Anything For You

Part 8

She was fighting with one of the shopping carts in front of the store when she heard a familiar voice. "Need some help?" She turned and saw Michael. She once again felt overwhelmed and her body felt hot.

"No, I'm okay thanks" her jaw clenched as she spoke through her teeth. Michael understood her attitude toward him and he couldn't blame her for the way she was acting. If the roles were reversed he would probably not be this calm about it. He stood there watching her as she turned her back on him and kept on struggling. With ease he pulled out another shopping cart and handed it to her. "Here you go", and left it behind her.

"Thanks, that was not necessary." she said without a smile. Michael nodded.

They strode into the store side by side, Michael staring at Jenna as she walked. Jenna never made eye contact with Michael. He wanted to see her eyes but she kept them to herself.

Walking with her, he tried to make small talk. "What are you getting here?" he asked.

"Nothing that will interest you, please excuse me." She turned and hurried down one of the aisles in the opposite direction.

"Jenna! Jenna!" He called after her but she had already gone.

Once again he stood there staring after her. He just wanted to talk to her, to say that he was sorry about what she heard. He had to find a way to apologize so he decided to go after her.

Michael scanned every aisle as he walked and found Jenna in the camping section with a blow up mattress, sleeping bag and pillow in her shopping cart. "You thinking of going camping?" Surprised at the goods.

Jenna, startled, turned in Michael's direction. She shook her head in disbelief. "Why are you following me?" She asked in a voice that was a little too aggressive. "Go away and leave me the hell alone", she hissed.

"Oh wow!! Beyond rude don't you think?' he said. "And no I won't leave you the hell alone. Look I think that we got off on the wrong foot this morning and I was thinking that maybe we could rewind and start over." Michael lowering his voice.

"Dr Jensen, what makes you think that we got off on the wrong foot?" she sked keeping her eyes on the goods on the shelf.

"Jenna, I'm sorry for what you overheard in my office. If you give me a chance I'd like to explain." he promised but Jenna didn't respond. "I tell you what, have dinner with me", he asked.

"No thank you." Jenna's response was immediate, without looking in his direction, preferring to inspect the oil lamps.

Michael was speechless and a bit startled. No woman has ever refused him and this was new. This stubborn goddess fuelled his curiosity and it motivated him even more so he stepped forward a little too close and touched her shoulder.

Without any movement, Jenna warned, "Mr Jensen for your own good I suggest you remove your hand and never touch me in any way" she spat at him.

"I'm sorry" he removed his hand from her shoulder and he stepped back. "Please have dinner with me", he begged.

"Why?" she asked pushing her shopping cart further down the aisle. "If I remember correctly, I don't have much going on" she said reiterating his words. Michael squirmed as he followed her.

"What I said in my office was intentional to Professor Darwin, he is a bit....." He could not explain Darwin to Jenna. Michael did not know what else to say without letting her know that she fascinated him.

She turned suddenly to stare at him and he stopped dead in front of her, nearly stumbling into her. She believed him and she memorized his expressions. 'So this is what you look like when you tell the truth' she thought. Jenna smiled at Michael.