Casanova(33)

I changed quickly and headed back downstairs. I wanted to get in and out of the grocery story before it got really busy, but I wasn’t about to wear the nice dress I’d worn to see Mr. Reeves.

Mr. Reeves.

What I’d agreed to.

I waved those thoughts away. If I dwelled on them too long, I might forget that I actually hated Brett.

I picked up my purse and keys. The door clicked as I opened it, and I froze.

“You didn’t stomp on it.”

Despite myself, I half-smiled as I met Brett’s gray-blue eyes. “You thought I’d stomp on it?”

He shrugged. “Stomp on it, tear it up, throw it in the trash. Something. Nice touch with the note though.”

I tilted my head to the side. “Did you follow me home?”

“I wanted to see if you’d stomp on it here. Is it burning in the sink or something?”

A small laugh escaped me. “No, it’s not burning in the sink. It’s...safe.”

“Safe?” He quirked an eyebrow. “Okay, then.”

“Is that why you’re here? Because I have things to do.”

“A little, but I mostly wanted to talk to you. If you stomped on, tore up, or threw out the rose I knew I wouldn’t have a chance in hell.”

“And you think now that you do?”

“I figure I’m in with a chance.”

I pursed my lips and made him think I was considering it. “I have to go grocery shopping. Follow me there and we can talk.”

He held up his hand. His keys dangled from one of his fingers. “Why don’t I just drive you?”

I stepped out of the house and pulled the door shut. I locked it and then mirrored his action. “I know better than to trap myself in a car with an asshole when I can’t escape. Why don’t I drive and you can push my cart for me? Show the people of Whiskey Key what a gentleman you are.” I threw those last words in with a smirk and a challenging raise of my eyebrows.

“All right...” He hopped off the doorstep and backed toward my car. “Does that mean I get to spank you if I pass you in the aisle?”

I stopped in front of him and prodded my finger against his chest. “No.”

He held up his hands as he walked around the car. “All right, all right. No spanking.”





“Ouch!” I clapped my hand over my right ass cheek and almost jumped into some poor soul just trying to grab their milk. “What the hell?”

Brett grinned, his eyes dancing. “You said no spanking. You didn’t say anything about pinching.”

“That’s not fair. You never once mentioned butt-pinching as part of your gentlemanly ways. Besides, I’m still mad at you, so keep your hands to yourself.” I opened the fridge and pulled out some milk.

His gaze followed me as I deposited it into the cart and then he said, “See? That’s what you should have stipulated before we left. You leave a loophole, and I’m going to exploit the fuck out of it.”

“No. Really?” I deadpanned. “Walk,” I demanded. “Next fridge.”

“What? Don’t you trust me to be behind you?” His grin widened, and the spark in his eyes turned mischievous. “I’m wounded.”

“You’re starting to test my patience now.” I waved my finger at him and opened the next fridge, bending for my cheese.

“Really? Are you sure I can’t stay behind you?”

I snapped back up to standing so quickly I almost hit my head on the door. Just like I knew he would be, he was smirking, and his gaze was fixed firmly on my hip area. “Yes. I’m now one hundred percent positive. Damn it, I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to this.”

“You probably shouldn’t have. I’m really not a good shopper.”

I was figuring that out for myself.

“Just stay in front of me and keep your hands on the cart, Casanova. I’m not interested in you hitting on me...or my ass.”

“Have you consulted with your ass on that? I feel like she might be more agreeable.”

I stopped, put my hands on my hips, and glared at him. “You just pinched my ass. She’s definitely going to side with me.”

He offered me a lopsided smile that was somewhere between a sexy smirk and genuine amusement—and oddly adorable. “Will she side with me if I rub it better?”

“Can you reach that bread down for me?” I pointed at the bread on the top of the shelf.

He picked one loaf up and handed it to me. “That wasn’t a no.”

“It wasn’t a yes either.” I smiled and put the bread in the cart. “But for the record, the answer is no. You cannot rub my butt better.”

“So close.” He sighed and walked alongside me to the next aisle.

Conveniently, we were in the liquor aisle. This store’s layout made little to no sense to me, but hey—I happened to need liquor to deal with Brett’s new, playful mood.

I was becoming increasingly endeared to this side of him, which meant my anger was diminishing. And if I was no longer angry at him...

I grabbed the biggest bottle of wine I could find on the bottom shelf and put it right in the middle of the cart.

Brett’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s a big bottle of wine.”