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As the salesman took the samples and disappeared into the stockroom, Spencer turned back to Emily.
“You probably need good hiking socks, too.” She opened her mouth, but his quelling look stalled her protest. “Don’t argue about this. I don’t want you to get blisters. Don’t you wear special ski socks when you go skiing?”
“Yes,” she admitted, feeling a distinct loss of control. She should have researched hiking shoes and hiking before she went shopping. Could you learn to hike by studying it? She wasn’t sure, but she would try. That was how she handled every aspect of her life. She studied situations in advance, preparing for every contingency. She didn’t like surprises. Depending on others led to certain disappointment. The only person Emily Best trusted with utmost confidence was Emily Best.
The salesman returned with an armload of shoeboxes, and she sat down to try them on. He opened the first box, offering her the distasteful orange and brown striped shoe. Reluctantly, she slid her foot into the shoe.
“I don’t know… It rubs on my heel,” she lied.
“Hmmm.”
Spencer knelt down next to her, probing his fingers around the heel of her foot. Overcome by a sudden light-headedness, she closed her eyes and gripped the chair. He was touching her foot. His arm was pressing against her leg. Tingles were shooting up from where his skin contacted hers. She closed her eyes and tried to slow her pounding heart. Still he continued to examine the fit of the shoe, oblivious to her reaction. At least she hoped he was oblivious. Unable to bear the sensations any longer, she used the toes of her other foot to wrench the offending shoe off, flinging it up in the air in the process. The tumbling brown and orange streak narrowly missed the salesman’s head as he ducked.
Spencer jumped back along with the shoe salesman, both staring with wide eyes.
“Are you okay?”
Emily felt the blood pounding in her face. “I... I don’t like that shoe.”
They stood frozen for an eternity before Spencer spoke to the salesman from the corner of his mouth. “She uhmm… She doesn’t like that one. I think we should try another style.”
“Is there a pair here you do like?”
“The turquoise ones.”
His hands were shaking as he searched through the boxes, murmuring quietly to Spencer, “Which ones are turquoise?”
“She’s talking about these shoes with the blue on them.”
He handed the selected box to Spencer. “I’ll... I’ll let you guys try these on. I need to... uhmm... I need to check something in the stockroom.” He dumped the other boxes on the floor beside Spencer and fled.
Emily jerked the chosen box from his hands. “I can do it. I don’t need any help.”
“Okay.” He held his up his hands and backed away.
She slipped her foot into the cute shoe, but immediately noted a seam rubbing on the side. Pulling the shoe off in disgust, she stuffed it back in the box. “Let me see the others. Maybe there’s one that isn’t too ugly.”
Spencer handed her the boxes, one at a time. She peered inside two boxes and immediately rejected them. The third box held a black pair with small flashes of lime green.
“These are pretty cute.” She slipped her foot in and rejoiced inwardly. Nothing was rubbing—it felt comfortable. “Great. I’ll take these.”
“Wait. Let me see where your toe is and how they fit around your heel.” He knelt down and reached toward her foot.
“No need.” Emily stood, clomping awkwardly in one shoe, avoiding his scalding touch at all costs. “This one fits great. It doesn’t rub anywhere, and it’s not too loose.”
“You should at least put the other one on and walk around for a while.”
“Fine!” she growled, flopping back into the chair. She picked up the shoebox and fumbled with the other shoe, struggling to free it from its plastic shape-holder. After a few seconds and a few frustrated grunts, Spencer reached out to help her. When she saw his hand approaching, she dropped the shoe on the floor like a hot potato.
His eyebrows lifted as he retrieved the shoe. Removing the shoe’s plastic form, he held it toward her, keeping a careful distance. Her lack of self-control not only embarrassed, but also irritated her. She had to get over her fear of touching Spencer. She simply needed to ignore the sparky thing that always occurred.
She laced up the ties, obediently walking in both shoes for several minutes until Spencer seemed satisfied. He insisted she try the shoes on with hiking socks, and she complied despite her impatience.
“It’s just a sock. It won’t make a difference.”
“Don’t you try on your ski boots with your ski socks?”
“Maybe... But this is taking such a long time. And I’m hungry.”
