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“Sold out!” My voice goes loud, and my heart jumps to my throat. “It’s only the first night! I don’t think I have enough left over to go through Saturday.”
“That lotion you made is a big hit, too.” She hands me a green vinyl bank bag containing checks and cash. “People are saying they love the scent.”
Looking up at Taron, I press my elbow into his side. “That’s the one you did. The one I’m wearing tonight.”
But instead of being excited for me, his brow furrows. “You’re selling that one? That one’s just for you. It’s your signature scent.”
“Taron!” My voice goes louder. “I’m trying to launch a business here.”
“Yeah, but I only want that smell on you.”
“There’s more than three hundred million people in this country. I don’t think the few who buy my lotion are going to take away from you smelling me.”
&nb
sp; “I’ll smell you.” He leans down and gives my neck a sharp inhale then a little bite, and I squeal a laugh. Happiness bubbles in my stomach. I’ve never felt so optimistic.
Mrs. Jenny’s left eyebrow rises, and she looks from me to Taron and back to me. “Noel Aveline, you haven’t introduced me to your beau.”
“Aveline.” Taron’s voice is low at my ear, sending goose bumps skating down my arms.
“Oh, Mrs. Jenny Ray, this is Taron Rhodes.” I hold out my hand from him to her. “He’s Sawyer’s friend… from the Marines.”
“Is that so?” She smiles and nods, and I feel embarrassed all of a sudden, like she knows what we did in the pantry.
“Nice to meet you Mrs. Ray.” Taron shakes her hand so politely.
“You’re in the Marines with Sawyer?” Her voice has that edge like it did when she caught Mindy and me sneaking out of Mindy’s bedroom window.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“So you’re being deployed with him at the end of the week?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Her dark eyes move to mine, and I feel that painful knot in my throat. A soft voice is in my head, We weren’t going to talk about this, remember… Only that was just something Taron and I unofficially decided between the two of us.
As if that would stop it from coming.
“It’s too bad we won’t get to know you better.”
Heat rises in my eyes, but I blink it away fast. Tonight is for holding hands and being in love and celebrating the fact I have a market for my store, not crying.
Taron doesn’t miss a beat. “Autumn’s bounty? How did you come up with the name?”
I focus on the white label with a peach outline of the sun over a tree. “I like the name Autumn. Mindy helped me with the design.”
“I love it.” He gives me a wink then turns to Mrs. Jenny. “I need a couple of those lip balms there.”
Mrs. Jenny picks up two tiny jars and holds them out. “These are selling like hotcakes, too. You’d better be careful, because they’ll walk away.”
My eyes widen. “People are stealing them?”
“Not on my watch. I’m just saying.” She waits as Taron passes her a twenty, and I try to decide if I’m pissed or flattered. “It’s also higher than people are used to spending on lip balm.”
“It’s priced for the market—” I’m about to defend myself when Taron catches my arm.
“I want to see the pie eating contest if we haven’t missed it.” His expression tells me not to argue.
