“As a gift? I’d be thrilled.” He leaned closer. “And not just because I’m a gay man who loves his skin routines.”
Mitch chuckled. “As a straight man, I say the gift is pretty awesome as well. I like that the scent is subtle. Likely won’t trigger a migraine for anyone with scent allergies.”
Lorianna grinned. “You’re brilliant.”
“Uh, I try.”
Without an iota of doubt, I was certain the man was blushing. With his dark skin, though, the flush wasn’t visible.
“Okay.” Loriana furrowed her brow. “That’s Marnie, Johanna…” She started counting on her fingers. “Oh, might as well make it twenty.”
“Because any leftovers will definitely be put to good use.” Mitch kissed her cheek. “I’d be happy to find one under my tree.”
Her lovely eyes lit. “Oh. I love it when you’re direct.” She turned her attention back to me. “Two of each and three of the lavender.”
“I have twelve scents—”She said twenty…right?
She waved me off. “I am certain I can find more people to share with. A couple of the patrons are lonely this time of year.”
“Well, if you buy a dozen, you get one free.” Since I rarely sold a dozen at a time, I didn’t have to worry about that often. The offer was on the sign, but most people either didn’t see it or didn’t feel inclined to take me up on that.
“Okay. I’ll take these two. One lavender and one…” She eyed Anderson. “Lemon?”
“He’d prefer vanilla.” I cleared my throat.
Three people turned to me with varying quizzical looks.
Loriana’s gaze shot back and forth between Anderson and me. “Well, that’s interesting. And if I didn’t have tons of shopping left to do, I might consider demanding to know stuff that you might not want to share.”
Mitch chuckled. “Watch out. She considers herself the matchmaking queen of Mission City.”
My eyes widened, but Anderson’s glittered. “Yes, all those successes.”
Loriana pouted. “I try.”
Mitch kissed her cheek. “We know you do.” He turned his attention to me. “Twenty-four with a bonus lavender for my wife and vanilla for our friend.” He pivoted to Anderson. “If you don’t mind Loriana’s…interference.”
His smile turned a little bashful. “Yeah, that would be okay.”
I took the cloth bag Mitch handed me and put the twenty-five bars of soap in it. I handed the vanilla to Loriana.
She grinned. Then pivoted and handed it to Anderson. “I want credit for this later.”
“Credit for what?” A tall, handsome older gentleman with piercing blue eyes approached. He nudged Anderson. “What’d I miss? Nice to see you, Loriana. Mitch.”
“Oh, Damien. Nice to see you too. How’s your husband, Shaw?”
No missing the emphasis onhusband. Just in case I needed to know, Anderson was single. How the hell no one had snapped him up in the last seventeen years was beyond me—but here he was, evidently on his own.
“Do you take credit cards?” Mitch handed me one.
“Yeah, thanks.” I calculated the transaction, entered the amount into the card reader, and let Mitch tap. Once I had the confirmation, I handed him the receipt. “My farm address is on there. I’m just over in Chilliwack. If anything’s not to your liking, I offer a full refund.”
Mitch gripped the bag. “I seriously doubt that’ll be an issue.”
Loriana presented the bar of soap to Anderson. “Later.”
He grinned and accepted the gift.
