"Yes, how can I help you?" I replied in my cheerful, polite customer-service voice.
"What would you recommend for dental bones?" the woman asked.
She peppered me with questions about the various kinds of dog toys we had available. It was almost enough to distract me from my thoughts. But even as I talked her through the various options, I couldn't help but wonder.
I'd had a really fun night, even before the sex. Bantering before the concert, flirting at the club, grinding against each other on the dance floor…
Had Nathan enjoyed himself as much as I had?
"Thank you, dear," the woman finally said. Her basket was overflowing with dog toys and treats. "Where do I check out?"
I guided her to the cash register. Too bad I didn't make commission. That would have been a nice chunk of change.
I worked steadily all day, with barely enough time to say a word to my coworker. The store was near closing when the last customer left. As the employee responsible for the closing shift, I did my usual routine of putting away items left lying around in the wrong places. I was so focused on trying to put back a large box on the top shelf that I didn't hear the bells jingling at the doors to signal someone entering.
"Let me help with that." A man's hand took the box from mine and set it carefully on the shelf.
"Thank you," I said as I turned. "I appreciate it—"
I stopped mid-sentence.
Nathan Walker's face was three inches away from mine. His handsome, flawless face. I stared at him. The world turned fuzzy. His dark blue eyes sparkled, almost dazzling me.
I blinked, my gaze focusing again.
"Hey," I said numbly.
"Hey," he replied with a wicked curve to his lips.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Shopping."
I'd mentally prepared myself to perhaps run into him some time in the future at the hospital. I hadn't been mentally prepared to run into him less than a day after he'd screwed my brains out.
"Are you stalking me?" I blurted.
That curve spread from ear to ear. "Would you like that?"
I took a step back. I bumped into the shelves, making them wobble dangerously. He put a hand out to steady them. I thought maybe he'd say something to knock me even more off balance, but he didn't.
"Don't worry," he said. "I'm not a stalker. I'm just taking care of my mom's place while she's away and this is the closest pet shop."
I was torn between disappointment and relief. As flattering as it would have been to have someone like Nathan Walker try to track me down, to hear that he'd wanted to see me again after the night we'd spent together, I knew nothing good could possibly come of that.
"I'm looking for cat stuff," he continued. "Maybe you can help me out?"
"Cat stuff?" I repeated.
"Food. Chew toys or whatever. Those rocks that go into a litter box." He shrugged. "You know. Cat stuff."
It didn't matter that his beautiful eyes were as blue as the depths of the ocean, or that his smile was enough to make my knees weak. It didn't matter that I had the sudden urge to pull him into the backroom and have my way with him again. I had a customer to take care of.
And said customer wantedcat stuff.Like rocks.
"Are you a new pet owner?" I half-dreaded his answer. I hated when people bought pets before doing any research. It seemed like the kind of impulsive, irresponsible thing someone like Nathan might do.
"No. It's my mom's cat. Why?"
