Jake had roped Kieran into another mission to test the app at the grocery store. Jake chose a quieter supermarket with more options outside of their neighbourhood, which was a food desert unless you counted the delicious restaurants, which Jake seldom did. Kieran joined to spend time with Jake when he wasn't distracted by his coding.

The supermarket's wooden theme travelled from its ceilings to the signs occupying large sections of the walls and little tables holding the divine-looking baking Jake had disregarded like an overfilled trash can on a hot July afternoon. He'd made a beeline for the produce section.

"Why are we doing this again?" Kieran asked.

Jake scanned a stalk of Swiss chard. "Different seasons bring out new items or regular ones at their peak freshness. There are a few markets to visit once local produce comes into season."

"You couldn't make a gaming app, eh?"

"That wouldn't necessarily positively impact my clients' lives." He typed away on his phone.

"You think this is changing people?"

"For those who are open to change, it'll help them achieve it."

Kieran looked at the bitter green veggies with a frown. "Is that your way of dissuading me from frozen pizzas this week?"

"If you want to avoid lethargy and bloating. Your body will feel as good as the food you put into it." Jake didn't even look up to deliver that blow, though knowing him it was more unintentionally blunt than pointed.

"You're ignoring the relief from easy meal prep and the satisfaction of something so cheesy, meaty and delicious."

"Temporary relief and brief satisfaction with the potential for long-term damage."

A couple of women in the fruit section caught Kieran's eye. One studying mangos was tall and thin with chestnut hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her confident stance and teasing smile directed at her friend seemed familiar. As he and Jake moved into a closer aisle, he recognized the voice.

Kieran stopped and whispered, "Jake, that's the woman from the bar."

Jake hardly looked up from the vegetables. "Which is relevant because?"

"Ace Girl."

"Oh." His focus shifted to the ladies. "The taller one is somewhat consistent with the women you used to bring to the apartment. Are you going to talk to her?"

Kieran wanted to, but what icebreaker did you use with someone you'd talked to at a club once? 'How'd things work out with that jerk you were into' might trigger an unpleasant conversation.

She and her friend laughed as they picked through the guava fruits. Ace Girl wore a pair of sweats and a loose gray hoodie that said 'Treaty One' with a pattern encapsulated by an orange circle. But her casual clothes didn't diminish her beauty, they emphasized her long eyelashes and lively brown eyes. Her heart-shaped lips danced with each laugh and quip at her friend.

Jake approached Ace Girl and her friend. Kieran must have zoned out. Crap, what would his brother say? He wouldn't mention the night at the bar or how Kieran still brought her up, would he?

Whatever it was, the women hung on his words and kept talking to him, so Kieran drifted over.

"It's an app?" Ace Girl's friend asked, her long beaded earrings swaying as she tilted her head.

"Try it." Jake handed over his phone, which was significant for him since he was particular about sharing it. "I'm making it as accurate as possible. It takes the size and ripeness of the produce and generates nutritional and general information to help you choose the right product."

"So I just point at—Wow, look at that," the friend said. Naomi stood at her side with a neutral expression, almost as zoned out as Kieran was earlier. Her gaze hadn't landed on him yet.

Jake grinned as the friend scanned various tropical fruits in the aisle opposite them. "And you can select the superior item or those that best fit your goal. It tallies daily nutrient intake and makes meal recommendations for those areas in which you're lacking. I'm working on a feature to scan items in your fridge to make recipe suggestions."

She handed the phone back to Jake. "Well, I'll be damned. That's pretty cool."

Kieran stepped closer. "Bit of a buzz kill if you're craving pizza."

Ace Girl's head turned toward him, and her face lit up with a smile. "Hey, it's you."

He returned the gesture as she both remembered him and seemed happy enough to see him. "It is, and you've met my brother, Jake, whether you wanted to or not."

She laughed and took a few steps closer to Kieran. Both made actions made his heartbeat increase its tempo. "Shivanna's enjoying herself. So, are you two here to pitch new clients?"

"He's working on updates to the app, and I'm here to convince the store employees not to kick us out and to buy pizza."

"Sounds like a riveting evening," she teased.

"Absolutely. And what about yourself, besides being unpaid subjects for Jake's market research?"

"My friend's throwing a party for the Jets game on Friday night, and I need fun snacks."

The Jets were playing the Knights again in the Western Conference finals for the Stanley Cup. His boss and coworkers were ecstatic since the team seldom made it this far, and the entire city had lost its mind with 'Go Jets, Go' plastered on every available surface. Plus, each game brought tens of thousands of fans who couldn't fit in the arena downtown for street parties that shut down parts of his route home, making it a real pain to drive.

"Who's your team of choice?" Kieran asked.

"I support my hometown team."

"Even if the Knights have Manitoban players and the Jets don't," he teased.

Ace Girl chuckled, brightening up her face. If anything the low club lighting had hidden how gorgeous she was, or perhaps she was more comfortable here. 

"They already know what it's like to live out here. Why pass up more money for worse weather? Got a team in the running?"

"The Canadiens are already knocked out, so I'm off the hook for the season, which works out since I'm on call Friday night."

"You're the guy from the bar." Shivanna handed the phone to Jake and studied Kieran.

"Kieran," he said, hoping to catch Ace Girl's name.

She smiled at him again. "Naomi and this is Shivanna. Nice to meet you under better circumstances. Did things ever work out with..." Naomi scrunched her nose as her gaze travelled upward like she was thinking.

"No, dead-end street. But her yet-again boyfriend rescued her a dog she hates taking care of, so that's kept me busy."

Naomi's eyes brightened, making his chest swell with delight until she asked, "Puppy or adult?"

"Puppy."

She nodded. "What kind of dog?"

"Jack Russell Terrier."

Wrinkle lines formed on her forehead. "They can be challenging. Is he housebroken?"

"He likes to break the house, and the yard, and anything that crosses his path if that counts. I've gained a few battle scars." He held out his arm, hoping his pain and effort would score him a few points.

Shivanna laughed lightly and looked at Kieran. "Did Nomi tell you she's a dog trainer?"

"Really?" That seemed like fun and offered a convenient way to see her again. But it would take advantage of her. "That explains the questions and the tattoo." At the bar, he'd glimpsed a small black dog bone etched on her inner right wrist.

Naomi ran a hand over her wrist. "You have great eyes and an excellent memory."

Jake looked between Kieran and Naomi. "Maybe if Brinny hired her to train the dog, you would reclaim your free time."

Even though he'd considered it, Kieran said, "I wouldn't want to impose."

"I work out of an obedience school, but our spring courses for May and June are fully booked right now. July is still open."

July seemed ages away. "That dog can't wait two months."

"A few other schools in the city offer classes, but they book up fast too. Occasionally, I do private sessions for clients. It's more expensive, but if you think your friend would be interested, I could give you my number."

Shivanna looked at Naomi and him before taking her friend's arm. "You should take her up on that. She'll never brag about it, but she's like a dog whisperer."

Kieran had always known his brother was a genius, but he'd never seen it work with women until now. Not only did she want to give him her number, but her friend endorsed it. "That'd be great if you'd want to. I'll pass it on to Brinny." He handed Naomi his phone, and seconds later, she'd put in her number. That lack of hesitation was an encouraging sign, or she was desperate for new clients.

"I appreciate it. I'm going to head to the frozen food section and see what budget-friendly option a crowd of hungry hockey fans would devour," Naomi said.

Before Kieran could say goodbye, Jake spoke, "Kieran, I have to finish up here, but perhaps you could grab the pizza for tonight."

Was Jake hoping for some time alone with Shivanna? She was cute if you were into women with short hair.

"Do you mind?" Kieran asked Naomi. Her running right after she gave him her number wasn't the most encouraging sign.

Yet she smiled at him like she would enjoy his company. "Not at all."