Free Audrey's Promise by Susan Sheehey Page B

get to a computer with Internet access, and fast. Everyone alluded to something about Audrey’s past, and Bose was right. Small towns were ripe for juicy dirt. The Internet had everything.
    Audrey strolled to the register. Something ached in his gut as her cheeks swayed with every step. Bodies like hers were made for fantastic romps in the bedroom. Round, plump curves connected to legs longer than the Golden Gate Bridge. Legs that Ethan imagined wrapped around his waist and squeezing with wave after wave of pleasure.
    Whoa. Get it together, man. Fantasies like that don’t belong in the middle of the grocery store when the goal is to expose Audrey Allen. A different kind of exposure.
    The seasoned cashier was friendly to every customer, calling each by their first name as she scanned their goods. Amazing how small towns could remember everyone’s name. Ethan envied that ability. It didn’t take long for them to know not only names, but birthdays, favorite foods, and family quarrels. Of course they knew everyone’s dirty secrets and favorite sex positions, but they liked to be a little more discreet. But they still knew it. Ethan could tell by the little smirks on their faces.
    Towns like this could write bestsellers with real stories.
    “Happy Thanksgiving, Gladice,” Adelaide sang as she placed her lip gloss on the counter. Beauty queens were required to wear their winning smiles 24/7, and Adelaide had clearly mastered hers. Ethan noted it was the same smile as Audrey’s when she wasn’t negotiating political peace.
    “Same to you, Miss Addy,” Gladice replied with a grandmother smile and started scanning. The white-haired woman glanced up at Audrey and Ethan, losing an inch of her smile. “Full house today?”
    Audrey opened her mouth to speak but Adelaide answered for her. “Audrey’s finally home! You remember her, don’t you? She’s running for Senate. Not sure if you heard. Ethan here is a reporter and writing an article—”
    “That’s nice, dear,” she muttered. Noticing the opened bag of marshmallows, she frowned and threw disapproving eyes at Audrey. “You’re supposed to pay for these before you open them.”
    Oh, this could be fun. Would Audrey try to placate her, make excuses, or ignore it?
    Ethan laughed when Audrey turned to him with a smirk, hand on her hip. “Would you care to answer Mrs. Covington, Ethan?”
    God, the fire in Audrey’s eyes is begging for playtime. It was clear this woman could hold her own in a fight. Suddenly, all he wanted was to fight with her.
    Ethan reached into the bag that Gladice still held and popped another one in his mouth. “You’re the one who said I needed to be sweeter.”
    Audrey’s smirk twitched into a smile for just a second. But she kept her gaze on Ethan’s grinning face. “More considerate wouldn’t hurt, either.”
    Gladice scanned the opened package and bagged the items together, critical scowl still intact.
    “Gladice, which way do you plan on voting in the upcoming election?” Is this grandma as distrustful of all politicians as she clearly seems to be with Audrey?
    The cashier fished out change from the register and set it on the counter, glowering. “My husband and I vote for the most deserving candidate…with the cleanest record.” Gladice glared at Audrey from across the counter, using her bitter eyes to convey her obvious message. Audrey wasn’t that candidate.
    Audrey paused, absorbing Gladice’s answer before she picked up her change. Something in her posture changed—sunken shoulders, slightly lowered chin. Almost like a nonverbal apology.
    Come on, Audrey. Show her you’re that deserving candidate, like I’ve seen you persuade others a hundred times. Answers like that warrant a come back, and you’re the Queen of Zingers.
    “Thank you, Mrs. Covington,” Audrey replied softly. “Have a nice Thanksgiving.” Without another word, Audrey grabbed the bag and strolled out of the store, not waiting for Adelaide or Ethan