6

6

Dakota

Their fingers brushed as Seth handed him a can, and Dakota shivered. His head was still reeling from that almost kiss. It was a good thing they'd been interrupted because otherwise they might still be there, kissing passionately next to the ice cream.

He glanced toward the register where Brooke was openly staring at them, a sly grin on her face. He felt exposed. He wanted to be alone with Seth to explore that surge of longing that had arced between them, but that was impossible. He thought about the bleak, industrial breakroom. It wasn't a romantic location, but at least it was more private than this.

He cleared his throat. "I have a break coming up in a few minutes. As soon as we get this display back together, do you want to join me in back for a cup of coffee?"

Seth held his gaze for a long moment before replying. "Yes, please. It will go faster if I collect the cans and you stack them."

Dakota nodded and tore his gaze away from Seth, only to focus on how gracefully Seth moved as he handled the cans. It took a force of will to stop staring and start stacking. Then, the thought of being alone with Seth made his hands fly. Within a few minutes, the tower was back in place.

He turned to Seth. "Give me a couple of minutes. I'll meet you in the back of the store." Dakota couldn't help touching Seth's shoulder as he left. Seth seemed so comfortable in himself. And steady. A guy could depend on someone like that.

Before he could get carried away, he strode to the bench where Miss Witherspoon sat with Gerald beside her in his chair. "Are you sure you're okay?" Dakota asked her. He hadn't seen any injuries, but with seniors their skin bruised easily. It would be a shame if she got hurt when all she wanted was some company.

"Do not worry about me. I shall recover from my embarrassment. Gerald has been kind enough to offer to find our basket and take me to his home for dinner and drinks."

"Well, you kids have fun." Dakota looked sternly at Gerald. "And have her home by ten, young man, you hear?"

Miss Witherspoon chuckled. "We are both in our golden years, and therefore, I assume we will go to bed early. With whom I sleep is another matter and not one with which you ought to concern yourself."

Dakota smiled. "Yes, ma'am."

"Manager to register four," crackled over the loudspeaker.

"Brooke. I'm right here," Dakota said in exasperation as he crossed the five feet from the bench to the checkout counter.

She gave him a wide-eyed, innocent look. "I just wanted to tell you that your nerd is in aisle seven."

"Maybe he's buying food. Like the customer he is. Now I'm going on break, and if you use that thing while I'm in back, I swear I'll smash it."

She grinned. "You know it's against company policy to take customers into employee-only areas."

"So take it up with the manager." As he walked away, Dakota heard her laughing. No doubt he would never hear the end of it from her, but spending time with Seth, figuring out why he was so drawn to him and maybe even finishing what they started in the frozen food section, would be worth the ribbing.

He found Seth standing in the middle of the cereal aisle with his hands stuffed in his pockets. "I didn't know where to wait for you, but I thought since our star-crossed lovers almost got together again in the cereal aisle, this was as good a place as any."

"You think we're star-crossed?"

Seth smiled. "Once again, I'm focusing on a different part of the phrase."

Dakota felt the flush coming up his neck. "You want some coffee?"

Seth shook his head. "Can we go back to that moment in the freezer section? The one where we almost kissed?"

Dakota's pulse raced. He remembered the feel of Seth cupping his jaw, the way the touch had sent shivers down his spine that had nothing to do with the freezers around them.

He took Seth's hand, "This way."

Dakota led him to the back of the store and through the swinging rubber doors. As soon as he crossed the breakroom threshold, he turned abruptly and looked up at Seth. They were inches apart.

"I like your hat," Dakota murmured, resting his hand on Seth's chest. "I've been wondering. I know you said your name is Seth, but when you introduced yourself, you started to say something else."

Seth grimaced. "I did, didn't I. Are you going to think I'm too nerdy if I tell you I play Dungeons and Dragons?"

Dakota considered. "I've never played. What's it like?"

Seth's face lit up. "Oh man, it's the best. There's magic and combat and adventure. Right now I'm playing a dwarf warrior named Tordek with superhuman strength who speaks twelve languages. We're on a quest to find a magic spell that will free the kingdom from a year's long drought."

His eyes gleamed as he spoke. Seth was clearly a guy who threw himself into things wholeheartedly. There was something very endearing about the way he was losing himself in describing the game.

Seth stopped abruptly. "Sorry. I get carried away."

"Don't be sorry. I asked. It sounds fun."

Seth covered Dakota's hand with his own. "I'd be happy to teach you if you want."

Dakota nodded. "Maybe. I think right now I'm more interested in getting to know you as a human. Then maybe you can introduce me to your dwarf."

"I want to get to know you too." Seth ran his hand along Dakota's shoulder to the back of his neck. "And I really want to kiss you."

Seth was only a couple of inches taller than Dakota, but as they stood chest to chest, Dakota had to tip his head to look into Seth's eyes. What he saw there sent warm tingles into his belly.

"Here at the Pick and Grab, we like to give the customer whatever they want."

Seth raised an eyebrow. "Whatever?"

Dakota smiled. "Whatever."

"This is what I want." Seth lowered his head until their lips touched. Dakota let the kiss wash over him. Seth's lips were soft, but his hand on the back of Dakota's neck was firm. Dakota opened to the kiss, welcoming Seth's tongue into his mouth. He grabbed Seth's hips and pulled him close. Seth moaned and deepened the kiss.

As if from a long way away, a sound registered in Dakota's brain. It took a good thirty seconds for him to realize what it was. Someone had just shut the walk-in cooler. He didn't want to stop kissing Seth. He never wanted to stop kissing Seth. But someone was in the walk-in, and Brooke should be at the register, so it better not be her. It took all his willpower to stop.

Dakota broke away. "I'm so sorry. There's something I've gotta check."

Seth was breathing hard. He had one hand on Dakota's shoulder and another on his waist. He gradually let his hands drop. His eyes were unfocused. "Uh, okay."

"I'll be right back. Please, don't go away." Dakota moved toward the breakroom door. He turned back to Seth. "Hold that thought, will you?"

Seth seemed to be settling back into himself. He smiled at Dakota. "I am holding that thought very tightly."

Dakota opened the breakroom door and crossed to the walk-in. He pulled the door open. There was Celia kissing a tall man with a long grey ponytail who had his hand up her shirt. At the sound of the door opening, he quickly angled his body in front of her, gallantly guarding her privacy.

"What are you thinking? You'll catch your death of cold in here." Dakota could see his breath as he spoke.

Celia peeked around her gentleman caller's shoulder. "Dakota dear, please go. We can generate enough heat between us to fend off the grippe."

Dakota looked from her to the tall man, who he'd never seen in the store before. "I thought you weren't here for romance."

"That was before I ran into an old friend. Now would you please go. I promise we won't spoil the merchandise."

"Celia, you know I can't do that. You're grown adults with homes to go to—you don't need to canoodle in corners like teenagers."

"Canoodle? You've been hanging out with the geezers too long. We're not canoodling. We're hooking up." She turned to her beau. "Still, he has a point, honey. I only live a few blocks away, and it is getting chilly here."

Dakota held the door open. Celia straightened her clothing and led her friend out.

As she passed, Celia whispered, "Life is too short. Find love while you can."

"I was trying to do just that until I had to rescue someone from freezing to death."

"Good for you. Say hi to him for me." Celia gave Dakota a little wave as they walked through the swinging rubber doors. No doubt she'd have a story to tell next week, but in the meantime, Dakota had ideas of his own.

Back in the breakroom, Seth had set his hat on the table. Dakota wanted to bury his fingers in his sleek black hair. Seth appeared to be contemplating the workplace safety signs tacked on the walls.

He turned as Dakota entered. "Is everything okay?"

"Just seniors making out in the fridge."

"You have an interesting job."

Dakota wrapped his arms around Seth and pressed him back against the wall. "It's a good night."