Sometime within the last minute or two, he'd abandoned the gift baskets to sidle closer to the main counter as if seeking a front-row seat to this holiday horror show.
In front of me, the two siblings were still arguing.
The woman told her brother, "Hey! I've got standards, too."
"Yeah. And they're so low, it's pathetic." He gave a snort of derision. "You remember the guy you brought homelastweekend? Mom said he smelled like cheese."
I frowned.So they lived with their mom?
Well, this just got better and better.
The woman was glaring now. "Oh, for God's sake. He works at the cheese factory. What do you expect?"
Huh.I didn't know the areahada cheese factory, unless – I tried to think – was that some trendy new restaurant that I hadn't yet heard of?
Behind the two siblings, a disgruntled customer called out, "Hey! Are you gonna order something or not?"
The woman called back, "Fine!" And then, turning back to me, she announced, "I'll have a pound of cashews."
I hesitated. "Do you mean the ones I already packaged? Or another pound?"
"Whatever," she snapped. "So, do you want to go out with him or not?"
By now, the answer was beyond obvious.No way. No how.
But they were customers, in theory, anyway, so I didn't want to betoorude about it. "Actually…"
She cut me off. "Look, there's a deli right across the street. Just tell us. When's your lunch break?"
Isodidn't want to say.
The truth was, I was due for my break at any moment. But there was no way on Earth that I'd ever admit such a thing. Already, I was kicking myself for not bolting while I'd had the chance.
Just then, a new voice joined in the mix. The voice was cool, masculine, and all too familiar. Like a cold knife, it cut through the commotion. "Forget it."
I whirled toward the sound. Sure enough, it was Cole Henster, who sometime within the last moment or two, had claimed a spot right next to the siblings.
The woman turned to glower at him. "Forget what?"
"Lunch. Or anything else." My former boss moved closer to the counter. "She's already got plans."
The woman crossed her arms. "Oh, yeah? With who?"
"Her boyfriend."
She frowned. "What boyfriend?"'
Cole smiled. "You're looking at him."
Oh, wow.I was looking at him too. He reallydidlook delicious, all bold and sexy, as he stood there like he owned the place. Something inside me stirred. Whatever it was, it was raw and primal – and very, very stupid.
I didn't even like him.
And he sure as heck didn't like me.
Even so, I heard myself say, "Yup, that's him, alright." As the words echoed over the counter, I fought a sudden urge to take them back.But I didn't.
The truth was, I didn’t want to – and not only because I was outnumbered and under siege. I looked to Cole and felt my knees go just a little wobbly.
