Bad Habits Part 22

"Sorry, it couldn't be helped."

Then the intensity broke and the s.e.xiest smile spread over his lips. "I'm disappointed. Here I was thinking you were digging me, my dirt style that is."

"Oh I dig it. The dirt that is," she quickly added.

"Then let's do this, Mrs. Livingston." He stepped to her. She turned and felt her skirt flowing around her knees as his hand pressed against her lower back. Her skin tingled from the light touch. She allowed him to steer her in. He flashed the attendant at the open warehouse doors his Costco badge and they were allowed in.

"I don't have one of those. I need to go and apply."

"Nonsense, you can use mine."

"Well thanks, Cain, but I'm not sure that would work. It would mean you'd have to come every time I shopped."

He gave her a s.e.xy smile. "I don't mind."

She opened her mouth to object. He was flirting again, and it was happening too easily. But he went for a shopping basket, leaving her with her mouth gaping. She lifted her purse strap higher on her shoulder and looked around. As with any other Costco, the entrance was stacked with electronics, boxes of flat screen TV's, laser DVD players, and audio equipment. The walkway led to everything from groceries, to furniture.

"Ready?"

"I can't believe you were willing to come. Keith hates places like this. In fact, I thought all men hated shopping."

"You'll learn soon enough, sweetheart. I'm not like all men."

She cut him a look and his eyes slipped back over to her. Simone rolled hers with a smile. Together, they walked up the aisle. "What I meant was you have to be so busy at work and everything."

"Even us sales guys break for lunch. Besides, I'm a sucker for a damsel in gardening distress."

"That's me."

She strolled at his side. Every few paces she'd stop to check a sale price or pick up something she needed for the house. He didn't seem to mind. In fact, he got into it.

"What are you doing?"

"Huh?" Cain paused.

"You put this in the basket. What is this?"

"Tell me Keith doesn't like tofu?" Cain asked.

"He doesn't." She put the pack back. Walking over to check the meat, she turned to find him slipping something in the basket again.

"Cain."

"What? You telling me he isn't a pork-bellies man?"

"He doesn't eat pork. Would you quit?"

He threw up his hands. "Hey, just trying to help."

"I bet you are." She shook her head. But time and time again she caught him or discovered unwanted items in her basket. Everything from cat food to razorblades and any odd thing he could find along the way.

"You are really too much!" she laughed.

"You two make such a cute couple." A soft voice rasped behind them. They turned to find a silver haired white woman with her purse hooked on her arm. Simone shook her head hard. "Oh no he's not my-"

"Thank you. I keep trying to tell her what a lucky woman she is. Glad someone else sees it," Cain beamed.

"Cain!" Simone laughed.

The old lady giggled, blushing and giggling even more when Cain winked at her, before slowly pushing her cart away.

Simone sighed. "Are you ever serious?"

"Actually, I am quite often, but you... you bring out the other me."

"Not sure I like the sound of that." She took out the box of Fruity Pebbles he had snuck in and put them back on the shelf. "C'mon."

Finally they were in the home and garden section. However, by the time they arrived the comfort level between them had crossed into another zone. Simone was wary. This was a zone of familiarity that instinctively she knew she had to tread carefully within.

"What type of garden did we decide on again?" She gave him a serious contemplative look, hoping to focus them both. After all they were there for her garden, nothing more.

"Aha, so you weren't paying attention?"

"It was kind of hard to keep up. I remember it was a vegetable garden," Simone said.

"Very good. Look over there."

Her eyes followed his nod to a shelf lined with rows upon rows of nursery seeds. When she drew near, she discovered that each individual pack had pictures for the gardening challenged. "Impressive."

"Now, Mrs. Livingston, before you make your selection, I have a few suggestions."

"Do tell, Mr. Gatlin."

He leaned forward on the basket. "First, you will only choose the vegetables you and Mr. Livingston are sure to eat. Waste not, want not."

"Okay," Simone said with an obedient nod.

"Second, based on the plot of land we cleared, I suggest getting vegetables that grow nicely together. Complement each other. Make your selection and I'll let you know."

"Roger that!" Simone gave him a military salute. She then scanned the selection and frowned.

Cain arched a single brow. "Go ahead. Don't keep me in suspense. Choose, pretty lady."

She nodded that she would. She bit down on her bottom lip and forgot all that warm weather cool weather stuff he said before. So, she just went for what she thought she'd like. "I choose..." Simone picked up cuc.u.mbers, eggplant, tomatoes, squash, and broccoli. "Here, this is what I want."

His clear blue eyes dropped to her hand to inspect the selection, then captured hers once more. "No broccoli. It's a cool weather plant."

"Huh? Broccoli?"

"Yes," Cain said.

"How about carrots or cauliflower?"

"Nope."

"d.a.m.n," Simone chuckled.

He chuckled in return. "Try corn."

"Corn? For real? You think I can grow it?"

He just gave her that boyish smile. Simone felt all giddy with excitement. She picked up two packs of corn seedlings. "Okay, got it. We're all done."

"Not quite."

He stepped from around the basket. He smelled rich, clean and manly. It mixed with the herbal aroma in the gardening section, making her a little light headed. What was it he was wearing? The mossy heady scent of his aftershave had left her mouth watering. Geez, it was all she could do to keep from sniffing around him. She fought down the warm tidal surge of desire moving over her. She must not focus on his physical attributes: not his smell, not his eyes, none of it. Focus! Focus! Focus!

"Simone?"

"Huh?" she replied.

"I said we need compost and a few things to turn the soil for when you plant."

"Compost? Why?" Simone double blinked.

"It helps retain moisture. It'll be a hot summer and you need the seeds to take root. The compost is definitely needed. Here, this'll do." He grabbed two bags and brought them over. Simone gave him room to put the bags under the basket. But when he rose, he had a stain to the front of his shirt. "Oh no...look at your shirt." She wiped her hands over it, absorbing his hardness into her palm. "This is my fault for having you lift it," she said, her hand now rubbing. "I-"

Her hand dropped away. She stared up at him, immobile. She just stood there staring. Beneath dark brows he held her gaze with his usually clear eyes darkening to a stormy blue.

"I didn't mean to. I'm sorry."

"I'll be okay."

Simone nodded. She was so embarra.s.sed that her heart was hammering her pulse rate in her ears.

"Hungry?" Cain asked.

"Yeah. I mean yes," she answered quickly.

"Good. Let's go cash you out and get that slice of pizza. I hear they have the best."

"Sounds good," Simone agreed.

"Here...let me get that..." he reached and wiped at her chin. She was so sweet. Everything about her was sweet. Her smile, her laughter, even the things she found to be interesting, or spoke of with such earnest it rounded out her sweetness.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"So who were you in your life before marriage?" he asked, his pizza forgotten. He wanted to hear her talk some more.

"That's a strange question," she chuckled. The straw lifted to her glossed lips and she sucked up her cherry cola. He moistened his lips, watching the action.

"Humor me," Cain said.

"I was a stylist, I told you."

"That's what you did, not who you were." He noticed the nervous manner she used when he focused the conversation on her. He wasn't flirting. He was genuinely curious.

"I used to do spoken word. I had a thing for it in my early twenties."

"A poet? I can see it."

Simone rolled her eyes. "Whatever, I haven't written poetry in years. Now, your turn. Who were you before you became a Hollingsworth?"

Cain sat back. "A handy jack."

"A what?" she frowned, her nose wrinkled in the cutest way. "A carpenter. I love building things, remodeling homes. I majored in architecture in school."

"Oh really? Why didn't you pursue it?"

"My wife. Her father's stipulation to our marriage was that I become a Hollingsworth. End of story."

"Wow, guess marriage does change things."

He winked. "Or people."

"Cain? Cain Gatlin, is that you?"

He looked up. Buffy Alistair came sashaying over. It was too late to deflect. He and Simone were caught.

"I thought that was you." She smiled, then her eyes slipped over to Simone. "Oh, I'm sorry. am I interrupting?"

"No, of course not." Cain cleared his throat. "Buffy, this is Simone Livingston, she just moved in next door to us."

"Oh really? Welcome. Maryanne mentioned she had a new neighbor," Buffy said.

Simone looked to him and then to Buffy, she smiled. "Hi."

"Well? It's good to meet you. You two having lunch together?" Buffy asked.

Cain held her stare. Simone looked away, not sure how to answer.

"Okay, well nice meeting you. Cain, I'll see you at the club."

"Bye." He dismissed her.

"I should go." Simone started stacking up the paper napkins onto the grease stained paper plate. "I have some other shopping to do and I need to get the groceries home."