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tattoo-clad arm clamped firmly on my hand, impeding my progress.
    “Just a minute there, Birdie,” he said in a tone that was not to be trifled with. “Let’s talk for a minute about why you’d ask a question like that,” he commanded.
    “I’ll talk to Cole about it,” I answered briskly. I knew it was a bitchy thing to say, but I wasn’t about to say more to him than absolutely required.
    His eyes grew fiery before he controlled his reaction and he simply nodded once in resignation.
    Throughout the next week, we interacted a bit more, a few more words being shared every day. I wouldn’t say I was warming to him, but it was too exhausting to freeze him out completely. Plus, it made it a hell of a lot less awkward when he walked me to my car at the end of each shift.
    I had Friday off and after sleeping in late, I’d made pretty good use of my time. I’d stopped in to see Scarlet and the baby, sweated my ass off at the gym, and was now strolling the food aisles at the grocery store. I always seemed to shop when I was starving, which made me buy the strangest things. I currently had pickles, blueberry cream cheese, and Count Chocula cereal in my cart. My food choices were going to make for a really weird dinner unless I got my shit together.
    When Sal unexpectedly appeared down the aisle, leaning on his cart as though he didn’t have a care in the world, I immediately narrowed my eyes at him. He even made pushing a cart look hot somehow. The man was infuriating!
    “Are you stalking me now?” I demanded heatedly, ignoring the leisurely way his eyes raked my body as though he still owned it and me.
    “A guy’s gotta eat,” he replied, a slow smile transforming his already handsome face into something breathtaking.
    I gulped slightly, wanting to slap myself into lucidity. “Yeah, well, see you around,” I replied as I moved to pass him.
    I was going to get out of there as fast as I possibly could. It seemed my dinner would consist of chocolate cereal with pickles sprinkled on top after all.
    “I was going to barbeque up a couple of steaks. You hungry?” he asked with a cocked brow. He knew how much I used to love it when he barbequed.
    My stomach betrayed me by rumbling in response, but I ignored it and pushed away from him. “Not a chance in hell,” I retorted, not even turning around.
    “You havin’ cream cheese for dinner then?” he asked, and I could hear the smile in his voice.
    I glared at him over my shoulder.
    He shrugged. “Whatever you’re eating is working for you, baby,” he replied, his tongue licking his full bottom lip as he appraised me in my yoga pants and tank top. “Didn’t think it was possible you could get any hotter, but somehow you did,” he said, his eyes shining with lust.
    I resisted the urge to ogle him in return in his white T, stretched to its limits across his muscular chest and shoulders. I could see his stomach muscles through it, and I couldn’t stop myself from imagining running my fingers over the smooth plane of his skin that smelled like heaven and tasted like sin.
    Then reality knocked me over the head, evaporating any lust or warmth, and I narrowed my eyes at him once again.
    “What I’m having for dinner and anything else to do with my body is none of your business, Sal,” I seethed.
    “Oh, it’s my business,” he assured me smoothly.
    His arrogance set off my temper and I spun to face him, my cart crashing noisily into his. “Do you have amnesia?” I hissed. “You left, Sal. Six months ago. I’m not your woman anymore and I won’t be again,” I exclaimed, trying hard to keep my voice down despite my temper.
    “You were always mine, baby,” he replied softly. “There’s nothing I see clearer now than that.”
    “Go to hell, Sal,” I told him as I pushed my cart away from him.
    “Only if you’re coming with me, baby,” I heard his deep voice return before I was out of earshot.
    Well, shit .

Chapter 6
    T hat Saturday had been a