"Hmm," he muttered. I only have the fifty foot packets, and I doubt I have any. I need to double-check something at the rear, however. Eventually, he left by the back door.

I turned around to see Oren standing behind me, and I moved back a bit to press against him. With my back against his chest, he drew me in. If you can't locate a hundred feet, he whispered, "Buy two of the fifty feet bundles." The light tickling of his breath nearly overpowered my instant excitement.

Silently, "Yes, Professor Bretton," I said.

As the shopkeeper returned, he leaned in for a quick kiss on the neck before pulling...