I laugh, shaking my head.“I know.But I’m from LA, so it’ll be different for me.”
She scoffs.“I’ll say.”After running all my items through, she looks at me and says, “That’ll be thirty-three dollars and twenty-eight cents.And my name is Sally.I’m here most days.”
I tap my card on the machine and smile.“Nice to meet you, Sally.I’m Hannah.”
“Oh, I know.No one else in town drives a Mini.”
I laugh, picking up my grocery bags.“So I’ve been told.”
“Have a nice day,” Sally says, her smile wide and genuine as I walk out toward my car.
When I get to my car, I’m trying to balance my grocery bags against it while fishing my keys out of my handbag.My mind is still on the conversation with Sally when suddenly, a voice behind me makes me jump.
“Need some help?”
I almost drop my groceries, startled by the familiar deep voice.I turn, and there he is—Blade—standing just behind me with that easy, confident smile on his face.
“I think I’ve almost got it,” I say, laughing a little nervously as I try to steady my hands.
“Hannah, give me the bags,” he says, his voice gentle but firm, and before I can protest, he takes the bags from me with a single, effortless motion.
My heart skips a beat at the sight of him standing there so close to me.
“Thank you,” I say, meeting his gaze as he adjusts the bags, his eyes locking onto mine.
“No problem,” Blade replies, his smile a little softer now, almost tender.“What brings you to town?”
“Just getting some groceries,” I reply.
Blade’s face goes a little red.“Should have figured that one out.”
“Oh, and the promise of Mandy’s famous chocolate pie at the café.”
“I’ll walk you to the café since I’m headed there too,” Blade says, and I notice the slight possessiveness in his tone.
Blade puts my groceries in my trunk and closes it.His hand finds mine as we cross the street, and I can’t help the flutter in my chest.
When we reach the café, Blade drops my hand to open the door for me, letting me go first.The loss of his touch leaves an emptiness I try not to acknowledge.I glance back at him, but he’s already following me in.
“Hey, Hannah,” Tessa says, her voice a little too loud as she spots me from the counter.“Fancy seeing you here.”
Laughing, I sit down on the stool in front of her and try to shake off the feeling of being caught in an awkward moment.“Fancy that.”
Tessa squints at me, puts one arm across her body, and taps her chin as if she’s deep in thought.“Let me guess,” she says, her voice playful.“You want chocolate pie and a hot chocolate.”She quirks an eyebrow at me.
“Damn, you are good,” I reply with mock excitement, a smile tugging at my lips.“However did you guess?”
“I’m psychic.”Tessa grins at me, winking before her gaze shifts to Blade.“And you, Blade...you want black coffee, but now you’re thinking about the pie.Am I right?”
Blade chuckles, his eyes glinting with humor.“Sounds good.”He looks around the café, searching for something or someone.“Where’s Vex?”
Tessa shrugs, looking around herself.“I was going to ask you that very same thing.”
Blade’s brow furrows slightly, and I see a flicker of frustration in his eyes.“He was supposed to meet me here.”
“Maybe he’s running late?”I suggest, trying to smooth over the tension I feel creeping in.
“Well, until he arrives, I’ll get you both sorted with pie and drinks,” Tessa says, cheerfully bouncing off to get our orders.
