Page 3 of Beneath My Skin

“Whatcha buying all this for? You got a large family or something?”

I jumped. Shit. It was hard to believe a simple question could make me want to crawl out of my skin. I glanced over at the checkout girl’s long, curly brown hair held against her head in a loose bun with fuzzy pieces sticking out at all angles near her temples. She was nothing but legs and arms. Skinny and tall. “Gawky” was a good descriptive word.

“Yeah, something like that,” I managed to answer. Then scratched my arm.

“Well, your peeps are gonna be happy.” The girl shook her head. “I’ve seen a boat-load of people buying a boat-load of presents, but this is the best cart of the week.”

I reached into my pocket for my credit card. “Glad to hear it. I guess.”

“Any big plans for the holidays?”

“Not really. How about you?” I asked, knowing the small talk would keep the clerk from making eye contact and realize something was going on. My numb fingertips rubbed my cheeks and I wondered if it was possible for her to go slower than she already was.

“Just the same kind of thing we do every year. Wake up early, tear into our gifts, have a big family brunch. The boyfriend promised I’d be getting a ring this year.” The clerk sent me a large grin, her eyes widening in excitement.

I touched my face again and tried to return the grin, but it was as if the effort would hurt me. “I hope you get everything you want.”

What seemed like hours later, I pushed my full cart and maxed credit card out through the mechanical doors and raced across the parking lot. Misty breath heaved out of my lungs and I blinked up at the sky. Those dark, heavy clouds were going to dump any minute now. As if to prove my prediction, a single snowflake sliced through the air, landing on my forehead.

“Shit,” I muttered, trying to push the cart and dig around for my car keys at the same time. “Shit, shit, shit.”

This day was not going the way I’d planned. Whatever nefarious purpose—read: ulterior motive—Cer had for sending me out, it didn’t matter. I had to make it home before the snow. By the time I got to my keys, my fingers had gone from quasi-numb to full-fledged I-can’t-feel-them-anymore territory.

I fumbled for a grip and managed to drop the keys on the ground and run them over with the cart. “Shit!”

Nope, not going well at all. I made it to the car just as the skies opened up, and my heart constricted painfully.

I refused to let this be my do-or-die moment. Popping the trunk, I grabbed as many bags as I could and shoved them into the empty space, successfully ignoring the sound of glass breaking. Soon the cart was bare and I was pushing it through the space next to me. Ready to leave it for the next person to handle.

A man stepped forward in time to collide with the cart, the metal knocking against his hip and veering sharply to the right.

“Oh my God.” I rushed forward. For what, I wasn’t sure. No one would ever say I’m good in a crisis. “I’m so sorry! Are you all right?”

“Stay out of this, sweetheart.” The stranger adjusted his collar, a thin, sandy-haired man who exuded intensity. “Just get in your vehicle and leave me alone. I’m waiting for someone.”

“Sure. I’m happy to.” Holding my hands up in front of me, I backtracked toward the car. No skin off my neck. If the guy didn’t want to accept an honest apology, then fine by me.

“Forget you saw me,” he finished hastily.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was straight off the boat from the Jersey shore. Mobster accent and all. Which didn’t seem quite right, considering we were in Connecticut.

It didn’t matter. Another glance at the clouds told me it was time to scram.

My car door stuck. It took every bit of strength and my sneaker pressed against the side to get the thing open. Luckily, the motor turned over right away.

“Are you happy now, you jerk?” I muttered. I knew Cer wouldn’t answer me. “If you wanted to make me die of a heart attack, you’re about to get your wish, and it’s over something as simple as a snowflake. Go on, laugh. I’m sure you want to.”

Throwing my arm over the seat, I glanced behind me. Put the car in reverse. Pressed my foot on the gas.

And slammed into a man who had popped out of thin air.

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