So, here I am.
“Oh my gosh, Tilly, this scent is amazing,” Charlotte squeals, holding up a bottle ofMidnight Sage. “I’m obsessed. Can I take three? I want to put one in the guest room.”
I lean against the counter, smiling at her. “Charlotte, you can take the whole box. Seriously. Ben bought it all so I wouldn't have to stress about selling it. You’re doing me a favor.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” Charlotte happily dumps the bottles into her tote bag.
Dana is standing by the window, holding a jar of bath salts up to the light.
“You know, I usually only buy skincare in Paris, but this formula is incredible. Did you make this yourself?”
“I did,” I say, feeling a flush of pride. “It’s a blend of dead sea salt and dried lavender.”
“It’s fantastic,” Dana says, tucking it into her purse. “I’m stealing this for my soak tonight. Ben has good taste.”
I turn to see Audrey sitting on the counter next to me, swinging her legs. She’s watching me closely, ignoring the chaos of Charlotte and Dana raiding the shelves.
“How are you doing?” Audrey asks quietly. “And don't give me the ‘I’m fine’ speech. Your boyfriend just bought out your entire store and disappeared with my husband and Koda. That’s a lot for a Sunday morning.”
I let out a long breath. “It is a lot. I’m overwhelmed. Grateful, obviously, because I was drowning in debt, but... it’s intense.”
“That’s the brand,” Audrey says with a grin. “Reign did the same thing. They don't know how to do small gestures. They see a problem, and they scorch the earth to fix it.”
“I just don't want to lose myself in it,” I admit. “I worked so hard for this shop.”
“You won’t,” Audrey assures me, bumping her shoulder against mine. “You’re the one who formulated the product Dana is drooling over. Ben just bought the candles; you made the magic. There’s a difference.”
I smile, actually feeling better. “Thanks, Audrey.”
“Anytime. Now, do you have any more of those eye pillows? Reign has been stealing mine.”
“Bottom shelf,” I point.
The bell above the door jingles, cutting through the laughter.
The atmosphere in the room shifts instantly.
Ben walks in first. He’s wearing a black t-shirt that stretches tight across his chest, and his left eye is swollen shut from the fight. But he looks loose. Relaxed. The tension that was vibrating off him this morning is completely gone.
Koda and Reign follow him in. Koda gives Charlotte a wink as he leans against the doorframe, and Reign walks straight over to the counter to stand next to Audrey, resting a hand possessively on her knee.
Ben ignores everyone. He walks straight to me.
“Hey,” he rumbles, leaning in to kiss me. He smells like cedar, rain, and fresh coffee.
“Hey,” I whisper, searching his face. “You guys were gone for a while. Everything okay?”
“Better than okay,” Ben says. He reaches out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Did you let them take whatever they wanted?”
“I tried,” I say. “Dana is raiding the bath salts.”
“Good.” Ben smirks. “I have a surprise for you, Tilly.”
“A surprise?” I blink. “Ben, you already bought the inventory. Please tell me you didn't buy a factory.”
“Wait for it,” Reign says from the counter, checking his watch. “Three, two, one...”
The bell jingles again.
