All That I Desire by Francis Ray Page A

whispered in his ear, “Just wait until I get you
     home.” Humming, she went to the view the selection.
    A few seconds later a man walked up beside her. “Planning to do some cooking?”
    She glanced up. He was in his early thirties, clean-shaven, with an expensive watch
     and clothes. “Yes,” she answered, picking up several packages of beef franks and hoping
     he’d heard the disinterest in her voice and would move on.
    “You need any help?”
    “No, thank you.” Why were some men so dense? Or was it that they thought they were
     irresistible.
    He lifted his hand. “Please, I insist.”
    “My husband is the only help I need. Isn’t that right, darling?”
    The man whirled around and almost bumped into Rio. He backed up and swallowed. “I—I
     didn’t see you.”
    “You see me now,” Rio said.
    “Yes. Good-bye.” The man took off.
    Skylar laughed, put the franks in the cart, then picked up six pounds of beef sausages.
     “The poor man left his basket. Chuck for the burgers next.”
    Rio retrieved their cart. “Does that happen often?”
    Skylar shrugged and went to the meat counter. “Forty chuck patties, please.”
    “Coming up.” The man tore off a section of butcher paper and placed it on the scale.
    “I don’t like asking a question twice.”
    She went to stand beside Rio and whispered, “Grocery stores are supposed to be a good
     place to pick up a date. So, yes, it happens. Mentioning my husband in the next aisle
     looking at whatever usually does the trick. This is the first time there’s actually
     been a man with me.” She smothered a grin. “It’s awful of me to laugh, but I thought
     he’d faint. Maybe the next time he’ll take the hint and leave the woman alone.”
    “Here you go, miss.”
    “Thanks.” Rio took the meat and placed it in the cart. “You ready to go?”
    “We need drinks, vegetables, condiments, plasticware, dessert, chips,” she rattled
     off.
    “Then we’re finished.” Rio headed for the front of the store. “We have all that at
     the castle.”
    “But I wanted to do this on my own,” she said, catching up with him to grab his arm.
     “I’ll be fast. There’s an employee. I can ask where everything is and we can be in
     line in thirty minutes.”
    “Thirty minutes.” Rio spoke the words as if she’d said Thirty hours.
    “Maybe twenty.” She bit her lower lip, her hazel eyes beseeching him.
    “Twenty minutes. Go ask.”
    *   *   *
    They made it out of the store forty-five minutes later with a cart of groceries, and
     Skylar carrying a tray each of assorted cookies and assorted brownies. Another minute
     and he might have grabbed her and left.
    “I’m sorry it took so long.”
    “Just get in.” He placed the last bag in the back and started to return the cart.
    “You finished with it?” a young woman with two small children asked.
    “Yes.” Rio held the end while she placed both children inside.
    “Thanks.” She hurried toward the store.
    Rio got into the Jeep. Two cars heading in the opposite direction were already waiting
     to take his spot. Madness, he thought. Just as quickly he realized that someone had
     to do the grocery shopping. He was just glad it wasn’t him.
    He pulled out in such a way that the driver driving correctly was able to take his
     spot. He was more than ready to get back.
    “I really am sorry.”
    Skylar had apologized several times already. “This had better be the best hot dog
     I’ve ever tasted.”
    She lifted her arms to hug him. “Driving.”
    “Just you wait,” she promised.
    *   *   *
    After Skylar fired up the grill near the kitchen, she went to prepare the meat. When
     she came back outside, Rio had a large ice chest and was putting soft drinks, lemonade,
     and tea inside.
    “Thanks for helping.” She placed the patties on the front burner, the franks and Polish
     sausage on the back burner, and closed the lid. “I’m going inside to get trays and
     bowls for the buns and