Page 71 of My Favorite Hero

Jesse disappeared, and I finished my list as he joined me. He put a few things in the cart, and I frowned. “Is that what you buy?”

He chuckled. “I’m only home for short spans, so I keep it simple. And frankly, I hate cooking for one, so I keep it even simpler. I take my turn cooking at the firehouse.”

He loaded up the belt at the cashier and paused. “Damn, I forgot a box of Cheerios. Could you grab it for me?”

I hurried over to the cereal aisle and got a box of the honey nut flavor. He hadn’t specified, and I liked that kind. I returned, handing it to him, and he shook his head. “Honey nut? I like the plain.”

“Eat it, Thorne. A little sugar might sweeten you up.”

“I’m plenty sweet.”

I snickered. “Look me in the eye and say that.”

He turned to me, opening his legs and sliding them apart until we were indeed eye-to-eye. His stance made me grin.

“I am a delight.”

I bit my lip then gave in and laughed. Loud peals of amusement. Thorne was being entertaining—a rare occurrence.

“Whatever keeps you warm at night,” I said, still laughing as I patted him on the shoulder.

“How do you even breathe down here?” he muttered, looking around. “Everything is so high!”

I couldn’t believe how silly he was being. I liked this side of him.

He straightened up with a grin, throwing a wink to the cashier, who was watching us and laughing too. She blushed and turned away, meeting my gaze, hers saying, “Wow.”

I replied by lifting my eyebrows in silence. “Girl, you have no clue,” they said.

Jesse grabbed the bags. “My order is done. I’ll owe you for the cereal,” he said. Leaning close, he dropped his voice to a whisper. “You can take it out in trade if you want.”

I snorted, running my debit card through the scanner, not really paying much attention.

He brushed past me, his hand lingering on my hip, and loaded all the groceries into the cart. We headed to the pet store, and I bought food and a new toy for Barney and added one for Miller. It only seemed fair. Thorne loaded up a huge bag of food for his dog, plus a new lead. “He tore the other one clean off when he saw a rabbit. Damn dog wanted to play.”

I chuckled, and I walked to the passenger side, stopping as he rushed by, opening the door.

“I am perfectly capable,” I admonished him.

“I realize. But I like to think of myself as a gentleman.”

“Dream on, Thorne.”

He went around to his side, climbing in. “Coffee?”

“Oh yes.”

We went through the drive-through, and I inhaled the fragrant brew, blowing on it. We drove for a few minutes in silence. My phone beeped, and I glanced at the screen with a frown.

“Problem?” he asked.

“I get alerts for my charges. I wasn’t paying attention to the total in the store, but this can’t be the right amount.” I dug into my pocket, pulling out the receipt. “We need to go back!”

“Why?” Thorne asked, not sounding concerned.

“She didn’t charge me for the roasts. Or the chicken.” I scanned a little more. “Or the ground beef. Dammit,” I swore. “Did she miss them? Are they not in the bags?”

“They are.”