Page 47 of Wilde Ride

It was then that I realized why I didn’t want to have a one-night stand with a stranger. And that reason was smiling at me, her blue eyes sparkling.

Holy shit.

“How about you help get this saddle off, and we’ll get Dasher all wiped down and give her some oats,” Emeline said to Rhett.

“Can I, Daddy?”

“Of course. You rode her, so you need to help get her all settled again.”

Rhett ran off to help Emeline.

“She’s a natural with kids,” I said to her brothers, who stood on either side of me as we watched the two of them walk off with Dasher.

Gatlin smirked and slapped my back. “Watch out there, Levi. You might just find yourself charmed by Emeline, like everyone else. I can’t even tell you how many guys have fought for her attention. But I swear if I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was holding out for someone.”

I glanced at Gatlin, who simply winked at me before he headed off in the same direction Emeline and Rhett had gone.

Focusing my attention on Caden, I saw him watching his sister and Rhett.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

He smiled. “Yeah. Everything is great.”

Emeline

“What’s wrong with you?” Lilibeth asked as she got everything set up for our perfume-making.

Letting out a soft laugh, I replied, “Nothing’s wrong. Why do you ask?”

She gave me a look that silently said she wasn’t buying my bullshit. “You’re pacing back and forth. It’s making me a nervous wreck.”

I sighed and slid onto one of the stools at the beautiful mahogany counter located in the perfume bar, where Lilibeth did all the mixing. All the essential oils used to make the perfumes and candles were in dark bottles, sitting on glass shelves in front of a silver antique backing. Dark curtains hung down from the sides of the entrance into the perfumery. The rabbit light fixture on the counter, though, was a nod to the Alice in Wonderland theme of the shop. The perfumery section of the store was actually called “The Alice,” which I adored.

Hoping to change the subject, I asked, “How many different notes do you have?”

Lilibeth looked behind her. “Twenty-five.”

“How am I supposed to pick only five?”

She smiled.

“I love how you have cocktail-themed scents for the candles, and they come in barware. We’ll have to change that for the camps, though.”

With a wink in my direction, she replied, “I figured we would.”

I tapped my finger on my chin. “Let’s see, what are some cute ideas we can come up with?”

Lilibeth set out three small vessels. “You changed the subject. What’s going on with you?”

I sighed. It was no use trying to hide it. “It’s Levi.”

She frowned. “Did he do something to you?”

A bark of laughter came out. “Did he do something to me? Uh, no, that’s the problem.”

Her brows came down in confusion. She looked adorable, as usual. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled up into a loose bun on top of her head, with small flowers tucked around the base. A few strands hung free, framing her face and neck. Her clothes were casual, with a flowy floral-print blouse and jeans. “I’m not following.”

Moreen walked up and said, “She’s had a crush on him since she was like fourteen, and now that he’s back in town, she wants to jump his bones.”