Page 35 of Check Me Out

“You think we’re star-crossed?”

Seth smiled. “Once again, I’m focusing on a different part of the phrase.”

Dakota felt the flush coming up his neck. “You want some coffee?”

Seth shook his head. “Can we go back to that moment in the freezer section? The one where we almost kissed?”

Dakota’s pulse raced. He remembered the feel of Seth cupping his jaw, the way the touch had sent shivers down his spine that had nothing to do with the freezers around them.

He took Seth’s hand, “This way.”

Dakota led him to the back of the store and through the swinging rubber doors. As soon as he crossed the breakroom threshold, he turned abruptly and looked up at Seth. They were inches apart.

“I like your hat,” Dakota murmured, resting his hand on Seth’s chest. “I’ve been wondering. I know you said your name is Seth, but when you introduced yourself, you started to say something else.”

Seth grimaced. “I did, didn’t I. Are you going to think I’m too nerdy if I tell you I play Dungeons and Dragons?”

Dakota considered. “I’ve never played. What’s it like?”

Seth’s face lit up. “Oh man, it’s the best. There’s magic and combat and adventure. Right now I’m playing a dwarf warrior named Tordek with superhuman strength who speaks twelve languages. We’re on a quest to find a magic spell that will free the kingdom from a year’s long drought.”

His eyes gleamed as he spoke. Seth was clearly a guy who threw himself into things wholeheartedly. There was something very endearing about the way he was losing himself in describing the game.

Seth stopped abruptly. “Sorry. I get carried away.”

“Don’t be sorry. I asked. It sounds fun.”

Seth covered Dakota’s hand with his own. “I’d be happy to teach you if you want.”

Dakota nodded. “Maybe. I think right now I’m more interested in getting to know you as a human. Then maybe you can introduce me to your dwarf.”

“I want to get to know you too.” Seth ran his hand along Dakota’s shoulder to the back of his neck. “And I really want to kiss you.”

Seth was only a couple of inches taller than Dakota, but as they stood chest to chest, Dakota had to tip his head to look into Seth’s eyes. What he saw there sent warm tingles into his belly.

“Here at the Pick and Grab, we like to give the customer whatever they want.”

Seth raised an eyebrow. “Whatever?”

Dakota smiled. “Whatever.”

“This is what I want.” Seth lowered his head until their lips touched. Dakota let the kiss wash over him. Seth’s lips were soft, but his hand on the back of Dakota’s neck was firm. Dakota opened to the kiss, welcoming Seth’s tongue into his mouth. He grabbed Seth’s hips and pulled him close. Seth moaned and deepened the kiss.

As if from a long way away, a sound registered in Dakota’s brain. It took a good thirty seconds for him to realize what it was. Someone had just shut the walk-in cooler. He didn’t want to stop kissing Seth. He never wanted to stop kissing Seth. But someone was in the walk-in, and Brooke should be at the register, so it better not be her. It took all his willpower to stop.

Dakota broke away. “I’m so sorry. There’s something I’ve gotta check.”

Seth was breathing hard. He had one hand on Dakota’s shoulder and another on his waist. He gradually let his hands drop. His eyes were unfocused. “Uh, okay.”

“I’ll be right back. Please, don’t go away.” Dakota moved toward the breakroom door. He turned back to Seth. “Hold that thought, will you?”

Seth seemed to be settling back into himself. He smiled at Dakota. “I am holding that thought very tightly.”

Dakota opened the breakroom door and crossed to the walk-in. He pulled the door open. There was Celia kissing a tall man with a long grey ponytail who had his hand up her shirt. At the sound of the door opening, he quickly angled his body in front of her, gallantly guarding her privacy.

“What are you thinking? You’ll catch your death of cold in here.” Dakota could see his breath as he spoke.

Celia peeked around her gentleman caller’s shoulder. “Dakota dear, please go. We can generate enough heat between us to fend off the grippe.”

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