught in the middle of a lover’s quarrel or worse. Besides, the thought of him with another woman made her sick to her stomach. She wouldn’t be able to handle seeing him around town with another woman on his arm.
“Are you married?” She yelled a little too loud.
He popped out of the kitchen, and studied her quizzically as he wiped his hands on a dishtowel.
“If I were married, I wouldn’t be here with you,” he responded as if she’d insulted him.
“I didn’t think so, but we didn’t discuss it so I thought I should check. Your furniture isn’t what I expected.”
He visibly relaxed upon hearing her explanation.
“Oh, that’s because it isn’t mine. This was Kate’s old place before she moved in with my brother. He let her
Tears pricked her eyes and she abruptly turned and raced her cart toward the check-out counter, blinking rapidly. If the older woman behind the counter noticed her glossy, red-rimmed eyes, she didn’t comment.
She heard Seth approach, and she knew he’d purposely created a racket so she wouldn’t jump again. The man might be big, but he was light on his feet. The woman behind the counter glanced at Seth and then smiled at her as if she knew a secret.
“I got mint chip, pecan praline and rocky road,” he said as he placed the three half gallon tubs on the little conveyor belt. “My freezer won’t hold one of every flavor, so we’ll get another three next time.”
She shook her head, on the verge of rejecting his gift, but when she looked up at him a wide smile lit up his face. He went from handsome and sexy to downright lethal. If she got too close, she’d never recover, but his smile was contagious. She couldn’t help smiling in return.
She didn’t know his intentions, but the simple gesture touched her heart and her eyes welled up with unshed tears, causing his image to become blurry. A single drop escaped out of her right eye and she turned to wipe it away.
He used her momentary weakness to his advantage.
“Add these on, Cora. I’m paying for everything.”
“Seth—” She snapped her head toward him.
He looked at her and raised an eyebrow, as if daring her to protest, and she held her tongue. She didn’t need to cause a commotion her first week in town. As it stood, the rumor mill would go crazy knowing he’d not only bought her ice cream, but he’d paid for her groceries, too.
He picked up both bags and she led them out of the store. She continued walking toward her apartment and he followed.
“So, we’ve got dessert. How about I make us dinner to go with it?”
She contemplated how to answer. She wanted to spend time with him and he’d offered the perfect opportunity. She’d get to see the inside of his apartment, and still get to taste a home cooked meal.
Made by him.
If things went well, she might get the chance to touch him.
That was the danger. She feared if she touched him, he’d ruin her for all other men, but then what did it matter? She already knew she’d live out the rest of her life alone, and if the thugs caught up to her, she’d be dead sooner than later anyway. It would be nice to have some fun.
“Before you say no, keep in mind that I’m the one with the ice cream. Three flavors, too,” he winked and she couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped.
“Okay, you win. Dinner sounds great.”
They made a quick stop at her apartment and he waited outside while she ran in and put her single bag of groceries away. Then he escorted her to his home.
The layout was bigger than her living space, but it hadn’t been what she expected, though she couldn’t put her finger on why. She looked around the room and realized the furniture, though old and well kept, had a feminine quality to it.
Dread washed over her as she briefly wondered about his marital status. It hadn’t come up in conversation, but she didn’t want to be caught in the middle of a lover’s quarrel or worse. Besides, the thought of him with another woman made her sick to her stomach. She wouldn’t be able to handle seeing him around town with another woman on his arm.
“Are you married?” She yelled a little too loud.
He popped out of the kitchen, and studied her quizzically as he wiped his hands on a dishtowel.
“If I were married, I wouldn’t be here with you,” he responded as if she’d insulted him.
“I didn’t think so, but we didn’t discuss it so I thought I should check. Your furniture isn’t what I expected.”
He visibly relaxed upon hearing her explanation.
“Oh, that’s because it isn’t mine. This was Kate’s old place before she moved in with my brother. He let her
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