Another woman had come down the aisle and had run her cart into the display of pie crusts. She wasn’t alone. She had a much older woman at her side, holding on to the cart like it was a walker.
“Wow,” the older woman said. “Haven’t seen a kiss like that in a long time.”
“Mother,” the younger woman hissed. “Shh!”
“Just calling it like it is,” the older woman said, not shhing. “And look, it gave her a healthy glow. Wouldn’t mind a glow like that,” she said wistfully.
While the woman rushed her mother out of the aisle, Sophie drew a shaky breath and ordered herself to get a grip. “So,” she said, trying to remember what they’d been talking about.
“So,” he said. “You done working for the day?”
“No. I’m temping for a property management company, opening up one of the vacation homes for some English duke and duchess on a secret American getaway. I have to unload all their supplies and check that everything got cleaned and set up.” Her lips were tingling.
They wanted another kiss.
She gestured to the huge cart in front of her, filled with high-end wines, fancy cheeses and crackers, and other things like caviar and stuff that cost more than she’d spend for herself in a month. “I’m filling their fridge from their list of requests,” she said. “But I’m having trouble finding”—she consulted her phone again for the list—“goat-cheese ice cream.”
He winced. “Who eats goat-cheese ice cream?”
Still eyeballing her list, she shrugged. “Apparently the duchess. Also, it needs to be whiskey and pecan flavored.” She tried not to gag at the thought.
“What else do you need to find?”
Detecting a note of humor in his voice, she lifted her head. “Are you laughing at me?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Uh-huh…” She eyed the list again. “The duke wants condoms. Ribbed for her pleasure.” She managed to control her grimace on that one. The duke was eighty-five if he was a day, and although he was tall and…duke-like, gravity hadn’t been kind. He’d been a rugby player in his day and all that muscle had atrophied, so he now resembled something like a plucked rooster. “He also wants massage oil, but it has to be organic. And…” She paused, unable to say the next item with a straight face.
“What?”
She shook her head. Nope. Couldn’t do it.
Jacob came up behind her to peer over her shoulder at the list. He left no space between them, his arms brushing each of her sides as he rested his hands on the cart handle in front of her.
She pretended to study the list. But the truth was, she’d forgotten how to read. She’d forgotten how to breathe.
“‘A battery-operated massage gizmo,’” he read for her, and nuzzled her ear. “I’ve got a gizmo. No batteries required.”
She closed her eyes. “This isn’t my list.”
He laughed softly, and since he remained in place at her back, she felt the laugh reverberate through his chest to hers. “Interesting job. I think we should take this discussion to the lake.”
She opened her mouth to say absolutely not, but her body went to war with her brain and all that came out was a sigh.
Someone came around the corner and down the aisle.
“Kenna,” Jacob said, not sounding thrilled.
“I saw your truck and knew I’d find you in the freezer aisle.” Kenna eyeballed them both with great interest. “So you two are a thing.”
“No,” Sophie said.
“None of your business,” Jacob said at the same time.
They looked at each other.
Kenna laughed. “Never mind. I’ve got my answer.” She turned to Sophie. “You’ve temped at the resort a couple of times, right?”
“Yes. I’ve worked a couple of your events when you’ve been short-staffed.”
“You helped us manage the mountain biking event we did a couple of weeks ago,” Kenna said. “And did a hell of a job too. She saved the day,” she told Jacob. “The promo was all screwed up, and she managed the social media and crazy phones, doing the work of, like, ten people. It was awesome.” She smiled at Sophie. “Hope you’ll join us for some of our upcoming events, specifically the Wounded Warriors. We need all hands on deck.” She hugged her brother and then looked in his cart. “Seriously? What are you, twelve?”
“Hey, I’ve missed having some things from home,” he said.
“Like what, clogged arteries?” She pointed at Sophie. “Talk some sense into him.”
Sophie was fascinated by the relationship between brother and sister. Obviously, there was love and affection. And irritation. It was…normal, so much so that it made Jacob seem all the more human to her. “Have you ever had any luck telling him what to do?” Sophie asked Kenna.
His sister laughed. “Good point.”
Jacob watched as Sophie moved on, heading down the aisle a bit, referencing her list, her mouth moving as she read it to herself. There were shadows beneath her eyes. She was tired and probably working too hard.