Your Eyes Don't Lie Read Free

“Albertsons is having a double coupon sale, so we can definitely buy some.”
    “Cool.” He climbed into the front seat and reached for the glove box where they kept a pair of scissors.
    Eight candy bar coupons later, they walked into Albertsons. Makay felt physically chilled because Nate had begged to have the convertible top down and since it was a warm day, she hadn’t wanted to disappoint him. Worse was the inner chill that came because she didn’t see Lenny Pagolino hanging around outside the store as he usually did after a payoff. She didn’t know if she should be relieved there was no chance Nate would spot him, or irritated that she’d left her car open for him for no reason—but maybe Lenny would show up while she was inside the store.
    One of the clerks eyed her coupon binder knowingly as they passed him in an aisle, but Makay ignored his disgusted sneer. She’d stopped feeling embarrassed about using coupons a long time ago. If product manufacturers and retail stores were dumb enough to put out coupons that allowed her to double up and even get items for free, well, that was their problem.
    Eighteen minutes later, they walked out with four full grocery sacks for twenty dollars. She had peanut butter, jam, pizza, breakfast cereal, milk, cheese, frozen vegetables, tuna, more chili, microwaveable meals, and toilet paper. Nate was dancing because his eight candy bars had actually earned him forty cents. Better yet, the clerk hadn’t asked them to make their purchases in two transactions, though the limit was clearly four of the same coupon per purchase. “I’m going to save one for Jonny, one for Tessa, and one for Lily,” he said, swinging his little sack. “And you, of course.”
    Makay didn’t have the heart to tell him not to eat one before dinner. “Why, thank you. You know how I love chocolate.”
    He grinned and skipped ahead toward the Sebring as she followed more slowly, the handles of the plastics sacks digging into her palms. They’d nearly reached the convertible when one of the bags gave out, spreading chili and tuna cans everywhere. One skidded in front of a passing car, which screeched to a stop.
    “Sorry,” she said to the man who peered at her through his open window.
    His grin was easy. “No problem. Happens to me all the time.” He opened the door and unfolded himself from the white sedan.
    “People throw cans at your car?” Makay asked, arching a brow. He was over six feet, which was tall compared to her five foot four inch frame, and his face beneath the dark blond hair was attractive and rugged looking with several days’ worth of beard growth. He wore jeans and a T-shirt like hers, though his were considerably newer. He couldn’t be older than late twenties, definitely not someone who would drive such a boring, sedate car.
    He laughed as he fished out a can from under the sedan. “No, the bag breaking.” He handed her the chili, meeting her gaze. He had startling blue eyes that seemed to peer into the depths of her soul.
    “Thank you.” She looked away, pretending to search for more cans. The problem was that she was so busy trying to survive that she didn’t get out much. She’d rather study for a test than have to figure out what to say to a gorgeous guy who was probably not flirting but just being kind.
    “No problem. Here, I’ll help you get the rest.” He waved a car that had come up behind him to go around and bent for another can. “You from around here?”
    “No. Or not Phoenix anyway. I live in Mesa. You?” She glanced around to check on Nate, who was coming back their way.
    “I’m from here originally—well, I grew up in Scottsdale—but more recently I’m from Los Angeles.”
    “So, you’re visiting.” Why did she feel so disappointed?
    His eyes again locked on hers. “Actually, I moved back here to Phoenix a few weeks ago to be closer to my family. My two sisters are married and having children, and I want to be here for all that.” He