“You can move really fast.”
“Well, you can move as silent as a ninja,” she said, shoving the new card into the side pocket of her purse.
“Not going to let me see it?” he asked with a devastating smile.
“Better not.” She didn’t want him toknowhow much she liked kissing him. But she did want to leap on him, throw him to the ground andshowhim how much she liked kissing him.
He moved closer, towering over her, his bent head putting his mouth only inches from hers. “Give me a hint.”
She lifted up on her tippy toes, closing the gap between them and putting her hands on his shoulders. She felt him tense beneath her fingertips. Her cheek brushed against his sandpapery jaw as she put her mouth by his ear and whispered, “It’s another coupon for five percent off my gas purchase.” Juliana made contact with his jaw again, allowing his end-of-day shadow to abrade her face once more before pulling away.
He laughed, slid an arm around her shoulders and brushed his lips across hers for the barest of kisses. The desire was evident in his eyes. He moved in again. The second kiss was more serious, more engaging, more passionate, more everything. He squeezed her tight in his solid embrace and she held on for all she was worth as magical thoughts of entwining herself with him sans clothing danced wickedly in her mind.
“O Fearless Leader,” a sing-song voice asked from behind them. “You’re wanted at the front desk.”
To his credit, Diesel didn’t release her at first. He finished the kiss, pulled his lips from hers, took a half-step away and spun to face the grumpy girl from the front counter.
“Where is your nametag, Alice?” Diesel said the moment he faced the dark-haired girl.
Alice slapped a hand to her chest where the nametag would have been, but wasn’t, and blushed to her roots. “I’m sorry. I forgot. I must have left it in my locker.”
He nodded his head in the direction of another hallway. “Run and fetch it. But first, who wants to see me?”
“A customer,” she said brightly. Alice’s face was still flushed, her hand still attached to the space beneath her collarbone where her missing nametag presumably went as she stared at Diesel intently.
“Do they want to complain about something?”
“I don’t think so. She seemed very happy about something and wanted to talk to the manager. I said I’d come and get you.”
Diesel nodded, grabbed Juliana’s hand and walked her past the clerk. Juliana had an urge to stick her tongue out at Alice, but resisted the petty gesture as immature and below her. It was tricky being an adult sometimes, when childish taunts were completely justified.
The customer in question was the one who complained about the dirty window washer container. Diesel winked at Juliana, releasing her hand with one final squeeze.
To the woman standing by the counter he said, “Hi, I’m Diesel Grey, the Fearless Leader and manager here. How can I help you?” He extended his hand. She took it wordlessly, staring at him. Then she smiled and blushed.
Juliana wondered if Diesel made every woman he met blush. He was two for two in the last couple of minutes.
Diesel released the woman’s hand. She seemed to come back to reality and said, “I just wanted you to know that the young woman behind the counter and Kenny, the young man who came outside to quickly change and refill the window washing station at the gas pumps, did so in a smooth, efficient manner. I truly appreciate it.”
“Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know,” Diesel said. He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small business card, not unlike the one Maxwell the Martian had recently given her, wrote something on the back and handed it to her.
“This is a coupon for you. A special twenty percent off manager’s code for use anywhere in the truck stop today or the next time you come in to get gas or shop. Okay?”
The woman took the card and her blank stare of surprise morphed into one of utter worship. She beamed and blushed like he’d handed her jewelry. “Thank you so much.” She held it to her chest like a treasure. Juliana thought the woman was going to throw herself on Diesel’s tall frame and kiss his mouth. Instead, she again thanked him profusely and eventually stumbled backward through the double swinging doors.
“Does every woman you meet fall in love with you in the first five seconds?”
Diesel spun around with surprise. “No. Why? Did you?”
Her cheeks heated to an uncomfortable level in mere moments. Now he was three for three. “No comment,” she managed.
His infectious grin warmed her. “That means yes.”
She shrugged, her face still burning. “Well, youarevery attractive. It’s not a surprise when other women practically fall at your feet.”
He took her back in his arms. “But I only care about whatyouthink.”
Juliana tried to get any look of embarrassment off her features. “Really? I do like you very much. I’m certain I’m already blushing, but I wanted to tell you that I feel like we have some sort of connection or bond. I’m hoping you feel the same way about me.”
