Damn it, I should have read those directions more carefully. What if he’s wrong and this is his way of tricking me? I glance back to his bright blue eyes and even in the dark they shine. He’s so big he takes up most of the backseat, and there would have been no way for me to fight him off.

The GPS beeps at me and I ignore it. I’ve been doing this long enough that I know the best roads to take and where to get the quickest. I’m always a nervous wreck picking up guys this time of night and I never know if a serial killer is going to get in.

Harris doesn’t look the type, though, but how would I really know? I just remember Ted Bundy was a fox back in the day and nobody suspected him. Harris has dark wavy hair and a five o’clock shadow, but it makes sense because it’s the middle of the night. He’s got on a thick sweater and coat, but I can still tell his body is muscle underneath, and though he scared the shit out of me, he’s gorgeous from head to toe. Not to mention he’s got a smile that makes me forget where we’re going.

“You said Midtown Grocery, right?” I ask, and he nods.

“Yeah I just need to run in and pick up some stuff. I’m starving and I’ve had fast food for the last month. I can’t do it again. Are you sure you’re okay to wait?”

I nod and then realize it might be too dark for him to see. “Yeah, it’s okay.” The area of town isn’t bad, but it’s still a parking lot in the middle of the night. God, I hope this guy is a quick shopper. I could just leave as soon as he gets out and take his money. Although he could report me to the company and then I run the chance of losing my job.

“It’s not really safe for a woman like you to be picking up strangers at night,” he says, and I feel my hackles rise.

“A woman like me?” I glare at him from the rearview mirror, but he doesn’t look fazed.

“I just meant how small you are.”

I watch as his eyes move lower and I wiggle a little in my seat. I realize that I don’t feel the same repulsion I did earlier today when Lance did it to me and I wonder why it’s different now. Maybe it’s because I don’t know this guy and Lance is an asshole.

“Besides, this neighborhood isn’t great. It will be, but this is no place for a woman alone at night.”

“How do you know it will be?” He’s so sure of himself and I don’t know why I feel the need to challenge him.

“Because I’m helping to do it.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal as I pull into the parking lot.

The place is empty except for one or two other cars and there isn’t much light out here. I park as close as I can, but it’s still a good ways away from the entrance and I’m going to be looking around paranoid the whole time.

“Come inside and shop with me,” he says as he goes to open the door.

“You want me to grocery shop with you?” I ask, turning around to face him.

“Yeah, you shouldn’t be out here alone. Come keep me company while I buy frozen pizza.” He gets out without waiting for me to respond and comes around to the driver side. He opens the door and holds his hand out. “Besides, they have hot chocolate inside.”

“I’m more of a coffee girl,” I say as I get out without taking his hand or touching him. Why is this dude so damn charming?

“So that’s why you’re so short.”

When I look over, his megawatt smile is enough that this parking lot doesn’t need anything else to light it up.

“I take it you were corn fed.” I make a show of looking him up and down and I swear I can almost see a blush in his cheeks. This man is not only thick but he doesn’t know how damn cute he is.

“I’m from the Midwest and I do like corn.” When we walk through the automatic doors, he grabs a cart and pushes it over to the coffee shop located inside. It’s late, but there’s still someone behind the counter. “I’ll take a hot chocolate and whatever the lady would like.”

“Same,” I mumble.

“With extra marshmallows,” he tells the guy as he pulls out some cash.

He’s so polite to the barista and I watch as they exchange a few words. He leaves a nice tip in the jar too that I don’t miss as I walk around to the end to wait for our drinks. For the first time I glance down at his hands and I’m relieved when I don’t see a ring. I don’t even know why I’m bothering to look because it doesn’t matter.

Harris walks to where I’m standing as we’re passed our drinks and then we take the cart with us as we walk down the aisles of food.

“I feel better already,” he says, looking over at me and taking a drink. “So, what’s your late-night guilty pleasure?”

I watch as he grabs a box of double-stuffed Oreos off the shelf and puts them in his cart. Those are my absolute favorite, but I’m not about to admit it.

“I don’t know. It depends on my mood,” I say, pretending to be cool. What is wrong with me? Why do I care what this guy thinks?

“Well, I thought that was an easy question. I guess we’ll go straight to it then.” Immediately I become anxious at what he could possibly ask me. “White or wheat?” he asks, holding up two loaves of bread.

I bite my lip to keep from laughing as I shake my head and point at the white. I’m like a kindergartener when it comes to food. I love only the stuff that is terrible for me.

“Ah, I see. You’re one of those.” He winks as he places the bread in the cart.

“One of what?” I pretend to be offended as he grabs chips next.

“I have no idea, I just like hearing you talk. You seem to answer when I make you mad.”

I have to tuck my chin so that he doesn’t see the blush on my cheeks. Who the hell is this guy?

“So how long have you been picking up strangers and then threatening them with pepper spray?” God, could he be any more handsome? He’s got a freaking dimple on one side when he smiles.

“I’ve been doing it a few months now, but you’re lucky. You were the first one I’ve had to threaten.”

“I like being your first.” His deep voice is all too knowing and I have to turn around and pretend to read the labels on the cans of tuna so he can’t see my face.

He can’t possibly know I’m a virgin. Right? Oh god, I want a hole in the ground to open up and swallow me. Is that too much to ask?

“Do you like it?” he asks as we move to the next aisle.

“Honestly?” I say, and he stops.

“Yeah, I’d like for you to be honest with me.”

“It’s a lot of hours and just okay money. But I’m trying to figure out what to do next.” It’s the first time I’ve said that out loud and it’s just as scary as it is in my head. I have no idea what I’m doing or what the future holds, but I’ve got to do something soon.

“You seem like you’ve got a good head on your shoulders.” He smiles like he’s got a secret. “I mean, besides not reading instructions on a weapon.”

“You just can’t let that go, can you?” I say playfully, and he stops pushing the cart to turn and face me.

“Now why would I ever let you go?”

He reaches out and for a second, I think he’s going pull me to him. Instead his hand comes up and he barely touches my cheekbone before he pulls it back.

“Make a wish,” he says, holding an eyelash between his fingers.

It’s so silly, but I used to do that all the time as a little girl. I’d wish for stupid things like a pony or a unicorn. I haven’t done it in so long, but something about this moment feels really nice. And I haven’t had nice in a very long time.

Closing my eyes, I think of what my heart wants most in the world and concentrate. When I’ve got my wish in my mind I nod and open my eyes. Harris has moved closer and he’s right in front of me as he holds my wish.

“You’ve got to blow,” he says softly.

I look up at him, and his scent of fresh soap and trees invade my senses. I put my lips together and do as he asks and the eyelash floats away. We both stand there, moving closer and closer until suddenly the loudspeaker comes on announcing the store is closing.

“I guess you better finish your shopping,” I say, taking a step back and trying to catch my breath. What the hell just happened?

“Yeah, I guess so. Otherwise I might die of starvation.”

He looks at my mouth when he says it, but he turns the corner and goes down another aisle. Is it my imagination or is there something more happening here? I think the sleep deprivation is playing tricks on me. I’ve got to get some rest or I’m going to go crazy.