The P.U.R.E. by Claire Gillian Page B

perfectly healthy women didn’t feel compelled to starve themselves like fashion models. It’s ridiculous. Thalia never ate a damn thing but salads with lemon juice, and even that was on the side.”
    I pulled a face at the thought of such a boring and meager diet. “I really wasn’t fishing for a compliment, but thanks all the same.”
    “If you’re not going to finish that, can I have it?” he asked.
    “Knock yourself out.” I slid the plate to him.
    He polished the remains of my sandwich off in three quick bites, wiped his hands, and put our dishes in the dishwasher. Quite a tidy man but not too prissy to eat my leftovers, I happily noted.
    “Do you have any large and dangerous siblings you can crack open your secrets vault and tell me about?” I joked as he reached for his wallet and car keys.
    “I do. I have a sister who’s five years older and a brother who’s six years younger. My brother’s large and my sister’s dangerous. However, since you’ve breached my fortress walls, I’m afraid I’m going to have to kill you.” He flashed me a crooked grin.
    “Ha ha. You Cripps are all spread out. You’re practically an only child.”
    “Not hardly,” he said with a lift of his eyebrow. “Let’s go.”
    “I gather you think you’re driving. I’m buying, regardless, since I invited you, and you made dinner,” I said as we walked outside.
    “Christine was quite upset the last time I rode in your car. You wouldn’t like her when she’s angry. So I am driving, but you may buy me a yogurt.”
    “Oh, I may , he says. Well, thank you for bestowing the rare privilege of buying you dessert, and thank you for allowing me to live with the knowledge that, gasp, Jon Cripps is not an only child. I think I done died and gone to heaven, Miss Scarlett.”
    Jon chuckled. “Where did you get the idea I changed my mind about killing you?”
    “Didn’t you?”
    “Okay, I did. I’ll let you slide this time, but if you breathe a word, I’ll take care of you.”
    I snorted as he unlocked and opened the door of his car for me. I tickled Christine on her hood as I passed and cooed, “There’s a beautiful girl, oh yes she is!” Awaiting me on the passenger seat lay two shiny New Mexico state quarters.

13
    El Paso welcomed us with bright, cloudless skies. Despite my galling assignment, optimism warmed my heart, and a free omelet and banana from the hotel filled my stomach.
    Tony and I arrived at the inventory site right on time. After some fussing with his pencil and pad, Tony performed the required steps while I hovered at his elbow. A couple of times, he forgot to do his own test counts or require the client to prove boxes contained product. I’d prompt him. He’d count and ask me do the same so we could compare figures. We’d have fit right inside a Dilbert cartoon.
    Unbeknownst to Tony, I made a few additional test counts and took notes on the overall appearance of the site. Like the first time I visited, the size boasted meticulous attention to organization and cleanliness.
    The warehouse guys remembered me from before and were friendlier on my second visit, calling me ‘guera bonita’ or pretty blonde girl. Perhaps they appreciated the donuts I insisted Tony stop for.
    The rest of the day went off without a hitch.
    • • •
    Doug had left me alone while I was out of town. When I returned on Thursday, however, he started in on me again as soon as we were alone.
    “So Gayle, what do you say to you and me? Saturday night? We’ll mend some fences—go to dinner. Later you can wrap those nice legs of yours around me. I promise you’ll be screaming my name and God’s in the same breath. I’ll even go down on you afterwards, if you like.” I swear he licked his lips and winked at me as he pumped his hips.
    Disgusting . “Does any woman ever say yes to such an appealing offer, or do most of them throw up in their mouths like I just did? Because the answer is, and will always be, No. No, no, no, and