Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Focusing my attention on Caden, I saw him watching his sister and Rhett.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
He smiled. “Yeah. Everything is great.”
Emeline
“What’s wrong with you?” Lilibeth asked as she got everything set up for our perfume-making.
Letting out a soft laugh, I replied, “Nothing’s wrong. Why do you ask?”
She gave me a look that silently said she wasn’t buying my bullshit. “You’re pacing back and forth. It’s making me a nervous wreck.”
I sighed and slid onto one of the stools at the beautiful mahogany counter located in the perfume bar, where Lilibeth did all the mixing. All the essential oils used to make the perfumes and candles were in dark bottles, sitting on glass shelves in front of a silver antique backing. Dark curtains hung down from the sides of the entrance into the perfumery. The rabbit light fixture on the counter, though, was a nod to the Alice in Wonderland theme of the shop. The perfumery section of the store was actually called “The Alice,” which I adored.
Hoping to change the subject, I asked, “How many different notes do you have?”
Lilibeth looked behind her. “Twenty-five.”
“How am I supposed to pick only five?”
She smiled.
“I love how you have cocktail-themed scents for the candles, and they come in barware. We’ll have to change that for the camps, though.”
With a wink in my direction, she replied, “I figured we would.”
I tapped my finger on my chin. “Let’s see, what are some cute ideas we can come up with?”
Lilibeth set out three small vessels. “You changed the subject. What’s going on with you?”
I sighed. It was no use trying to hide it. “It’s Levi.”
She frowned. “Did he do something to you?”
A bark of laughter came out. “Did he do something to me? Uh, no, that’s the problem.”
Her brows came down in confusion. She looked adorable, as usual. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled up into a loose bun on top of her head, with small flowers tucked around the base. A few strands hung free, framing her face and neck. Her clothes were casual, with a flowy floral-print blouse and jeans. “I’m not following.”
Moreen walked up and said, “She’s had a crush on him since she was like fourteen, and now that he’s back in town, she wants to jump his bones.”
“You’re horny, then?” Lilibeth asked, a broad smile on her face.
“I am not horny, thank you very much. And yes, I thought I’d moved on from my silly crush, but he had to go and move back home, then be all…” My voice faded.
Lilibeth leaned over the counter and waggled her brows. “Be all what?”
“Hot in a single-dad-slash-cowboy-slash-animal-lover sort of way. A man who loves his son, and his soon-to-be ex-wife cheated on him, and he was devastated to learn that and—oh shit. I said too much. You guys don’t repeat that about his wife, okay?”
Lilibeth pretended she was locking it away with a key to her mouth and tossed said key over her shoulder.
Moreen’s eyes were as wide as saucers. “Jesus, do you know how to bring the tea.”
“Oh!” Lilibeth clapped. “What kind of tea should I serve?”
Moreen and I both looked at her in surprise.
“Babe, these aren’t the type of men who want to drink tea,” my friend answered.
“Or wine,” I added.
Lilibeth looked thoughtful for a moment. “Whiskey?”
Moreen pointed to her. “Bingo.” Turning back to me, she said, “Now what’s this about Caroline cheating on Levi?”
I closed my eyes and internally bitch-slapped myself. Focusing back on Moreen, I said, “You cannot repeat that. Please, please don’t repeat that. Not even to your mother.”
She drew back like I’d offended her. “My mother? Do you honestly think I have that type of relationship with my mom?”
Tilting my head, I stared at her. “You have exactly that type of relationship with your mom. You told her when I lost my virginity.”
Lilibeth laughed. “Oh my gosh, what?”
Moreen shrugged. “In Mom’s defense, she did tell me that I don’t have to share quite so much with her, after that.”
Lilibeth looked at me and laughed. “Oh my God, I love this town.”
I grabbed my friend’s hands. “Moreen.”
She gave me a reassuring smile. “I swear to you, I won’t tell anyone.”
The bell above the door rang, and we all turned. My jaw nearly dropped when I saw my brother Caden with Levi.
“Oh God, why does your hot brother have to be here?” Moreen whispered.
“Got a crush?” Lilibeth asked.
Moreen shook her head. “I’m not his type, but man, what I wouldn’t give to fu—”
“Okay, Moreen!” I quickly said, cutting off where that sentence was going.
Lilibeth laughed, then lowered her voice. “I’ve never met him. He is cute, though.”
“Warning, he’s a grump,” I said as I slid off the stool. “Caden, what did Levi do to talk you into this?”
My brother rolled his eyes. “Promised me we’d go out after this.”
“We’re going out after this, too,” I said, leaning up and kissing my brother on the cheek. Stepping back, I smiled at Levi. “Glad you made it.”