“Yes. I guess winter clothes are heavier than I’danticipated.”
“At least you’ll be warm now,”hesaid.
If only he knew how warm she got when she was around him. She mashed her lips together to keep fromgrinning.
“I’ll run these out to the truck. I went looking for paint sets and canvases. They have pretty much everything here, but I can’t seem to find any art supplies,”hesaid.
“Did you happen to ask any of the sales people?” sheasked.
“Nope.”
Typical man. Of course he didn’t want to stop and ask fordirections.
“I’ll see what I can find,”shesaid.
“Great. I’ll be back in aminute.”
After he’d left, she searched up and down the aisles. One row was stuffed with every manner of camping gear known to man. They had everything from gas stoves to rappelling rope. Office supplies filled the second aisle. It seemed promising, but after searching all of the shelves, she came up empty. An employee in a green vestwalkedby.
“Excuse me, sir,”shesaid.
He stopped and let his gaze rake her body from top to bottom without making any effort to hide his perusal. What the heck was he staring at? Had she put her shirt on backwards or something? She glanced over his shoulder and checked her reflection in the mirror. Nothing appeared to be out ofplace.
“How can I help you, ma’am?” heasked.
“I’m looking for paintingsupplies.”
“You’re better off going up to Jack’sHardware.”
“Oh, no. I’m not looking for house paint, I’m looking for art paint,”shesaid.
“Like for little kids?” he asked, genuinelyperplexed.
“Yes.”
“Try Aisle 14 on the left side, bottomshelf.”
“Thank you,”shesaid.
“Are you new around here?” heasked.
“She’s just passing through,” came Cody’s gruffvoice.
She whipped around to find him walking down the aisle. When he reached her, he hooked a protective arm around her waist. Warmth from his hand seeped into her skin through the long-sleeved flannel shirt she’d just purchased. Surprised by his territorial stance, she looked upathim.
“Let’s go, hon.” He steered her into the main aisle and toward the other side of thestore.
“Hon?” she asked when he finally released his griponher.
“I had to say something to steal you away from him. He looked like he wanted todevouryou.”
“He was just being friendly,”shesaid.
“I’ve seen that look before and it wasn’t friendly. He was practically undressing you withhiseyes.”
“As if you don’t do the same thing?” she asked with asmirk.
He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I don’t have to. I’ve seen younaked.”
