Notorious. Vicki Lewis Thompson
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a rush. Or worse yet, suggesting we skip this step. Ha. As if.”
He tried again. “All things considered, I don’t think you really need to worry about—”
“I make it a habit to have some on hand in a couple of sizes, for emergencies. And we’re here, after all. I really can’t imagine a better bargain coming along anytime soon.” She took a package from its hook and began reading. “‘Ultra-comfort. Unique shape for more freedom.’ I wonder what that means?”
“Keely.”
“Noah,” she mimicked. “Hmm. Maybe these are better.” She unhooked another package. “It’s so hard to know which ones are the best, with all these great descriptions—‘shared sensation, enhanced pleasure, ultimate feeling.’ Oh, look. Here’s one with a larger tip, and then there’s the ribbed kind. Which do you think is the best?” She turned to look at him, a package of condoms in each hand, and devilment shining from those green eyes.
He ground some more enamel off his back molars. “Keely Branscom, you are doing this on purpose.”
“Of course I am! I always budget money for a package of condoms.”
“You’re trying to get me going, is what you’re doing.”
“From the way you’re breathing, I’d say I’ve succeeded.” She grinned. “I really am buying the condoms, Noah. At least two packages of extra-large. And I’m giving you a chance to tell me which kind you like.”
His jaw was clenched so tight his teeth seemed welded together. “We are not going to need them.”
“Maybe not. But that’s the thing about condoms. The packages are small and they store well. And there could be a time when you will thank me for planning ahead. Now give me my stuff. It’s time to check out.” She took her items from him and sashayed down the aisle with her lotion, her deodorant, her toothbrush and two kinds of extra-large condoms.
She obviously expected him to be wearing them before the weekend was over. It was a classic case of damned if he did and damned if he didn’t.
3
KEELY HAD JUST LAID her purchases on the checkout counter when her cell phone rang from deep inside her shoulder purse. Damn. She’d forgotten about it.
She wheeled away from the counter, startling the young male clerk. “Forgot something!” she called over her shoulder to Noah, who, fortunately, was trailing her by a few paces. She figured he was embarrassed for the clerk to notice that she was buying condoms so he’d hung back from approaching the counter. Good thing. Maybe he hadn’t heard her cell phone.
It rang again as she made a mad dash for the aisle labeled Feminine Products. If Noah had been schizy about the condom display, he surely wouldn’t follow her there. Once she was safely surrounded by rows of tampon and sanitary-napkin boxes, she dug in her purse and took out the phone.
When she put it to her ear she heard the familiar voice of her editor. “Keely, sweetheart. Good news.”
“Hi, Carolyn,” she murmured softly. Trust her editor to call at the exact wrong moment.
“Why are you whispering? Are you in a movie theater or something?”
“No, but I can’t talk loud. Or long.”
“That’s okay. This will be quick. Remember you mentioned expanding this article by interviewing some dancers in Reno, but I wasn’t sure we should bother?”
“I remember, but can I call you back on this?” She glanced nervously behind her to make sure Noah wasn’t there. “I—”
“I’ll only be a sec. The publisher loves the Reno angle. I’ve lined up a couple of interview subjects for you there. You have a seven-forty flight out of Vegas on Monday morning. Got a pen? I’ll give you the confirmation number.”
“Carolyn, I—”
“Ready? Here it is.” Carolyn rattled off the number.
Keely grabbed her notebook out of her purse and wrote down the number, but all the while she was thinking that this cell phone could blow her cover in no time this weekend. Carolyn expected her to keep the phone turned on while she was on assignment.
“Got it?” Carolyn asked.
“Got it, but Carolyn, you’re fading out.” Keely pressed the disconnect button a couple of times. “Carolyn? I think the phone’s going on the blink. It’s—” She broke off and ran the phone up and down the edge of a box several times, hoping the noise sounded like static. Then she put it back to her ear to gauge Carolyn’s reaction.
“Keely? What’s going on? Keely, can you hear me?”
“Barely,” Keely whispered. “I think it’s—” She dragged the phone around on the boxes some more before turning it off. Maybe she’d convinced Carolyn that the phone was dead. Keely buried it in the bottom of her purse again before heading back toward the checkout counter.
Looking extremely uneasy, Noah stood by the counter next to her items, which had been set aside while the clerk rang up another customer’s purchases.
Keely smiled sweetly as she walked up to Noah. “Those prices weren’t as reasonable, so I decided not to bother.”
His eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What was that funny sawing noise?”
During her wild teen years, fast thinking had saved her more times than she could count. “I had an itch in the middle of my back. I used the corner of a box to scratch it.” She gave a little wriggle. “All better.”
He gulped. “Oh.” His voice was strained as he attempted to sound casual. “That explains it.”
Somehow she kept from laughing. One wriggle and he was gulping for air. She didn’t remember him being so suggestible years ago. Apparently she had the advantage this time…so long as she kept her heart out of the equation.
“I can ring you up now, miss.” The clerk, who couldn’t have been more than eighteen, regarded her with adoration.
“Fabulous.” She winked and sent him a high-wattage grin. “You have a very nice store here…” She paused to glance at his red plastic name tag. “Chad.”
Chad grew as red as his name tag. “Thank you very much,” he mumbled, and then he concentrated on punching the right numbers into the register. He had to clear his throat before he could tell her the amount. His gaze kept drifting to her chest and then he’d pull his eyes back with an obvious effort.
She opened her wallet and removed the money as quickly as she could. Her press pass was in there along with a gold card, but Noah would have had to be paying close attention to see either of them.
Chad took the money and handed over her change. “Do you, uh, live near here?” he asked eagerly. “I mean, would you like to be on our mailing list for…um…future sales?”
“Thanks, but I’m currently between addresses.”
“Oh.” Chad glanced over at Noah, then back at her, as if trying to decide if they were a couple. “Well, uh, feel free to stop in anytime. We always have specials.”
“Thanks. I’ll remember that.” Picking up the plastic bag containing her purchases, she looked at Noah. “Ready?”
He gave a curt nod.
“Bye!” Chad called. “Come back anytime!”
She turned and smiled at him. “Bye.”
Noah held the door for her as they left the store. Judging from the set of his jaw, she didn’t think he was very happy. From all signs, he was a wee bit jealous—of a boy barely old enough to shave. Amazing.
Once upon a time she’d turned herself inside out trying to arouse Noah’s jealousy, to no avail. Now it seemed that she’d