Austin laughed out loud. “I swear those tampons don’t want to go home with you.”
Debbie’s face flushed beet-red before she dropped to the ground. “Oh, my he— I mean, good grief.” She kept mumbling as she picked up her groceries and tossed them back into the trunk.
He bent to help her then remembered bumping heads with her at the store and changed his mind. The hint he’d gotten of her perfume last time was alluring enough to make him want to pull her into his arms. But he’d learned a long time ago to keep his distance from women like Debbie.
He gathered all the bags in one hand and tucked the items she tossed back in the trunk into his arms. By the time she stood up, he held all the groceries in his arms, including the rogue box of tampons.
“It might be best if I carry them the rest of the way.”
The embarrassment on Debbie’s face turned to frustration as she stared at him. Then her face split in a grin, transforming her expression. She not only looked approachable, she looked downright beautiful.
* * *
Debbie grinneddespite the heat radiating through her body. She had never been so embarrassed in her life. Of course, she’d never met a man who wasn’t embarrassed to carry her feminine hygiene products and could joke about it. Her brothers and brother-in-laws would have disappeared a long time ago.
She couldn’t remember the last time she managed to embarrass herself in front of an attractive man three separate times. Four if she counted the Easter eggs. She quickly circled her car and grabbed more groceries.
Austin waited patiently for her to open the door and flip on a light.
“You can just set everything on the kitchen counter.”
He paused as he stepped into the kitchen, his gaze roaming around the large room. “Which one?”
Debbie’s gaze followed his, trying to see the room from his perspective. Quartz countertops, state-of-the-art, stainless-steel appliances, and more cabinets than Debbie knew what to do with lined the room.
Yes, it was a much bigger kitchen than a single person needed, but Debbie had been optimistic when she built this house. She’d hoped one day, she’d have a family to fill it.
“Put them on the island.” As she lifted some of the loose items from his arms, her fingers brushed the hair on his arm. Warm tingles shot through her hand.
She stepped back and let him set the remainder down himself. Even when she’d flirted with Sheriff Robert Winters last year and touched his hand or arm, she’d never felt that kind of electricity. That’s why she’d eventually stopped pursuing him after his former girlfriend moved back to town.
That’s what triggered her breakdown last month; she’d run into Robert and Jessie with their new baby at Charity’s Diner. They both looked so happy, and she wanted that. She was so tired of pretending she was happy simply because she had all the money anyone could want.
It’s just my luck that when I finally meet a nice, good looking man who interests me like that he’s married.
He didn’t wear a ring, but a lot of men who work heavy labor jobs didn’t wear wedding rings. And Austin’s broad shoulders definitely looked like they could handle heavy labor.
“I’ll get the diapers from my truck.” He disappeared out the door as soon as his arms were empty.
She carried in the remainder of her groceries then helped carry in the last of the diaper boxes.
Austin set his final armload on the stack he’d built beside the counter and looked around again. “So, um…how many children do you have?”
“I don’t have any…yet.” Debbie raised her chin daring him to find fault with her impulsiveness.
His brow furrowed as he scratched his jaw, creating a rasping sound against his stubble. “And you’re not pregnant, yet?”
Yet?Pain shot through Debbie’s chest. She gave a slight shake of her head.
“I guess, that explains why you don’t have a car seat in your Porsche. Or why you drive a Porsche at all.” His brow creased, and he shook his head as he looked at the stack of diapers and pull-ups. “So, who are these for?”
Debbie’s cheeks warmed. “I um… I got word today that I’ve been approved to be a foster parent. The caseworker suggested I buy a few diapers to keep on hand. Just in case, you know?”
“A few?” Austin’s eyebrows raised and it looked like he was holding back a grin.
“Did I mention I tend to be impulsive?”
“Right. Well, I guess it’s a good thing you have plenty of space to store all of these diapers.”
