Page 43 of The Scent of Happiness

He gave her mom a half-shrug. “Thank you very much, Mrs. Nesbitt, but—”

“You can call me Sharon.”

“Thank you, Sharon, but I really should follow up on this new development. Can I take a raincheck?”

“Goodness, Theo. Everyone has to eat.”

“Mom, he said no, okay?” Brooke still wouldn’t look at him.

“Are you sure?” Sharon asked him.

“I’m sure.” Theo shook hands with Brooke’s dad and let Sharon pull him into a small mom hug before heading toward his car.

His thoughts jumped around his head, refusing to line up in an orderly fashion. He had too many things to consider at once—his irritation at the police, annoyance at Dixie Dawson, and underneath it, an irrational desire to protect Brooke and her family. But what was scrambling his thoughts most of all was that kiss in the botanical gardens.

He sat in his car for a moment with his eyes closed. He could still smell the faint scent of Brooke in the enclosed space. He sniffed a few times, reaching for it, remembering the taste of her lips and the softness of her hands cradling his face.

The driver’s side door opened, letting in a cool gush of air. Brooke leaned into the car. “Get out,” she said.

“No. Go inside, Brooke. Your parents are holding dinner for you.”

“I told them to eat without me. I’ve lost my appetite. Visits from the police do that.”

“So I’ll see you later?” Theo reached for the door handle.

Brooke held it open. “Why do you keep wanting me to act guilty when I’m clearly not?”

“I don’t—”

“Yeah, I know. You don’t care.” Brooke grunted impatiently and pushed her glasses back up her nose. “You don’t like Dixie. That’s clear. You like me. That’s also clear. What you’re not clear on is my soap.”

Theo gripped the steering wheel. This again. “That doesn’t matter. I’m still representing you.”

“But it does matter,” Brooke said. “It matters to me. A lot.”

Theo stared through the windshield. “And I respect that.”

“I need you to do more than respect it.” Brooke’s voice was sharp. “You can’t keep holding it at a distance. You need to understand it.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do. Get out of the car.”

Theo couldn’t believe this was the same Brooke who’d kissed him among blooming flowers. This Brooke wasn’t the playful free spirit from this afternoon. This Brooke was self-righteous and a little bit pissed off and wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

Theo unfolded himself from the driver’s seat and closed the door behind him. He faced Brooke. “I’m out. Happy now?”

Brooke started up the driveway, beckoning him to follow. “Come with me. We’re making soap.”

Chapter Thirteen

Brooke unlocked the door and Theo followed her in, waiting in the doorway as she flicked on the lights. His head swiveled as he took in the apartment, and Brooke remembered his last visit, before she’d tidied up for Emma. Maybe she could pretend that this was her normal, and what he’d seen on Saturday was unusual, instead of the other way around.

His gaze landed on the two soaps she’d made yesterday. “We don’t need to make more soap,” Theo said. “You’ve got plenty.”

“I’ve been busy.” The natural baby soap looked pale and uninviting next to the purple-streaked loaf of Rebel Boss next to it. The fragrance was perfect. It was subtle at first, but under those first notes was a deep and complex scent that commanded respect.

“We can start here.” Brooke got out her cutting board. “These soaps have been sitting for twenty-four hours so now you can cut them into bars.”