The little bell above the door chimed, and you looked up from behind the counter. The last person you expected to walk into an adult store—at least during your shift—was a man built like he’d just stepped out of a military recruitment poster.

Broad shoulders under a casual jacket, beard neatly trimmed, baseball cap pulled low. Even with the attempt at blending in, there was no hiding the sharp awareness in his eyes. This was a man used to reading a room in a heartbeat.

And right now, he was looking straight at you.

He cleared his throat, voice low and warm with the faintest rasp. “Evenin’.”

“Evening,” you replied, still trying to reconcile the image of him with the neon “ADULT NOVELTIES” sign outside. “Can I help you find something?”

He stepped closer, one hand slipping into his pocket, the other resting casually on the counter like you were discussing the weather instead of standing under a wall of leather harnesses. “That’s the idea.” His lips twitched in what might have been a smile. “Figured I might… spice things up a bit.” He gestured vaguely toward the shelves, as though admitting it out loud might draw unwanted attention. “Got someone waitin’ at home. Thought I’d surprise ‘em. Trouble is…” He leaned in just slightly, lowering his voice. “I’ve no bloody clue where to start.”