Page 191 of One More Kiss

No fancy displays, no huge signs for BOGO, and not a huge selection to choose from. It was almost refreshing. Living in a city, everything was hustle and bustle, nobody would even hand a basket to you, much less walk you through the store. And most stores had everything strategically placed so that you’d spend more money. This place was pretty cut and dry.

After I found the coffee, I added a few things to my basket to make some sandwiches, some chips, and a bag of powdered donuts. Those were so delicious with coffee. I also tossed in a dozen eggs and some smoked sausage. Donuts were great, but I’d need protein, too. I found some ready-to-eat soups, but there was only chicken noodle and tomato. I grabbed two of each because I couldn’t decide which I would want twice. I had my Fireball and a case of water in the SUV, so I walked to the front and noticed another man, closer to my age, maybe a few years older, chatting with my new friend.

He was a sight to behold. Tall, with salt and pepper hair with a matching scruffy beard, and pale blue eyes. His muscles looked like they’d bust right out of his red flannel shirt. His exposed forearm was flexed as he held onto two twelve-packs of beer. It should be illegal for men to roll their long-sleeved shirts up in public.

“Are you ready to check out, dear? You can come on over. Johnny here already settled up.”

Great…another John.

The man’s eyes scanned me from the floor up and a slight twitch was noticeable at the corner of his mouth. I was willing my blood to stay down as I felt a flush rising my chest, then he opened his mouth.

“Tourist? You know there’s a bad storm coming, right?”

Is this guy for real?

“Johnny, was it?” I placed the basket on the small conveyor belt and smiled at the man. “I appreciate the concern, but I’m a big girl and can take care of myself. Thanks.”

The older gentleman, whose name I didn’t catch before, started grabbing items from the basket and ringing me up like the conversation wasn’t happening before him.

Johnny huffed. “Yeah, big girl ‘til ya get stuck in the woods and need someone to rescue you, or worse.” His voice was deep and gravelly; frankly I didn’t appreciate the way my girly bits were reacting to it. Traitor.

My hand flew to my hip and his eyes traveled there as well. When I realized where his eyes were, I moved my hand, reaching into my purse for my wallet. “Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? Like I said, I can take care of myself.”

He looked me over again and my eyes went wide. He insults me then he keeps ogling?

“Sir, were you raised by wolves or something?”

The frail man piped up. “That’ll be $52.75, miss. And not wolves, but I don’t know that my brother was far removed from them.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean—”

“Uncle Bo, that would mean the same for you,” Johnny said as he chuckled. He had a great smile. Too bad it was attached to that attitude.

“Johnny, pipe down. Miss, it’s fine. He’s just grumpy because his wood splitter broke, and he’s been doing manual labor all week. But he’s right. That storm is coming. So, you be safe now.”

I passed a few twenty-dollar bills to Bo. “I saw that, but I’ll be gone by Sunday.”

“Oh, that storm will be in before that dear. How far did you travel?”

I looked over and Johnny was still staring at me with a shit-eating grin. My brows furrowed and I cocked my head in annoyance in his direction as I answered the kind older gentleman. “About three hours. I’ll keep an eye out, but I appreciate your concern,” I said as I finally turned my gaze back to the older gentleman, “and your hospitality. I better get going. I’ll probably swing by on my way back to fill up the tank. You have a great night.”

I grabbed the bags, and Johnny walked ahead then held the door open with his foot. In an effort to show him he didn’t get to me, even though my girly bits were still deceiving me, I smiled and said, “Thank you,” before walking through.

When I got to my SUV, I mentally kicked myself for not getting my keys out of my purse before I grabbed the groceries. I threw one arm of the full bags onto the hood, but they started to slide down the slight incline. “Shit,” I whispered under my breath.

Before it flew off the front, an arm reached out and scooped them all up. I should have been grateful, but I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight as he squirmed and fought to keep them from falling. He finally leaned against my vehicle and put the bags on the hood, his body keeping them from falling down, cradling both boxes of beer under one arm.

“So, you laugh when a man tries to help you. Interesting.”

“I’m sorry, but that little dance was funny.” I unlocked the car and put the bags I was still holding inside and left the door open. “I’ll take these. But thank you for saving my bread and coffee. How very chivalrous of you.”

“Hey, I could’ve let them fall.”

I was about to say something horribly witty when suddenly the flood gates above us opened and in an instant we both looked like we had taken in a dip in a lake with our clothes on. I rushed to put the bags on the passenger seat and slammed the door shut. After running around the back to get to the driver’s side, Johnny was there just as calm as a cucumber, still holding his beer and getting soaked while he opened my door.

This man was making me crazy, and I had known him all of five minutes. I stood in shock and a flush rose that I couldn’t control when he looked down at me with one arched brow. And I swore the edge of his mouth twitched again. His eyes traveled down, and as they did, I looked down and realized my top was soaking wet and since there was a little chill to the air, my nipples were hard as rocks, poking right out at him.

A chill ran up my back and I shook my shoulders and shot a grimace at him. I jumped in the seat and pulled the door hard. Cranking the car, I moved just my eyes to see if he was still there and saw him walking away toward a big white truck with mud around the bottom.

Ugh. He was checking out my breasts. In a wet shirt. Oh well. At least I’d probably never see him again. Maybe I could look up other gas stations in the area before I head home Sunday, so I didn’t have to chance seeing him here.

Why do all the John’s have to be so hot, yet such dicks?

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