Page 42 of Hidden Resolution

“Oh, honey, get a clue,” Shonda said, pulling no punches. “The man breaks out in hives within a foot of you.”

Mic drop! Nowthatwas a splendid exit line!

Giving herself a mental fist bump, she grabbed a bottle of wine from beside Rachel’s head and swept away, patting herself on the back when Mason’s laughter echoed behind her.

In the checkout line, Shonda kept her eyes straight ahead, ignoring the buzzing along her nerve endings announcing Mason’s proximity. His scent,Eau de Damn Him, sealed the deal.

She was one customer away from freedom when the cashier’s light blinked off.

A price check delay.

Naturally.

A second later, he pressed in behind her.

Unless she wanted to mow down the eighty-year-old in front of her, she was cornered.

“I didn’t get a chance to say it earlier, but you smell amazing,” Mason murmured, lips against her ear.

A delightful shiver danced along her spine.

She threw an elbow toward his stomach and missed.

“No means no, asshole,” she muttered through gritted teeth.

“I’ll let you sniff me,” he teased. “I know it’s your favorite thing.”

True, but she’d rather lick a porcupine than admit it.

“Your line is getting old.”

“So is you calling me an asshole,” he countered.

She lobbed the verbal tennis ball back. “If the shoe fits.”

“I thought you liked the size of my… shoe.”

“Dear God, do these stupid lines actually work on women?” she asked with a glare.

“They worked on you well enough.”

“I thought I was going to die in a plane crash. Here”—she slammed the cheese puff package against his chest—“your cheesy pickup lines need work.” The bag burst, and the stunned expression on his orange-powdered face was too much.

She giggled.

Unable to help herself, she raised her cellphone and snapped a picture. Taking a second to capture the forming thundercloud.

“Give me the damn phone,” he growled.

“Nope!” She laughed and tucked it safely into her bra.

“Shonda, you are?—”

“Next!” the cashier called.

“Gotta run,” she said. “And don’t worry, Mason. Those cheesy puffs you love are on me. Well…” Her gaze dipped pointedly to his shirt. “Technically, they’re onyou, but I’ll pay for them.”

Epic! And she grinned all the way to her car.