Arianna Rose: The Gates of Hell (Part 5) by Jennifer Martucci, Christopher Martucci Read Free Book Online

with her.  They dashed across the cobblestone street. 
    Two women chatted as they pushed strollers in which small children slept .  They were leaving as she and Desmond were entering the market.  Desmond, being the chivalrous being he was, held the door for the women with the strollers.  The women thanked him coquettishly, giggling and practically drooling, then paused to take a lingering look that did not match their wholesome appearances. 
    Though the act was brazen and a bit annoying, Arianna couldn’t blame them.  Any woman would be crazy to miss the opportunity to get a look at Desmond.  At times, she forgot how extraordinarily good-looking he was compared to other men.  Angelic and almost painfully handsome, he outshined even the handsomest men everyday life had to offer.  Others paled in comparison when judged beside Desmond.  The startled look on the women’s faces—eyes wide and mouths partially agape—was reminder enough. 
    Arianna was about to spout a snide comment, but the words died on her tongue.  Let the women get an eyeful.  Let them gawk and fantasize all they wanted because at the end of the day, he was hers and she was his. 
    The women moved on and Desmond and Arianna walked into the market.  A small row of produce gave way to a nook reserved for baked goods, a narrow sandwich station, refrigerated beverages, and canned and boxed items. 
    “We should buy something, don’t you think?” Desmond asked. 
    “Yeah, I guess,” she replied.  “I’m starving.  Why don’t we grab a couple of bagels and drinks and take them back to the courtyard?”
    “Sounds good,” he said.
    They made their way to the bakery area and grabbed two bagels before heading to the cold case and selected two bottles of water.  When they walked to the checkout counter and placed their items in front of the clerk, who looked no older than sixteen, Arianna decided to engage him in polite chitchat.
    “Hi there,” she leaned forward to read his name badge, “Charles.  This is a nice town you work in.  You live here?”
    Charles blushed , making the smattering of freckles sprinkled across his nose nearly disappear, lost in flushed flesh.  “Yes ma’am.  I’ve lived here my whole life,” he answered. 
    “ Ma’am ?  Do I look like a ma’am to you?” Arianna teased and quirked a brow at him. 
    “Uh, no, I just, uh,” Charles stammered.  “I didn’t mean to offend—”
    “Relax, Charlie.  Don’t get your shorts in a bunch.  I’m just messing with you,” she said and watched as his trembling hands packed their bagels and water into a brown paper bag. 
    “Oh, whew,” he said, relief saturating his words.  “That’ll be seven fifty, Miss.”  He emphasized the word “Miss” proudly. 
    “Ha!  I like you, Charlie,” Arianna laughed.  She counted out seven dollars then pulled two quarters from her pocket.  She handed him the money.  “So,” she began casually.  “Has anything exciting happened around here recently?”
    Charles looked at her strangely.  “Exciting?  Exciting, like how so?”
    Arianna shrugged.  “I don’t know, big news or something.”
    “Our Spring Fair was two weeks ago.  That was fun.”
    “No, I mean exciting ,” she prodded and raised her brow. 
    He shook his head slowly.  “I can’t say that anything exciting has happened recently.  Nothing ever really happens around here.”
    Not quite what she’d expected to hear, Charles’ answer was not conducive to what she’d been getting at.  She’d been trying to pry and find out whether a new, absurdly attractive stranger had moved to town and kicked up a ruckus with a local girl or something, anything that would imply Darius’ presence.  She felt him, felt his vile aura cling to her like scum on a pond, always near, always foul, and expanding rapidly.
    “Eh, that’s good, Charlie,” she recovered and tried to pick up where they ’d left off when she realized one too many beats had