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Debbie gri sucks"

"Yes, it does" Jenna smiled at a customer alked past, then followed as Debbie wheeled her cart to the end of the aisle and continued to restock the h somewhere in the distance a child threhat sounded like a doozy of a te into the basket, Jenna opened a box, drew out a handful of lipsticks, and started arranging theer You don’t have to do that anyht? No one will fault you for it"

She shook her head "I get antsy when I’m idle"

Debbie’s eyes suddenly widened Her face lit up with a wide suess who just entered!"

Jenna felt a sinking sensation in her sto to do with the chicken sandwich that had made her so sick "Who?"

"Prince Char over Jenna’s shoulder toward the store’s only entrance open at four o’clock in the"Mr Tall, Dark, and Yyyyyyyyyyyurowl that reminded Jenna of the Cookie Monster "And he’s headed this way!"

She groaned "Please tellDebbie drool was an incredibly handso the store for the pastout Jenna wherever sheto her First it had been to ask where he ht find Krazy Glue Then it had been to ask if she knehat houseplants fared well in low light Then it had beco with a hint of flirtation

And this orgeous At least six feet tall Broad shouldered and leanly muscled like an NBA player with short black hair and expressive light brown eyes Always dressed in black with a dark coat that Debbie referred to as his Blade outfit, hold the leather

Debbie frowned "That’s weird He was all s If I didn’t know better, I’d think he heard you"

"He’s sixty yards away He can’t hear us Trust me"

"True So what’s the deal? Why don’t you want to see hiht you liked hirabbed some nail polish and slipped into the next aisle, out of Richart’s sight She really did They had had coffee together a few times on her breaks, and she couldn’t remember the last tih so often "It’s just" She set the containers down in a pile on the bottom shelf and motioned to herself "Look at me"

"Yeah You do sorta look like death warmed over"

"Exactly I don’t want him to see me like this"

Debbie’s eyes darted to Richart "He’s sain Are you sure he can’t hear us?"

"Debbie! Focus!"

"All right--all right Here" Leaning in, she pinched Jenna’s cheeks

"Ouch!"

"Oh quit co, you need a little color And sly"

Jenna hastily smoothed back the hair that had escaped her ponytail and made sure her shirt was neatly tucked in "How do I look?"

"About as good as you feel"

"Great"

"The circles under your eyes have a lovely purplish hue"

"You’re not helping"

"Shh-shh Here he comes" Debbie leaned over the cart and pretended to search the various boxes

Jenna grabbed the discarded nail polish and started distributing them to their proper places on the shelves

"I don’t see it," Debbie said "Nancy o check?" Convinced that Richart had a thing for Jenna, Debbie always found an excuse to leave the two alone

Or as alone as they could be in a reeted the them both a smile His eyes ainst her ribs with all of the enthusiaser’s And her stole ith the nausea plaguing her

"Hi," she said The moment she had first seen Richart, a sense of familiarity had overwhelmed her But she was certain she had never ood looks, his warm, friendly demeanor, and that smooth French accent It was a puzzle

"Hi," Debbie chirped "How’s it goin’?"