A Date With Destiny (excerpt)
“Attention shoppers. The store will be closing in fifteen minutes. Please begin to make your way to the checkout lines.”
Rob Milne sighed. He never had a chance to take his time over the shopping. It seemed that the only time he could make it to the grocery store was late at night. He glanced around him at the handful of other customers in the nearly deserted aisles. When the nuts came out.
He noticed a tall, longhaired blonde in a tie-dyed T-shirt and broom handle skirt staring at him from the end of the aisle. Like that one. Rob tried to avoid making eye contact as he reached her position and leaned past her for a box of instant oatmeal.
“I’m sorry,” the girl murmured softly.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry I killed you.”
Rob said the first thing that popped into his head—a bad habit he couldn’t seem to shake. “I’m sure I deserved it.”
The elven blonde shrugged apologetically. “Well, you were stealing my uncle’s horse.”
“Right.” It’s too bad the good-looking ones are always the biggest flakes. “Well, I’m sorry too. And now, if you will excuse me, I need to get to the check out—”
He maneuvered the cart past her, and she fell into step beside him.
“My name is Destiny,” she offered.
“That’s nice.” He swept a bag of cat food into the cart.
“In this lifetime.”
“Really?” Yeah, a real loony I’ve got here.
“In the lifetime I shot you I was named Abigail—Abigail Forrest. Do you remember me?”
“Can’t say that I do.” Rob wished she would go away. Far, far away.
“I was hoping I would get a chance to make it up to you. The shooting thing I mean.”
“That’s okay. I forgive you.”
Destiny kept pace with him as he quickened his step, trying to get rid of her. “It isn’t enough, Percival.”
Percival? Rob stopped dead in his tracks. “Percival?”
“Percival Monte Claire. You were a highwayman in 1854.”
“Lady, I don’t know where you are coming from, but it
is time that you went back there.” Rob began setting his groceries onto the
conveyer belt of the checkout aisle. Yup, this one is Grade-A Certifiable!
Destiny grabbed an apple and a pack of gum and added them
to his things, giving him a quick little smile. Rob opened his mouth to protest,
and then sighed. It isn’t worth the hassle.
He paid for the groceries and handed her the apple and gum. “Well, it’s been a pleasure meeting you, Destiny.” He hefted the bag and started for the exit. “Gotta go.”
She followed him, skipping a little to keep up. It was the first time he had ever seen a grown woman skip. It was oddly endearing, but it didn’t make her any less a fruitcake.
“But I have to make it up to you, Percival. My karma is in a state of decay until I can remove the blight.”
Rob stopped, turning to her with a sigh. “Look, Destiny, my name is Robin…Rob Milne. It is not Percival. It never was Percival, and believe you me, it will never be Percival.”
“Anything you say, Percival.”
Rob shook his head with a sigh. “Whatever.” He
continued up the street. He didn’t want to take her home with him, but he
couldn’t see how to avoid it either short of wandering the streets all night. And
I’m not melting my ice cream for this nut-job! Why won’t she leave me
alone?
Fumbling free his keys at the bottom of the steps into his building, Rob balanced the sack of groceries on his hip as he scrabbled for the keyhole. He dropped the key ring with a muffled oath, and bent to retrieve it. His head connected solidly with Destiny’s as she bent for the keys as well.