Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Taking Temperance by the hand, I slowly turn to Tansy and put in place a fake expression of surprise to see her there.
“Tansy… hi,” I say, giving the small hand in mine a reassuring squeeze. “What are you doing here?”
She narrows her cold blue eyes at me. “I asked who this woman is.”
Before I can answer, Temperance steps forward, extending her free hand and with a polite smile says, “Hi, I’m Temperance Martin, but everyone calls me Tempe.”
Temp-ee.
I love that.
Tansy ignores the greeting, eyes lasered onto me. “Why were you kissing her?”
Again, before I can even open my mouth, Tempe slips her arm around my waist, leans her head against my shoulder and says, “Rafferty and I are dating.”
Tansy’s eyebrows shoot up and then her eyes glitter with malice as she looks to Tempe. “Oh really? Did he tell you he slept with me recently?”
My stomach flops over because while Tempe seems like a very cool chick who might even be enjoying this, that sounds damning. “Over a month ago,” I clarify. “Once.”
The beautiful woman named Tempe, who’s holding on to me like I’m the love of her life, merely shrugs. “We were on a break. I was sowing my wild oats too, truth be told.” I nearly choke with laughter but manage to keep it down and my face bland. “But now we’re back together and stronger than ever.”
I can see that Tansy doesn’t buy a word of it and her facade frosts over to cool composure. “If you say so,” she croons and then winks at me. “But I know better. You saw me walking toward you and grabbed this stranger to kiss. I know your game and I’m here to play it. See you around, Rafferty.”
As Tansy walks away, I release the breath trapped in my lungs. Tempe’s arm drops from me and she turns back to the shelves as if a stranger accosting and kissing her in the international foods aisle was just a usual occurrence in her everyday life.
“Thank you,” I murmur, turning to face her. “You were amazing and I owe you one.”
Tempe smirks, giving me a side-eye. “Happy to help a customer.” She picks up a can, then seems to consider something and turns my way. “It was kind of fun, actually.”
Chuckling, I rub at the back of my neck. “Yeah, that was kind of fun.”
Her smile turns knowing, the dimples muted. “One-night stand gone bad?”
“You could say that,” I mutter, my face flushing with chagrin. “Tansy’s been… persistent. Stalkerish, almost, and when I saw her headed my way, I panicked and pulled you into the scheme. Thanks for not kicking me in the balls, by the way.”
Her brow arches, and she gives me a curious look. “You don’t look like the type who needs saving.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Looks can be deceiving, I guess. But really, thank you. If there’s anything I can do to make it up to you—”
Tempe shakes her head, her golden-bronze ponytail swishing. “Just doing my part to keep the grocery store drama-free.”
And it hits me at this moment—I don’t think she knows who I am. She hasn’t alluded to it, nor has she acted starstruck, and I have to admit, the anonymity is refreshing. I’m considering asking her out for a drink when a man comes around the corner, dressed in the same mustard-colored shirt and khaki pants. His name tag says Dale, Associate Manager.
“There you are, Tempe. I need you up at register five. We’ve got a bit of a rush and two of the self-checkouts are down.”
“Of course,” she says with a deferential nod before handing the can of coconut milk to me. “There’s a great curry recipe on the back.”
“Oh… yeah, um, thanks for your help. I appreciate it.”
Tempe smiles at me and walks past Dale, who glances at her only a second and then back to me. His eyes go round with recognition. “Oh my God… you’re Rafferty Abrams.”
“That I am,” I say, offering my hand to him. His palm is damp as we shake and I resist the urge to wipe the shared moisture on the leg of my track pants. I then nod past his shoulder in the direction Tempe walked off. “Your employee… she was very helpful. You should give her a raise.”
Dale laughs, as if that’s the most absurd thing ever, but admits, “Yeah… Tempe is one of our best.”
“Well, I better let you get back to work,” I say, adding the coconut milk to my cart.
The manager bobs his head and I turn in the opposite direction. I continue up and down the aisles, a game plan in place to get in Tempe’s line and then ask her out for a drink.
But when I get there, she’s not at any cash register.
I consider walking around the store to see if I can find her but ultimately decide against it. The last encounter I had with a woman—Tansy—didn’t end up so well and I’m fine with just lying low for a while and concentrating on hockey.