Page 38 of Breaking the Ice

Samantha thought about playing dumb. Just because he’d been privy to every aspect of her dating life since she’d started working at Birdie’s didn’t mean she had to consult him about every potential opportunity. But he was probablyjust as investedwhether she liked it or not.

“Bec thinks supermarkets are great pick-up joints. I’m going to test the theory.”

“Really?” He dropped his hand from her arm. “They’re always full of screaming kids whenever I go.”

See, eggs? So not father material.

“Hard to believe, I know.”

“Okay so, what’s the plan?” he asked as they fell into step. “You’re just going to hang out in fruit and veg and wait for an unsuspecting demographically suitable guy to wander along?”

“You make me sound like a spider waiting for an insect to fly into my web,” she grouched. “It’s a sensible suggestion and I cannot face another blind date.”

“Fine.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I’m all out of Pop-Tarts anyway.”

She shook her head. “I thought an athlete had a strictly controlled dietary regimen?”

“It’s the off season.”

When they reached the supermarket Samantha nudged him. “You go in first.” She was suddenly self-conscious that everyone would take one look at her and know why she was there. “I’ll wait a few minutes and follow.”

“Okay,” Nick whispered dramatically. “Shall we synchronize our watches?”

She shoved him lightly and he chuckled but he moved off, the sliding doors opening to admit him. She watched as he picked up a basket and swaggered inside, T-shirt and jeans clinging in all the right places.

Samantha quickly spritzed herself with perfume from the small atomizer in her handbag while she counted to sixty then followed Nick. The benign elevator music was the first thing she noticed as she also picked up a basket and made a beeline for the fruit and veg. She checked the time – five-twenty. A little early.But if she hovered around here, she’d have direct line of sight of the entrance, right?

Slowly they trickled in and things picked up.

A guy who looked to be in his early forties sidled up to her over the cantaloupes. He had a friendly face and nicely graying wings in his dark hair. He smiled. “Cantaloupes are a good price this week.”

She checked his finger. No wedding ring. “Thank goodness,” she said with a laugh she hoped sounded tinkly rather than nervously creepy. “They’ve been so expensive and they’re so divine this time of year.”

“I know what you mean. Jonathon, my partner, absolutely adores them.”

Bump bah!Strike one.

Looking up, she spied Nick a few meters away feeling tomatoes like he was judging them at the state freaking fair. He’d obviously overheard the exchange and was trying not to laugh. She slunk away to inspect the nuts, pegging a macadamia at his head to wipe the smirk from his face. It didn’t.

“Excuse me, miss.”

Samantha made a concerted effort to smooth her frown as another man, not quite as good looking as the last but also carrying a basket, indicated she was blocking the bag dispenser.

“Oops, sorry,” she apologized as she saw Nick move closer out the corner of her eye. He settled himself at the other end of the nut display and picked one up, inspecting it like he was from quality control.

“No problem,” he said.

No wedding ring either, she thought as he piled his bag full of macadamias. “You must really love nuts, huh? Or… is it your wife?”

The man laughed. “Oh, no, I’m divorced. I live with my mom now and she adores them.”

Samantha heard Nick almost choking to death on his stifled laughter and looked up to see his back disappearing behind the pumpkin display.

Strike two.

Throwing a few nuts in a bag, she followed Nick. “Do you mind,” she hissed.

“Oh, Samantha.” His eyes shone with mirth. “I don’t know how you do it. Do you repel all the right people or just attract the wrong? I can’t work it out.”

---