“Nesting.” Julian’s whole face goes soft. “She’s got Dean and Callum installing new cabinets this week. Apparently the old ones weren’t right for the baby’s bottles.” He shakes his head, but there’s so much warmth in it. “She’s due in three months and already reorganizing every room in the house.”
“Sounds like you’ve got your hands full.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” He’s smiling now, properly smiling, and I remember why I like Julian. Under all that quiet precision, the man’s completely gone for his pack.
Ben takes a long pull of his whiskey and doesn’t say anything. He keeps shifting on the stool, though. Leaning in, then pulling back. Nostrils flaring like he can’t stop himself.
“You okay there?” I ask. “You look like you’re having a medical event.”
“I’m fine.” He sniffs again, frowns. “This is fine.”
“Very convincing.”
“Shut up.”
I give him another minute. He lasts about forty seconds.
“Okay, I’m losing my mind.” Ben sets his glass down. “I swear I smell Tessa everywhere. Like she’s taken up permanent residence in my brain and refuses to pay rent.”
Julian looks up from his paperwork, one eyebrow raised.
“I smell her in my shop,” Ben continues, ticking off on his fingers. “In my house. When I wake up in the morning. And now apparently in this bar, which means either she’s been here recently or I need professional help.”
“Option A.” I top off his whiskey. “She was sitting in that exact seat about five hours ago.”
Ben goes rigid. “She was what?”
“Tessa. She came in this afternoon to work. Sat right there.” I tap the bar where his glass is resting. “Ate some fries. Blushed a lot. You know, her usual.”
“She was sitting—” He looks down at the stool like it’s betrayed him. “In this exact seat.”
“Which you are now sitting in.”
“Which I am now sitting in.”
“So you’re basically absorbing her scent through osmosis.”
Ben stares at me. Then at the stool. Then back at me. “I’ve been going insane because of a barstool.”
“And because she’s been driving your truck for two days.” I lean against the back bar. “Which means she’s had your scent all over her, and you’ve had her scent all over your truck, and now you’re sitting in her chair, so really you’re both just marinating in each other at this point.”
“Marinating.” Ben’s voice is flat. “We’re marinating.”
“Like a nice steak.”
“I hate you.”
“You love me.” I grin. “But seriously, you two have basically been scent-marking each other without realizing it. It’s adorable. Very middle school. Next you’ll be passing notes.”
Julian coughs into his beer. “Do I want to know why Tessa has Ben’s truck?”
“Her car broke down,” Ben says. “I’m fixing it. I lent her the truck because I’m a good person who provides excellent customer service.”
“He panicked and threw his keys at her to avoid talking about the bachelor auction,” I correct.
“Bea has a big mouth.” Ben glares at me. “And that is a gross oversimplification.”
“Is it?”
