Up in Flames (Rosemary Beach 13)

Frowning, I looked at him. “You kicking me out?”

He nodded. “Yup. Told you I don’t do this world anymore.”

“How the fuck do I get to Mexico?”

He shrugged. “Not my problem. I’m sure they’ll show up to get you, eventually. For now, start walking.”

“Are you serious?”

“Completely” was his only response.

Nan

Going to the grocery store wasn’t something I usually did. I had people who did that for me. So when I walked into the Whole Foods, I was a little lost. I wanted more yogurt, but I also wanted to walk around and pick out things for myself for a change. Being cooped up inside my house all the time was driving me crazy. I needed to break free from the four walls I’d been hiding behind. My thoughts stayed locked on Gannon whenever I was alone.

In order to preoccupy myself, I’d decided that grocery shopping was something I needed to do. I had never actually done it before, and honestly, all the choices were overwhelming. My mind wasn’t going to have time to think about jumping on a plane to Vegas. It was too busy taking this all in.

The choices of organic vegetables had my head spinning, as did the fruit. I chose a few I knew I liked and a couple I wanted to try out. I thought about taking up cooking. That would be a great way to distract myself. Especially if I burned the house down, which was a possibility.

I skipped the nuts, because although they were delicious and healthy, they had more fat than I was willing to put into my body. Even if it was good fat. No one could argue with me about it. It was just a no-no for me.

The Greek yogurt options were more than I could have hoped for. I spent more time there than anywhere else. My calcium was going to be fine. I bought enough to keep the town in yogurt if they came for a visit. Which wouldn’t happen, because I’d probably kick them out.

I had turned to head down the cereal aisle when I spotted a man at the end of the aisle, just as he was turning the corner. I recognized him. The familiar color of his hair pulled into a man bun. The beard. His jeans were fitted just like I remembered, and he moved like Gannon. It made no sense that he would be here in Rosemary Beach at the Whole Foods store, but I had seen him. Hadn’t I?

I left my cart right there in front of the cereal and took off running to the aisle five rows down to catch him. No man could be that similar to him. He was unique. My long legs ate up the ground fast, and I was aware that people were staring at me, but I didn’t care.

When I reached the aisle, it was empty except for a yoga mom with a baby crying in her cart. No man. No Gannon. I’d imagined it. That would make more sense. But I wasn’t ready to give up yet, so I ran down the aisle and then proceeded to check all the other aisles.

“Excuse me, miss, can I help you?” One of the guys stocking shelves stopped my frantic search, and I realized I’d been at it for a while now. Gannon was not in the Whole Foods, and I was losing my mind.

I shook my head no and went back to find the cart I’d deserted. The cereal aisle no longer appealed to me. I was ready to leave. I took all my yogurt and a few fruits and veggies and checked out. The cashier kept glancing up at me like I was about to make a mad dash out the door. I guessed she’d seen me searching the place like a madwoman.

I paid for my food and left. So much for distracting myself. I wasn’t going to go to Vegas and find him, so I was apparently going to stay in Rosemary Beach and hallucinate. But I’d been so sure I had seen him. How could you make that up in your head? He wasn’t even wearing a shirt I had seen before. This one had been long-sleeved and gray. Was it normal for your head to create stuff like this?

The entire drive back to the house, I replayed what I had seen and tried to tell myself I wasn’t crazy. There had to have been a man who resembled him in that aisle. I didn’t just make that up.

The yogurt filled up more of my fridge than anticipated, and I left out a mango one and grabbed a spoon. It was time I watched some Gossip Girl. Just something to get my mind off of Gannon. He was ruining me. I needed closure, but how would I get that if I never saw him again?

The idea of never seeing him again made my chest ache. I didn’t want to think about it. But it was true. He’d be a memory before too long, and I would have to find a way to move on. There had to be someone out there who could help me let him go. A few days with a man, and he had become harder to get over than any guy I’d ever been in an actual relationship with. God, I wished I’d never met him.

That was a lie. Even though I might be losing my mind because of him, I was glad he had found me. Because until him, I’d never felt the lightning. Now I knew what it was and that it was real.

The light from the TV still cast a glow over the dark room. When his body moved over mine, I stiffened for a moment, thinking I was awake and this was him. Until I realized that it couldn’t be. I was sleeping, and he was here. Even in the living room. The TV was silent, and I knew I had fallen asleep with the volume on. My mind was just correcting the things that could mess up my fantasy.

I should thank it for that. Seeing as today it had made me think I might be crazy with a glimpse of him. I moaned as his hand slid up my shirt, and I stretched my body, anxious for more.

“I didn’t tell you that you could move,” he said. His voice had a teasing lilt to it that I wasn’t used to hearing. “But it pleases me to watch you. Even though my hand itches to slap your ass for wearing those running shorts. Showing off every seductive inch of your shape.”

Oh. OK. I didn’t open my eyes yet. I enjoyed the closeness of him. When he was with me like this, it was as if we were one being instead of two. He made me feel safe and wanted in a way I had never been before.