Page 29 of Check Me Out

Seth stared after her, confused.

“It’s kind of sweet, don’t you think?”

Seth turned to see Dakota, the manager, standing beside him. He shook his head. “I don’t understand. Isn’t this gay nineties night?”

Dakota looked embarrassed. “This whole thing was the owner’s idea. She thinks retired people have more disposable income and are likely to buy expensive items to impress other people. She’s very proud of the marketing strategy, and I haven’t had the heart to tell her it’s confusing.”

Seth’s face was hot. “So gay nineties isn’t for gay people?”

Dakota shook his head. “The emphasis is on nineties, not gay.”

He put his hand on Seth’s arm, and Seth felt it like an electric shock. He glanced quickly at Dakota, who held his gaze for a few long seconds.

“I’m Tor.. I’m Seth.” If Seth had been hoping to use introducing himself as a conversation starter, he was disappointed because they were interrupted almost immediately.

2

Dakota

A deep voice asked, “Excuse me, can you tell me where to find cocktail peanuts and margarita mix? This sweet little lady just agreed to come over for drinks, and I don’t have a thing in the house.”

The voice belonged to a big man in a motorized cart. Standing beside him was one of the regulars, Victoria Witherspoon, who was a bit of a celebrity, a romance writer who had once sold a book to Harlequin.

Dakota tore his gaze from Seth’s, giving him an apologetic look, then focused on the customer. “Of course, follow me.”

Poor Seth. It was an easy mistake to make. And he was so cute. Dakota couldn’t count the number of times someone had come with the same expectations. Who wouldn’t? Selling romance to the elderly wasn’t exactly an everyday thing.

Dakota’s boss always talked about how “true love blossomed best among the baked goods” (or in the dairy section with the milk of life or surrounded by suggestive sausages or whatever her metaphor of the day was). But as far as Dakota could tell, gay nineties night was a Pick and Grab exclusive.

And here he was, escorting Miss Witherspoon and her new beau to the cocktail peanuts when he could have just told themaisle five and kept flirting with Seth of the quirky hat, who must be new to the neighborhood since Dakota would have noticed him if he’d come in before. Everyone in the neighborhood came through the Pick and Grab at some point.

“Thank you so much for your assistance,” Miss Witherspoon said as they got to aisle five. “I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you, but Gerald insisted, and it’s beneficial for men to ask for what they need. Do you not think so?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Dakota thought Gerald looked smart enough to have found the peanuts himself. He wondered if Gerald knew Miss Witherspoon approved of a man who asked for directions. That indicated a lot more emotional intelligence than anyone he’d seen Miss Witherspoon with before.

Starting back toward the produce section, he heard, “Now, he’s a hottie. Did you get his number?”

Dakota turned to find Celia at his elbow. She was dressed even more regally than usual, in a long red velvet duster over a white silk top and skinny jeans. As always, she wore so much jewelry that she jingled when she walked. At nearly ninety-three, Celia was the sexiest woman Dakota knew.

Dakota glanced toward Seth, who was sniffing a melon like he knew what he was doing. “I’m not that smooth an operator. All I know about him is his name.”

Celia looked smug. “He just moved here from Chicago for a job. He only lives a few blocks away. And he’s single.”

Dakota stared at her.

She gave Dakota an affronted look. “What? I asked. The poor man probably thought I was trying to get into his pants. Not that they aren’t great pants, but I’m not stupid. And I don’t robcradles. If you want his number, you’ll have to ask yourself. I have some boundaries, after all.”

Dakota laughed. “Since when?”

“Since my therapist insisted I get some. Now, what are you doing talking to me when you could be working your magic on him?”

He shook his head. “I’m at work, and I’m not part of the great gay nineties experiment.”

“Me neither. That’s for old people. I’m just here to grab some tikka masala sauce and a chicken breast for dinner.” She rested a hand on Dakota’s arm. “Go flirt with the boy. You’re too young to have to go home alone.”

Dakota smiled. “I want to be just like you when I grow up.”

Celia gave a little wave and wafted off toward the international food section.

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