Page 13 of Stealing Iris

“Yeah, that sounds like a plan,” I confirm, relieved at the shift in conversation. “A fresh pair of eyes may find something I missed.”

“Or we’ll find out something about his mama,” he adds dryly.

I grin into the darkness as we pull in front of the wrought iron gate leading to my house. “Anything we can find on him will be useful.” Especially if it includes anything to do with Iris.

CHAPTER SIX

IRIS

“Iris to the front, please. Iris to the front.” Carol’s voice, brimming with excitement and a little amusement, comes over the speakers. I frown. What is she up to? Tuesdays tend to be slow after a hectic weekend and Monday shoppers, so what does she need? Did I lose track of time?

I set a box of tomatoes on the rolling cart for restocking and wipe my hands on my smock. Sidestepping this morning’s produce delivery, I head to the front.

As soon as I pass the heavy service doors, something flutters in my chest. Dante, looking shockingly handsome in a forest-green pullover, chats away with Carol. She’s especially bubbly, which means she’s flirting with him.

He looks directly at me as he finishes his conversation. “Excuse me,” he says, without breaking eye contact then starts in my direction. My cheeks warm, and my insides do a few Beyoncé moves as snippets of the other night flash through my head.

Carol swivels around to check him out as he walks away, her gaze centering on the back of his jeans. Her hair slips off her shoulder as she leans across the counter to keep watching. The twinge, coming from somewhere deep inside me, slows my steps. We’ve grown close in the time she’s been at the store, so I’m not shocked when she puts her fingertips to her mouth as she flicks the other hand. Yeah, no denying Danteishot, but I can’t appreciate her teasing this time. Right now I want to smack her. I guess the fact Dante and I have been naked together changes some things.

“Hey.” His casual greeting makes my pulse skip a beat. A killer smile plays peek-a-boo, popping up for just a few seconds before melting away. Long enough to let me blow off the rest of Carol’s antics without plotting any serious payback.

“Hi.” My voice gives out, only sharing the H in my greeting. I clear my throat, forcing myself not to wring my fingers or blush. “You looking for Conrado?”

He looks around at the fruits and vegetables section before turning toward dairy. “I don’t look like I’m shopping?” he asks in his cool, laidback manner.

I raise a brow then take Carol’s lead, checking him out under a thinly veiled pretense. “No basket, no cart, no list,” I tick off on my fingers. “So no.”

A ghost of a smile touches his lips. “Okay, maybe not. But I’d like a word with you, in private.” His mouth on mine reminds me of how he looked when he kissed me. The idea of being in private with him warms me in ways I have no business feeling at work. “Can we borrow the office for a few minutes, or is he there?”

His suggestion lands on my chest like a ten-pound sack of potatoes. “N-no, he’s out.” I shake my head.

He frowns.

“But…” What? I’ve worked myself into a corner. He can’t know I take pains to stay away from that area, and Conny. I’m not about to explain my reason to Dante when he’s looking to get me alone. However, he’s handed me the perfect excuse. “There’s a security camera in there,” I murmur.

“Ah,” he says, with understanding. So I’m right about why he wants privacy.

“Have lunch with me.” It isn’t exactly an invitation, if you go by the confidence in his tone. Yet in the background, Carol’s giving a thumbs-up from where she’s charging Mrs. Rocha, one of our long-time customers.

Heat shoots up my face. “Um…” How can I agree to go anywhere with him? Even if I had a dime to my name, I’m not dressed to go out. I put off laundry, so this morning I grabbed a faded-peach V-neck with dark leggings. Together with my old runners, my outfit probably doesn’t cost what he spent on the shirt he’s wearing. “Actually, Carol’s scheduled for lunch in a bit,” I explain, turning toward the register.

“I can wait…” Dante assures me, without looking at her.

“Go ahead,” Carol says at the same time. “I’m good with going later.”

“I can pick up something for her,” Mrs. Rocha offers. The retiree, and devout churchgoer, spares a quick glance or two at Dante. If I’m not reading her wrong, she’ll need to bring up how she was checking him out during her next confession.

It’s hard not to grin. The image of getting thrown into a shopping cart, and wheeled outside, is both vivid and hilarious.

“We can bring you back something,” Dante offers, the corner of his lips pulling up, “if you can wait.” He finally looks over, now that he has her support in dragging me to lunch. “It’s the least I can do for stealing Iris away early.” Oh yeah, with that tone, he’ll have her wrapped around a finger in no time.

“Sure.” Carol waves at the aisle, a little jittery. “I work in a grocery store, so it’s not like I’ll starve.” As expected, he charms her without really trying.

Dante waits, knowing he sidelined any reason for me to say no.

“You sure?” I ask sheepishly.

“Anywhere you want to go,” he offers, his gaze flowing down me like a caress. Oh yeah, the guy knows he made the invitation sound as if he’s offering something much more decadent.

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