Page 34 of The Dating Dare

“Yes, that’s it. It is you.” Seth’s eyes snapped up to meet hers, and held her gaze for a long moment. “Something uniquely you. I won’t be able to enjoy this scent anywhere but where you are.”

You sure as hell won’t find it in Paris,she nearly said. But what would that accomplish? It wasn’t like she didn’t want him to leave. “You’re imagining things. It’s citrus shampoo. On sale for seven ninety-nine.”

Seth finally let her hair slip through his fingers. She moved to walk past him, but he walked alongside her. “So what’s on the agenda today?”

“Running errands. Maybe doing the laundry. Then the late shift,” she counted off on her fingers. “A truly exciting lineup. Why do you ask?”

“I thought… maybe you could help me find something.”

“Find what? At the drugstore?”

“Flowers. I need wildflowers.”

“Have you been to the florist?”

“Not yet, but I can use your opinion. Will you come with me?”

“Okay. Why not.” Inside, she wanted to bounce on her heels. Another nondate with Seth?Hell, yeah. “I guess laundry could wait until tomorrow.”

“I’m honored,” he said dryly. Then his eyes focused on something over her shoulder. “I see the shaving cream. Let me grab that, then we can go. Unless you have more shopping to do.”

“No, I’m good.” Then she remembered she was running low on tampons. “I lied. I do need something. Then I’ll be done. I can meet you at the register.”

“That’s okay. I’ll go with you.”

“Suit yourself,” she said.

She walked over to the feminine hygiene section, expecting Seth to mumble an excuse and run to the register.

“Whenever I see an ad about maxi pads with wings, I always imagine them flying around the living room,” he said with a light laugh. “Like the Hogwarts acceptance letters in Harry Potter.”

“That’s because you’re a strange one.” But Tara couldn’t help snickering at the imagery. She might never be able to unsee that now. “Okay. I’m done. Let’s go pay for our stuff.”

He stepped to the side with his arm outstretched. “After you.”

“Why, thank you. I’ve never experienced such gallantry at the feminine hygiene aisle before.”

Seth chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. As they stood in the checkout line, they smiled and peeked at each other. Like a sappy couple. Which they definitely were not. A couple. Especially a sappy one.

Once they finished paying, he came to stand beside her. “Do you want to drop your car off at your house? It makes sense to drive in one car.”

“I actually rode my bike here.” She thought for a moment. It wasn’t as though anyone would steal it. “It’ll be fine where I parked it.”

“We could take it with us. I have a bike rack.”

“That works, too.”

Tara led him to where her bike was parked. He lifted the bike and secured it like it weighed nothing, his muscles shifting and bulging. It was quite a show but altogether too short.

“Thanks,” she said, her eyes still roaming his chest and arms.

“My pleasure,” he replied with a cocky smile.

She snorted and shook her head. The Ego probably nudged him to flex extra hard for her. Not that she was complaining. Seth was halfway to the passenger door when she opened it herself and plopped down on the seat. It made no sense to wait for him to come around to open the door for her when she too had hands and limbs. He didn’t seem to mind. He shrugged and retraced his steps to the driver’s side and got in the car.

“Which way to the florist?”

Tara pointed to the right. “It’s around that corner and two streets down.”

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