“All right, here’s everything we’ve prepped,” Isabeau said, taking out a notebook.
Celine put a bunch of tiny bottles on the counter.
“We already know the notes that go very well with your skin,” Isabeau said in a businesslike tone, “so we’re going to keep some of those. Skin chemistry is unique. Once you have something that works, you shouldn’t change it fundamentally.”
“I agree.” Celine was looking at my dress intently.
I was suddenly feeling self-conscious. I yawned as I looked at the two of them. “Sorry. I’m just a bit sleepy.”
“You didn’t have a good night’s sleep?” Celine asked in an innocent tone.
“Charlotte did wake up once,” I said, and their eyes changed. Isabeau looked triumphant. Celine was just amused as she glanced at Isabeau.
“Sleep is difficult with little ones,” Celine said.
“I don’t mind,” I said honestly. “Beckett did everything anyway, but I could’ve helped with the feeding or something. I love little babies.”
They already knew that about me. I’d spilled all my secrets when they made my first perfume.
“Let’s get to work,” Isabeau said.
Over the next twenty minutes, they made me test a lot of samples until I smelled their famous lilac.
I decided to have a bit of fun.
“No, I don’t like this one at all,” I said, pushing away the lilac sample. I swear their jaws dropped in unison.
“You don’t like it?” Celine asked.
I shook my head. “No. Not even one bit, I don’t think.”
“You could try it on your skin.” Isabeau sounded uncertain.
“If I don’t even like it in the bottle, I won’t like it on my skin.”
“You’re right,” Celine said.
Both of them looked crestfallen. Wait, no. That wasn’t the right word. Celine seemed almost heartbroken. So, I decided to fess up.
“I’m sorry. I was just teasing you because I’ve heard stories behind lilac. I actually do like it.”
Celine started to laugh, but Isabeau was looking at me with narrowed eyes. “Don’t play with us like that again, young lady.”
Holy shit.I felt like I was five again and my schoolteacher was scolding me. “No, ma’am,” I promised.
“I don’t know what stories you’ve heard.”
“That it has…aphrodisiacproperties?” I said, unsure how to phrase it.
Isabeau winced, and Celine shook her head.
“No, no, no. It’s different. Aphrodisiac properties are matters of the body. But lilac is a matter of the soul,” Isabeau said.
I was about to ask her to elaborate before I realized that she didn’t mean it as a conversation opener but as a fact to be accepted.
I watched the two of them do their magic. As they handed me my bottle at the end, I knew I’d love it before I even took a sniff.
“This is the best one yet!”
