Moving fast, Mitch grabbed her around the waist and dumped her butt right into her cart, then he shoved it, sending it speeding down the aisle.

“And that’s for your little driving bit!” he laughingly yelled over her squealing his name.

He grinned and turned back to the lionesses, who only stared at him. “We’re friends,” he explained.

Sissy grabbed a box of cereal. It was the biggest box they had. This should work. She dropped the box into her carriage.

“Might as well grab four more if you want it to last past today.”

Sissy briefly closed her eyes. “Tell me you’re just being cruel ’cause we hate each other.”

Paula Jo shook her head. “Wish I could, you know, ’cause I do hate you. But it’s true. Of course,” she gave a slow smile, “you could send him my way. Me and my sisters know how to take care of lion males, and we’ll get him off your hands. And you can go back to whatever it is you do. Lick your ass. Chase your tail.”

Sissy barely heard the old insults. They didn’t even register. She was too busy realizing that Paula Jo was serious. She wanted Mitch. For herself and her Pride.

And Sissy would be damned before she let that happen.

“Sorry. I promised I’d keep him with me.”

“Yes, but he’s eating you out of house and home. And he’ll keep doing it, too. We both know times are tough right now, so why don’t you let me have him?”

Sissy pressed her hand to her chest. What was this strange feeling she had? It was something…weird. And she’d never experienced it over a man before. But she’d felt this way once before with Paula Jo. When the lioness had taken the first deer Sissy had ever brought down on her own. It was just a little thing and sickly, but it was Sissy’s. Then Paula and her sister Karen Jane came out of the woods and chased Sissy and Ronnie Lee off. As Sissy watched them eat her prize, she’d been so angry she couldn’t see straight.

Lord in heaven…she was jealous!

“Sorry, Paula Jo. Unlike y’all, when wolves make a commitment—even to a cat—we keep it.”

In typical fashion, it was at that moment that Mitch suddenly glided by at the end of the aisle. Really. He glided. Because he had his feet on the cart and had pushed himself past.

“Was he—” Paula Jo frowned. “Ballet dancing?”

Based on the positions of his arms…“I think he was, yes.”

Sissy rubbed her eyes with her fists and wondered how much shame she’d bring to the Smith name if she actually ran away from Paula Jo.

The lioness slowly inched away. “Interesting.”

Mitch stuck his arm all the way to the back of the potato chips shelf, made it a little U, then dragged it forward. The big bags of chips fell off the shelf and right into his cart. He did the same thing with some pretzels.

His nosesniffed the air, and he glanced over his shoulder. “Hi, Dee.”

“Hey.”

“Stocking up.”

“Uh-huh.”

She walked around him and looked into his cart. When her gaze met his, she didn’t say a word.

“What?”

“Nothin’.”

Mitch pushed the cart forward, Dee falling into step next to him.

“Dee, can I ask you a question?”

She shrugged. “Don’t see why not.”

That seemed an odd response, but…whatever.

“Who is Lou?”

“Lou? I know lots of Lous. You’ll have to be more specific.”

“He’s wolf and was asking for Sissy about ten minutes ago.”

“Oh. That Lou. Yeah. I know him. He’s from Smithtown.”

“What does he want with Sissy?”

“What every male in Smithtown wants from Sissy.” Dee stopped by the candy and grabbed a Hershey bar. Nothing fancy. No almonds or caramel. Just simple milk chocolate. He had a feeling that explained Dee really well.

“And what’s that?”

“To fuck her.”

Mitch suddenly looked around. He never expected such a…blunt response. Not even from Sissy. And he didn’t like that particular blunt response one damn bit.

“That’s it?”

She bit into her chocolate and chewed. He hoped she still planned to pay for that. He was still a cop for the time being. “And to mark her.”

“Just like that?”

“She’s Sissy Mae. A born Alpha. And direct Smith bloodline. Plus, I’ve always heard she’s a wicked fuck in bed.”

“Okay. Stop.” Mitch held his hands up. “Just…stop.”

“You asked.”

“Yes. Because I’m an idiot. Thanks for the reminder.”

For the first time, Dee grinned. It didn’t make her any prettier, but it took away that perpetual glare. “You’re welcome.”

“How much?” Sissy demanded when the cashier gave her the final price.

Mitch nudged her shoulder. “Pay her. I’m getting hungry.”

Feeling sick, Sissy looked at him. “Again? You just ate an hour ago.” At this rate, the man would use up all of Smithtown’s food supply. And eat her right into the poorhouse.

“Almost two. And you’re not driving this time. Give the keys back to Dee-Ann.”

“Don’t tell me what to—”

“Now. Or it’s atomic wedgie time.” She knew he wasn’t kidding either.

Growling, she handed her mother’s credit card to the cashier—she’d owe that woman a fortune when she got back into town, but Sissy couldn’t risk using her own card—and Dee-Ann the car keys.