Page 64 of When You Were Mine

He broke into a grin. “You think I’m handsome?”

“Says the guy who was chosen Sexiest Man Alive a record-breaking three times.”

Without thinking, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. “You counted. I’m touched.”

Laughing, she shoved him away. “Yes, because those were the only times I’ve ever had to abandon my cart to go throw up in the parking lot. They really shouldn’t put magazines at checkout counters.”

“But you bought them, right? Now, if I look under your pillow, which one will I see? The one with me shirtless in a kilt? That one shows my rippling muscles.”

“Did I call you humble?” She shook her head. “What I meant was egomaniac.” She dropped four insulated tumblers into the now-full tote bag. “These are perfect for my nieces.”

“Here. I’ve got another one.” He handed it over.

“Oh, thank you.” At the next table, she picked up a box of crackers and read the ingredients. She stared long enough that he figured she wasn’t really paying attention to the list.

And then, she looked up at him. “I’m sorry I didn’t go to their funerals.”

He wasn’t prepared for the intimacy of direct eye contact, and heat exploded in his chest. “That’s okay.”

“I was still in my petty phase. It took me a while to get over the fact that you had a son.”

“I don’t blame you. That would’ve destroyed me.”

“It almost did.” She set the box down and picked up a saltshaker. “Are you sadder that your parents died alone or that you weren’t closer to them?”

He let out a bitter laugh. “No one’s ever asked me a question like that.” Someone bumped into him, so he moved closer to the table. “I hate that they died alone, but you know, that’s the life they chose. As for not being closer to them…” Years of training had him crafting an acceptable answer, but it was Elzy, and he didn’t need to do that with her. “They wouldn’t let me be close to them. I took care of them as best I could…” He shrugged.

“You paid off their farm, and they still continued to work.”

“Yep. They were set for life, and other than buying a new couch and some farm equipment, their lives didn’t change. That was a real wake-up call for me. So, yeah, I made peace with my relationship with them.”

“Do you miss them?” She asked it casually as she picked up a box of cookie mix with a mini whisk attached.

He doubted she was in the market for any of it, but if this was the only way she could talk to him, he’d take it. “I wish I could say I did.” He had to speak truthfully. “But I don’t.” His relationship with them was centered on duty and obligation. “There was no affection in my house.”

“No, there wasn’t.”

But I got it from you.

All those mornings when she’d slip a note into his hand on their way to homeroom. The Saturdays when he’d back his pickup to the loading dock, grab her hand, and tug her into the storeroom so they could make out. She breathed life into him. She was his happiness. His home.

His entire heart.

She returned to a display of bath products. “I’m going to get two of these. My sisters will like it.”

“Your sisters or you?”

“Yeah, you’re right.” She unscrewed the lotion and sniffed. Pleasure suffused her features, but she tightened the cap and set it back. “Scent is so personal. Who knows if they’d like it?” She looked into the bag. “But I do need a few more things for them. I’ll keep looking. You can go if you want. It’s a long drive back.”

“That’s okay.” He pulled a third tote out of his back pocket and snapped it open with a flourish. “I’m getting gifts too, remember?”

She shook her head with a smile. “Tenacious.”

I just want you so damn much.

But instead of responding, he returned to the glassware table and grabbed a couple travel mugs with puffins on them. “The older two grandkids will like these. I’ll get slippers for all the girls.” He headed back to the bookcase display.

“Size, remember?” Elzy called with a laugh in her voice.

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