Erin stood under the overhang, mentally kicking herself for the late night craving. She'd been certain she could jog to the store and back fast enough to beat the storm headed her way, but now she was stuck, the rain pouring in buckets, waiting for enough of a break to make it back home without catching her death. What was worse, the store had closed, so she couldn't wait inside, and she was starting to feel chilled just being outside, despite remaining mostly dry.
And they'd even been out of the frozen yogurt she'd made the trip to get.
She couldn't remember the last time she'd been this miserable. Or this irritated with herself. A late night craving was not worth this suffering, and she vowed she'd never venture out under these conditions again. Unless there was no rain in the forecast for days, she would stay home and deal with her yearnings.
She heard a click behind her and jumped as the door to the small grocery store opened and Luke, the closing clerk, leaned his handsome head out. "Hey, I'm here for a while. Come wait inside, where it's at least warm."
Erin hesitated. She didn't want to be a burden, and she didn't really know Luke. Of course, she made late night trips to the store all the time, and they chatted most of the time, since there were rarely any other customers in line. And the idea of being completely alone with him made her nervous. If she was honest with herself, Luke and her insane crush on him were half the reason for her frequent nighttime jogs to the store.
She was much too old for a crush, though, so she refused to admit that to herself. With a smile of gratitude, she nodded and stepped inside, thankful for his courtesy. "You really don't have to stay on my account."
He rolled his eyes. "Please. I have to restock the shelves and count the till. I'll be here another hour or two. You have nothing to worry about. I'm happy to help." He hesitated and blushed slightly. "And if it's still raining then, I can give you a ride home."
"That's sweet of you," she told him, suddenly shy.
He shrugged, ducking back behind the counter. "It's the least I can do. And I'm sorry we didn't have your frozen yogurt. I'll make sure it comes in on the next truck."
Erin watched him with admiration. He was definitely a country boy, and he fit in well with the area. She knew he only worked here to help his mother support his younger siblings. He spent his days hard at work on the farm, and it showed in the way his arms stretched the sleeves of his uniform shirt and his pants tugged across his thighs and his tight ass. His skin was sunkissed, and his light brown hair had streaks of white bleached from his work outside. Even his blue eyes seemed almost transparent, as though washed out by the daylight.
If she stood here staring, though, she'd give herself away. She turned to glance outside, but the gale force winds continued to blow streams of water across the parking lot, and she sighed. She didn't like just waiting around, doing nothing. "Maybe I could help you. I don't mind stocking the shelves."
He gave her a quizzical look, seeming to think it through, but then he smiled. "You really don't mind?"
"Not at all," she told him, relieved that she wouldn't be stuck here, watching him and wondering how delightfully rough his hands would be on her skin.
He pointed toward the aisles, where a few boxes had been set here and there. "I already put the items in front of their slots. It should be pretty easy, and I'll be done here in about fifteen minutes, so I can come help."
It was mindless work, and Erin appreciated that, since it meant she didn't have to focus too hard. Normally, she'd be curling up to watch some television and fall asleep by now, so her brain was sluggish. The fact that literally every time she glanced at Luke, he averted his gaze, having very obviously been watching her, didn't help her concentration, either. She wondered if he was worried she'd do something wrong. Then, she thought maybe he was interested. She blew that idea off, though. After all, he'd never seen her in anything but yoga pants and a tank top. How could he find that appealing?
"You work pretty fast." Erin jumped. She hadn't noticed Luke walk away from the cash register, and he was right beside her. He stood so close she could smell him, the scent of fresh hay and earth and everything she loved about the outdoors.
Fumbling for something to say, she muttered, "I try to be efficient."
He gave her a heartbreaking smile that made her stomach churn. She suddenly wished she had on a little makeup and had combed her blond hair rather than knotting it up on the top of her head. "You succeed," he told her. His grin faltered slightly, and he added in a quieter voice, "You also succeed at looking gorgeous, every time you come in here."
Erin's heart literally stopped for the count of three as she wondered if she'd completely lost her mind. She couldn't have heard him right. But then, as she took in the vulnerability in those honey brown eyes and the way his chest rose and fell heavily with either nerves or excitement, she knew Luke had actually said those words, and her pulse sped out of control. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely a whisper. What else could she say?
He took a step toward her, and she held her breath, wanting desperately to reach out and put a hand on his cheek, or his chest, or one of those beautiful biceps. Luckily, she held two cans of Chef Boyardee to keep her from making a stupid move. She couldn't exactly touch intimate parts of his body with a tin can.
But Luke took her by surprise again, taking the cans from her and setting them on the shelf. He took another step forward, entering her personal bubble, and the wild scent of the outdoors on him had her reeling. She grabbed onto the shelf to steady herself, her knees a bit wobbly. "You know, I try to be a gentleman," he said, his voice low and a bit hoarse. "You come in here, almost every night I work, and you look amazing. You're funny and you're kind. You have a laugh that goes straight to a man's soul. And all I want to do when you come in is throw you down on the floor and bury myself so deep inside you I lose sight of where I end and you begin."
Erin felt like someone was strangling her. Gone was the sweet, shy guy she was used to. Before her stood a man who stared at her with intensity and desire, and who said things that made her body flush from head to toe. And suddenly, she had to fist her hands to keep them to herself. He hadn't issued an invitation, not yet.
But he continued, "I never say anything because there's always a chance someone will come in here while I'm trying to tell you how bad I want you. And I knew if I got interrupted, I'd never finish. But watching you tonight, and knowing we're alone, I can't help it. And I'm just wondering if you keep coming back because you really have all these late night cravings, or if there's another reason."
Erin didn't know if she could respond. She fought to find her voice, meeting those incredible eyes of his, and she managed to whisper, "There's another reason."
Luke swallowed visibly. "And what reason is that?" This time, he sounded strained.
She could have answered, but her body buzzed, and she didn't want to hold back anymore. If he wanted to know, she would show him. Pushing up on her toes and throwing her arms around his neck, she launched herself at him and captured his lips.
She wasn't one to make the first move, but she'd waited so long to taste him, and she wasn't disappointed. He caught her, wrapping her tight in his embrace as he stumbled back a step, and he opened to her, both of them delving into the kiss with fervor.
