Excerpt
Jaron had been to the grocery store three times this week. Going only
once a week would be grand, but very unlikely to happen apparently. He
seriously needed to start making lists every week.
“I want the little man cookies.” Bobby was practically
bouncing in the cart, pointing at an elf.
“The fudge ones?”
Bobby nodded his head. Jaron grabbed them off the shelf
and placed them in the cart.
“Good choice,” someone spoke from behind Jaron. The
voice was deep and made him moan in appreciation. He turned to put a face to
that wonderful voice.
It was as if Jaron’s thoughts had conjured him up and
placed him right next to the Oreo cookies . Travis Heath got hotter since high
school. And taller. When did men stop growing? Jaron was probably at the guys
shoulder, but it was hard to tell from down the aisle. Travis Heath’s
strawberry blonde hair was longer than it had been in high school and could be
seen curling around the cowboy hat he wore.
The two women at the end of the aisle clammed up upon
seeing him. Jaron didn’t blame them. He wouldn’t want to be caught talking shit
either.
“I haven’t seen you guys in town before.” His smile
was kind but his brown eyes—oh God help him—held mischief, as if the guy was up
to something.
That more than anything kept Jaron’s mouth shut to all
but basic knowledge. “We’ve only been in town a short time.” He had to give the
guy something. He didn’t want to be rude after all.
“What brings you in town?” Travis said casually, while
looking over the crackers in the aisle. “Damn it. Why is it she needs the most
obscure friggin’ cracker on the planet,” he said under his breath.
Jaron’s eyebrows raised, not that the man was looking
at him to even see his expression. “What are you looking for?”