111 111- Stop It, Rafael! 
Marissa was laughing to herself while walking in between the aisles. She always did either alone or by bringing only one child. D 
grocery 

It was Rafael who insisted that he would help with the girls and could easily handle their 
tantrums. 
The girls were too excited to shop for late–night snacks. Ariel also wanted to stay up late with Daddy. 

Marissa needed to shop for her commercial kitchen items and that was the reason when she saw the flour bag, she went for it. 
Her desired brand was placed on the top shelf. She lifted herself on her toes to reach for the bag when a hand got there before her, bringing it down with ease. 
“Here it is!” Rafael placed it in the cart and then started steerin hand came to rest behind the small of her back. 

The girls were trailing behind them with a bored look. 
it with one hand as his other 
“Can we go and buy sweets?” Abi asked her parents in a small voice. The shopping was supposed to be exciting just like they used to enjoy in the park. But now there didn’t seem to be fun 

anymore. 
“No, honey,” Marissa said while observing the cereal boxes, “We already have lots of sweets at home.” 
Rafael looked over his shoulder and then came closer to Marissa. 

“How about we let them go to that particular section with a cart or a basket? Let them have as many candies as they want.” 
Marissa opened her mouth to argue when he held her arm, “Honey. Let them have some space,” he turned to look at their faces. They both were discussing something about a cereal picture. where the teenage boy was showing his muscles. 
“I don’t let them eat too many sweets, Rafael. It’s not good for Abi,” She said in a low whisper. “We won’t let them eat anything without limits. They’ll just shop and have fun. Once we get back home, we’ll tell them about candy rules. What do you say? 

Don’t look at him, Marissa. He is too sexy. Don’t look at him! 
“OK! Fine!” she turned to the girls, “Take a basket. And we are going to talk about it once we 
home.” 

“Sure, Mommy. Yayy!” Ariel squealed in delight. 
“Mommy you are the best!” both the girls hugged her legs. 
are 

Rafael left her for a few minutes to place the basket near the candy section and then came back. 
111 111–Stop it, Rafaol! 
“Abi! How about these big candies?” Ariel asked her sister excitedly and started placing them in the basket one after the other. 

“Ariel! So many? Mom might get mad,” she saw Ariel placing different colored candies. 
“Don’t worry. Daddy will take care of it. Now come and help me, Abi,” Abigail happily went ahead and got hold of a few packs of chocolate coated candies. 
“Abi. Pick some lollipops too,” Ariel instructed her sister and started looking for gummy bears. “Abi. I can’t find any gummy bears here,” she made a cute pout, with her eyes wandering around. Just then her eyes landed on something, and she held Abi’s frock, “Look! It’s heaven, Abigail!” Abigail frowned and then glanced up at her sister, “Heaven?” 

“Yes, silly! Have you ever seen so many candies with so many flavors anywhere, except on TV?” When Abi saw it, her mouth watered. 
“Oh my God, Ariel. You are so right. Let’s go there,” they started pushing their basket to that aisle and then stopped tiredly. 
“Abi. You don’t take tension. I can push it easily… alone… ch,” Ariel then used all her might and carried it to that section. 

“Oh, Ariel. Chocolate, banana, blueberry! Wow! Abigail started taking it off with great care. “Abi. Try to put each flavor!” she instructed her sister and got back to work. 
“Are you mad at me?” Rafael asked her, but she didn’t reply. 
“Marissa! Talk to me!” 

“Talk to you about what? Your flyer?” Rafael gave her a sheepish grin and she laughed. “What were you even thinking?” she swerved the cart in time to avoid a display section, nearly bumping her body into Rafael, who caught her with a laugh. 
“Isn’t it obvious? I have been thinking about you,” they stopped in front of the spices section and there Marissa could feel women’s eyes running hungrily on Rafael Sinclair. 
Well! He seemed quite accustomed to it. He wasn’t even aware that he was slowly becoming the center of attraction for those females. 

Sigh! Lady killer! 
Even in that old blue t–shirt and blue denim, he looked classy. She tried her best to pick up her spice jars with record speed. 
“Let’s move to that aisle. I need a few bags of rice,” she said and started moving ahead. The cart. had gotten heavy, so Rafael took it from Marissa and wheeling it behind her letting her take the lead. 

111 111–Stop It, Rafaell 
“So, my girl needs rice, flour, beans, and spices. But she doesn’t want me. Huh!” Rafael rolled hist eyes and saw Marissa checking the bananas by pressing them with her fingers. 
She was already busy controlling her racing heart. My girl? Did he call her my girl? 

They were now in the fruit section. 
“What are you doing?” he asked her. 
“Checking the ripeness,” she said it casually, and then her dirty mind made her eyes snap at him who was wiggling his brows playfully. 

“Rafael! I’ll kill you.” 
“What? I didn’t say anything. Keep checking the ripeness of these while ignoring the one that wants to be inside that hot puss… Ouch!” he rubbed his arm when Marissa pinched the skin. 
“Dirty mind you are!” Marissa’s whispered, her tone turning sharp. 

“I was talking about tampons, silly!” he pointed to the sanitary section that was at some distance. 
This time Marissa smacked his back. 
“Uh. Keep hitting me. I’ll call the police this time!” she covered her mouth to hide the mirth. 

“Stop it, Rafael!” When she couldn’t take it anymore, she came to him and took him by surprise with a hug. 
His arms were spread wide trying to absorb what just happened. He looked down at her head against his chest with a big grin and kissed it, enveloping her in a warm embrace. 
Once again, they had almost forgotten that they were standing in a public place and were getting noticed.