Page 48 of Point of Contact

Paper goods was next. She stacked in disposable plates and plasticware. Paper towels and tissues. She started to leave, but caught a whiff of laundry detergent and rounded to the next aisle, grabbing a small bottle of Gain and some dryer sheets before collecting an array of cleaning products and plastic gloves.

If they were going to spend the next week in the camper, she’d have plenty of time to give Bernadette a good scrub down. And everyone felt better after a good scrub down. After adding on a broom and a couple of brushes, she headed toward the registers.

Her steps barely slowed as she passed cosmetics and, for a second, she considered stopping to collect a few things to maybe make her look a little less—

Rough.

But the thought of slathering on makeup and styling her hair seemed ridiculous. Especially since she was simply going to be spending her days in the passenger’s seat of the RV next to Reed, who didn't seem to mind her makeupless with messy hair. If anything, he might like her better that way. Undone. Free from who she used to have to pretend to be.

It was one thing they had in common—she liked herself this way better too. And after a year of isolation and fear, it was nice to feel a little settled. A little safe.

A little liked.

And Reed had definitely liked her that morning.

Her cheap sneakers came to a squeaking stop right in front of the pharmacy. She chewed her lower lip, staring at the counter, brain working a mile a minute as she focused on the final item she very much wanted to add to her cart.

There was no way she’d be able to sneak any of her purchases past Reed, and he didn't appreciate it when she helped herself, so not paying for something wasn’t an option. But he also seemed to like her forward nature a little more than he initially admitted, so maybe she was overthinking this.

Courtney turned the cart down one of the aisles, going straight to the counter and making her request before dropping the box in her basket and going to the registers. Reed was already there, waiting with his own very full cart.

She lifted her brows. "You look like you've been busy."

"An old camper has a lot of needs." He motioned for her to go ahead of him in the line.

She tipped her head. "Thank you." She went to work loading up all her items, filling the belt more than once due to the sheer bulk of all she'd picked out. As she expected, Reed watched everything as it stacked up. So when she set the final item onto the belt, she turned back to meet his gaze, lifting her chin.

Daring him to say something.

Hoping he would.

And he didn't disappoint her.

"That's a big leap, Princess."

She picked up the box of condoms, unashamed. "Not that big. Only got a twelve pack." She waited, watching his expression so she could gauge his reaction.

See if he was thinking the same thing she was.

They were about to be locked in the camper together for a week. And if the opportunity presented itself, she didn't want there to be any reason she couldn't take it.

Twice.

Twelve times.

Reed tipped his head toward the belt. "Put them down."

She gave him a little smile as she dropped them into place. "Yes, sir."

Courtney smiled at the checkout girl as she pushed past with her cart, grabbing the loaded bags and piling them in as Reed added his own selections to the belt. It took just as much work to get everything in the second time, so she nearly missed seeing all he’d picked out.

Almost.

When the final item passed across the scanner, she stared at it, unable to look away as emotion tightened her throat. "What's that?"

The checkout girl blinked, looking from side to side, clearly believing Courtney was talking to her. She lifted up the plastic container as if seeing it better might help the identification process. "It's cupcakes."

She pressed her lips together, swallowing hard as her eyes dropped to the bag in front of her. Inside was a pack of candles.

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