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)
I picked up the coffee beans and took a deep breath through my nose, then smelled his sample. I closed my eyes and sighed. “That smells like my kind of Heaven.”
When I realized what I’d said, I snapped my eyes open to see him staring at my mouth.
His eyes lifted to mine. “Really?” he asked in a teasing tone.
“I just…I meant, it reminds me of riding. Horses! Riding horses.”
He grinned.
“You know, the leather from the saddle, and the…just…that smell.”
The way he was looking at me, with such an intensity, caused me to nearly sigh like a teenage schoolgirl. “It smells like something you would wear.”
Levi’s brows rose. “Does it?”
I swallowed and nodded. “Yeah, it does.”
He reached over, lifted my sample to his nose, and took a deep breath. “Sweet-smelling with a hint of spice. Cinnamon?”
I was lost in his light brown eyes. Why was this man so damn handsome? He was making it very difficult not to want him.
“Perfectly describes the woman who will be wearing it.”
My cheeks heated, and I tried like hell to look away, but I was mesmerized by him. I swore Levi leaned slightly toward me.
“You two look cozy,” Caden crooned suddenly.
I jumped back, and my brother laughed.
“You okay there, Emeline?”
“Yes, you just scared me, that’s all. Are you done?”
He held up his bottle. “Of all the people I thought would be finished first, I’m not him.”
I giggled. “I’ve got my notes down, Lilibeth.”
Levi held up his swatch. “I do as well.”
After we mixed and bottled up our new scents, I pulled out my phone and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Lilibeth asked.
“I tried to get Ensley to go out with us, but she’s declined. I asked where she was, and she told me.”
Sadness filled his eyes. “What day is it?”
“It’s the tenth,” Lilibeth answered.
Caden and Levi exchanged equally concerned looks.
“What’s with the tenth?” Lilibeth asked.
I drew in a breath and let it out. “Ensley’s best friend from high school, Grady, passed away on this date ten years ago.”
Lilibeth put her hands on her chest. “Oh my gosh, that’s so sad. What happened?”
Caden walked away. He and Grady had also been close, even though they were a few years apart.
I cleared my throat. “He, um, he took his own life.”
Now Lilibeth’s hand covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I never should have asked.”
“You didn’t know,” Levi said. “Everyone actually thought they’d end up together, even though they were just friends back then.”
“Ensley didn’t want them to ruin their friendship by dating. She’s never really gotten over his death.”
Lilibeth slowly shook her head, then looked toward Caden. “They were friends?”
“We all used to hang out together. Me, Caden, Ensley, and Grady. Ensley blames herself because she started dating someone, and Grady wasn’t happy about it. But neither would ever cross that line. Of course, no one really knows why Grady did what he did. He was always the one in the group trying to make everyone laugh. It came as a complete shock.”
“Again, I’m so sorry.”
Levi glanced back at Caden. “I guess it’s time to go.” Levi bent and kissed me on the cheek, totally catching me off guard. All I could do was smile and nod. He looked at Lilibeth. “I had more fun than I thought I would. You two have a good evening.”
Lilibeth walked toward the front door where Caden was standing, wearing a brooding expression. “I’m so glad you both came, and I hope you had fun, too, Caden.”
“It was…different.”
Laughing, Lilibeth unlocked the door. “God forbid you admit you had a good time, cowboy.”
Caden smirked, then opened the door. “See you around, sweetheart.”
Before Lilibeth could reply, Caden was out the door. She did however mumble asshole, which almost made me laugh.
Levi tipped his cowboy hat to both of us and called out, “See you around, Em. Thank you, Lilibeth.”
“Sure thing. You guys behave tonight!”
I watched as Levi walked out the door, and Lilibeth shut it. I let out a breath and closed my eyes for a moment. I had to fight not to lift my hand and touch where he’d kissed.
Quickly turning, I started gathering the bottles of scents to put them back.
“Okay, the way you look at that cowboy makes even me get hot.”
My mouth fell open. “I do not!”
Laughing, she replied, “The hell you don’t. Even your brother told me you’ve had a crush on Levi since you were little.”
“What?” I spun around and looked at her. “When did he tell you that?”
She tried not to smile. “When you were both smelling one another’s scents and staring into each other’s eyes.”
“He did not!”
“Oh, yes, he did.”
After taking a minute to gather my thoughts, I slowly shook my head. “My brother knew I liked Levi?”
She gave a small shrug. “Apparently.”
“Was he mad?”
Frowning, she asked, “Why would he be mad?”
I threw my hands up in the air. “I don’t know! I don’t know anything anymore. Sometimes the way Levi looks at me, it makes me think he feels something between us. But then he’ll go and say he’s not ready to date. I’m so confused, Lilibeth.”