Heaven Beside You by Christa Maurice

soup for two weeks.
    Her carefully-cultivated distance was shrinking. She’d thought running down the street to get her mail and the events from Sue would have been enough time out of Jason’s gravity that she wouldn’t have gotten sucked back in so fast. Her heart rate said different.
    He shrugged. “I haven’t gotten to the frozen food aisle yet. I’m really not very good at this. I eat out a lot.”
    She met his eyes. Familiar heat spread through her. His face softened. He shifted his grip on the basket so it hung at his side. The view changed, and she couldn’t understand why until she realized she was leaning forward. The pulse in his throat throbbed inches from her face. Her body matched his beat. His dark eyes seemed darker, inviting. He licked his lips. Her stomach tightened in anticipation.
    “Cass,” someone said.
    Jason and Cass leaped apart. His basket banged against the canned vegetables shelf behind him, knocking a can of peas on the floor. She reached back to steady herself, nearly pulling down half the Campbell’s soup display. When she’d gotten her feet under her, she turned to meet the voice’s owner and tried not to look like she’d been caught stealing something. Duke Henderson didn’t seem to realize he’d interrupted.
    “What are you doing down the mountain already? Didn’t we stock you up well enough?” he bellowed from the far end of the aisle.
    “Oh, I’m fine, but my guest needed some supplies so I brought him in.”
    “Ah.” Duke stopped in front of them and looked Jason over. “Well, welcome to town, son. Hope you enjoy your stay. Next time, you give us a call in advance and we can send a delivery up to you.”
    “You can?” Cass blurted out. Duke scowled at her. Her nerves still sparked as if she’d been caught en flagrante delicto on the grocery store floor. But she had nothing to hide from Duke Henderson and nothing to prove to him either. She focused on the imprint of corrugated cardboard on his cheek above his whiskers. He had been sleeping in the warehouse. “When did you start that?”
    “Oh, about ten minutes ago. I was thinking about your little campground up there and I realized I could get some business by delivering groceries to your campers. Have to hire a boy to do the driving in the summer. A service.” He hooked his fingers through his belt loops and rocked back on his heels, quite pleased with himself for this inspiration.
    Cass wanted to bury her face in her hands. “Of course, Mr. Henderson. Is it all right if I put that in my confirmation letters?”
    “Now, that’s a very good idea. Going to get fax soon. You can put that in there, too. I’ll get the number to Sue for you.”
    A fax. Wow. “Wonderful,” she whimpered.
    Duke looked at the basket in Jason’s hands, frowning. “You’re going to need a cart, son. Can’t get two weeks’ worth of food in a basket.” Then he turned and walked away, whistling.
    “What was that about?” Jason asked.
    “I’ve been trying to get him to deliver since I opened, and he always said it was a pig in a poke. Suddenly it’s his brilliant idea. All’s well that ends well, I guess.” At least, Duke hadn’t commented on her coat.
    Jason been about to kiss her. He’d licked his lips and leaned toward her. He would have. He’d been through the beauty queen rivalry and met her parents as well as a few select townspeople who seemed intent on selling her to him, and he still wanted to kiss her. Probably wanted more than kisses, but they were in public. Why would it be bad to kiss him again?
    Cass rubbed her face. Jason still needed food and the better she stocked him up, the less likely he would need to come back here for more supplies. Or worse, to have them delivered. She could imagine what would happen if Kady and Cori got hold of that order. “Come on. Let’s hit the frozen aisle and pick up your deli stuff.”
    “I liked your parents. They seemed like nice people. I didn’t realize you had