After Nala and I unpacked we decided to go to the store in my jeep as the truck was just a tad too big for such a small shopping trip. We needed to stock the shelves, fridge, and get plates and cutlery as well as cups and pans. Once at the store Nala and I separated, she to the kitchen appliances and I to the food. I pushed a cart, grabbing the food I had on a mental list but when I got to the tea section the tea I wanted was on the top shelf. Jumping I felt my fingers brush the box but only managed to push it back a little. Huffing I jumped for it again but smacked my funny bone on the way down.

"Ow, ow, ow." I muttered as I held my elbow and glared at the tea.

Muttering some rather creative, totally made up curses I sighed and resigned myself to not having my tea when a dark tanned hand took it off the top shelf and held it out for me. Gently I took the box and followed the arm to the person. A slight smile curled my lips.

"Are you stalking me?" I asked with a hint of laughter in my voice.

"No." He said with a roguish smile.

"Well as we have bumped into each other several times today I guess I should give you my name. I'm Nissa Amarantha." I said holding out a hand for him to shake.

"Duke, Duke Crocker." He said as he shook my hand, his smile just a tad brighter.

"A pleasure to meet you Mr. Crocker." I said

"Please just Duke."

"Then please call me Nissa." I said softly shyly.

"So what are you doing here in this tiny little town?"

"You consider this tiny?" I asked with a smile. "I am scared to ask what you see as big."

"Alright it is a big town." He said with a smile and I laughed softly.

"My friend and I are here to move into my ancestral home." I said softly, shyly brushing my hair behind my ear.

"Oh? Where?"

"Grey Manor."

"Ah, beautiful view."

"So I have been told by my grandmother." I said with a smile

"Is your elbow okay?"

"Yeah, just hit the funny bone." I said with a smile.

"Not so funny." He winced in sympathy

I nodded, chuckling slightly all the while smiling a brighter smile. "Thank you for the help."

"I will always help a damsel in distress." He said with a bright grin.

I laughed and smiled back then I looked past him to see Nala coming our way. Duke turned to see Nala in all her stunning glory walk right past him without a second glance.

"I have all the utensils you wanted."

"Thank you." I said with a shy blush.

"So who is this?" Nala asked

"This is Duke Crocker, Duke this is Nala McKenzie, my best friend and sister in everything but blood."

"Ah so he now has a name. A pleasure to meet you." Nala said while holding her hand out.

"The pleasure is mine." He said and only shook her hand before turning to me. "I should get going. It was a pleasure to talk to you Nissa, Nala."

He smiled at me which cause me to blush as I waved to him, with that he turned and left. I sighed then rubbed my elbow as I glared up at the tea before placing the box in my hand in the cart.

"What happened?"

"I tried to get the tea and hurt myself so he got it for me."

"Amico mio, sei così breve e così maldestro." (My friend, you are so short and so clumsy.) Nala muttered in Italian while laughing.

"Non è colpa su entrambi cosa mia." (Not my fault on either) I hissed then finished getting the groceries.

Nala just laughed then we headed towards the lines. Nala placed the second cart in my hand before running off with a 'I'll bring the car around' before I could say anything. My heart dropped to my stomach as I looked at the crowded check-out lines. Sighing I looked up and down the isles till I found one that was less crowded. My hands shook a little but I forced my anxiety down and went about checking out. Finally I had everything onto the check out belt and waited for the line to move forward. It took a few moments but it moved forward and I placed both carts at the end to be filled.

I pulled out my card and flipped it between my fingers, taking my mind off the small area. Finally all the groceries were placed in the carts and I paid, not blinking an eye at the amount. The girl looked surprise but I just smiled at her as I slipped the card back into my wallet and that into my back pocket. Just as I was going to push the carts out of the check out Nala came back.

"Took you long enough." I said cheerily which just covered the anxiety I felt.

"Sorry had to find the car. Remind me why we parked so far in the first place." I just raised an eyebrow. "Right you hate tight spaces even in just a little car space."

I rolled my eyes at her as we pushed the carts out the car and loaded all the stuff in the back. Taking the carts and put them in the store and just as I turned to leave Duke came out with two bags of groceries. Smiling I waved to him and got a happy wave back. Still smiling I got in the jeep, with a grace learned from years of practice and closed the door with a sharp snap of my wrist. Turning it on I pulled out and headed to the hotel. We carted everything upstairs and unpacked then I started dinner. Tonight I was going to make baked teriakiy chicken, steamed broccoli, and fried rice. Quietly I placed the plates on the table and we sat down to eat.

"What's on the list for tomorrow?" Nala asked

"Well I was going to go look for a job to pass the time but if we get the keys I'm going to go to the house and make a list of everything we need to take care of."

"Alright. I guess then that I will also look for a job as well." Nala said and I nodded to her. As we ate in silence I thought about Duke and tried to place how I knew him. A frown formed between my brows as I thought then it clicked. " Santa madre degli dei. (Holy mother of the gods.)"

"What?"

"Duke."

"What about him?"

"I know him."

"Huh, I don't..."

"He is him"

"Him as in the guy your past life was in love with?"

"Yep."

"Well good on you for finding him."

I smiled happily then went back to eating my dinner. After we finished Nala cleaned the dishes while I dried and put them away. Around six I grabbed a shower then sat in bed and read till 8:30. Putting my book on my bedside table I turned the lamp off and snuggled down under the comforter. Sighing through my nose I closed my eyes and drifted off into a light sleep, my hand around the knife under my pillow.