Romance Short StoriesThe Big One

Romance Short Stories are a dime a dozen, but this is....

I keep hearing that the grocery store is a great place to pick up a guy, or to be picked up by a guy. The only thing I’ve ever picked up at the grocery store is a weeks worth of Lean Cuisine and low-fat fudge bars. But today I have a vibe. A, “some hot dude is looking me over” vibe.

I keep thinking someone is following me; I keep smelling something masculine/ionic/yummy, I keep seeing something out of my peripheral … but no one is there. I look good – I had a business meeting today so my stockings and stilettos could very well be giving me elevated pedestal fantasies, which is much more likely than the probability of someone following me.

The “dating tip” I heard is that you can look in a man’s grocery cart and tell if he’s single. He’ll have Hungry Man dinners, cans of tuna, and condoms. Which reminds me of a joke… the guy comes through check out and the clerk says, “I see you are single”, and he responds, “you are perceptive – I guess the frozen dinners gave it away?” to which the clerk replies, “nope…. you’re just really ugly.”

But I digress.

I play this game leaving the grocery store called, “see if you can carry all of your bags out in one trip so you don’t have to wheel the cart back up to the cart corral.” It involves my looking like a circus strong-man with bags lined up my arms like weight plates and the plastic handles cutting into my flesh and seizing my circulation – but I save several steps by not having to return that cart.

I was tottering to my Toyota with the groceries when the masculine/ionic/yummy aroma wafted under my nose just as I turned to face… the most gorgeous Adonis I have seen in some many years.

“Can I help you get those into your car?” His frame blocked out the sun as I looked into denim blue eyes framed in thick lashes and a strong brow. He took my breath and held it for a long moment before I could stutter a response… “ye-yes, that would be great!” He began peeling the bags from my arm and held them on one huge hand freeing me to dig for my keys. My mind was racing – say something cute and lovely, show him you’re thankful for his help, grab him by his thick chestnut hair and stick your tongue down his throat… OMG he has a widow’s peak – I LOVE a man with a widow’s peak!

He carefully placed the groceries in my car and kept looking up at me and smiling with that delicious, crooked smile and he just stared at me for what seemed like days. Until I realized I hadn’t responded. “I’m Vale!” I blurted.

“Vale”. You are... striking. I’m sure you get told that all the time... but I just couldn’t let you drive away without my telling you – you’re beautiful!”

I believe it was at that moment that I peed myself, maybe just a little. Romance short stories aren't supposed to be this hot.

“Cade… (I liked the way his name sounded coming out of my mouth, hard off the back of my throat…) thank you. No, I don’t get told that all the time and… th-thank you.”

I reached to help him position the last bag of dinners and he put his free hand on top of mine, “Vale, I’m sure you have places to go and things to do but this coffee shop has its liquor license now.” Cade looked towards “Cinno’s” and back to me. “Would you have a glass of wine with me?”

“Yes!” Oh, crap. I answered way too energetically and quickly. Play it cool, Vale, be cool! You are a creature like none other; you are a creature like none other. Cade and I made our way across the parking lot with his hand at the small of my back and I think we made intelligent small talk. I honestly couldn’t tell you if we discussed the price of gas or our core religious beliefs, but he sparkled when he talked, my feet never touched the ground, and he was STILL taller than me.

To Be Continued…