Page 76 of The Flirt

She sighed. "The bane of a chef's existence. But if you trust us, we'll make you one that won’t get in the way of your cooking."

"I trust you," I said easily. These two women had a calming effect on me.

"All right, then. Give me your palm," Celine said. "I want to check your lifelines."

I started to laugh because I was certain she was pulling my leg, but she didn't laugh back.

"Wait, you're serious?" I asked.

Isabeau tsked. "Celine, you have to go easy on the girl. She’ll think we’re cray-cray."

Celine scoffed. "Everyone already thinks that. I was under the impression that you didn't give two craps."

"I don't when it comes to strangers, but I do want Scarlett to like us."

"I do like you," I said. Then to prove it, I held my palm out to Celine.

"Mm-hmm," she said, staring at the lines and then frowning some more, as if she didn't quite like what she was seeing. But then she looked up triumphantly and said, "Isabeau, come take a look here."

Isabeau walked up right behind me and leaned in to look at my palm.

"That's what I thought," Celine said.

"Can someone fill me?"

"Oh, no, no," Isabeau said. "That's just for us to know so we can pick a good fragrance."

"You needed to read my palm for that?" I challenged. It was obvious that these two ladies had far more on their mind than they were sharing.

Celine winked at me. "I used to think this was all bull crap until about thirty years ago. A lady who was old as dirt—even older than the two of us—told me that Isabeau was going to become my best friend. I thought she was barking mad. That was during the time when neither of us was thrilled about our kids getting together. We thought they were too young. And what do you know? Now she’s my best friend. So I’m a firm believer that these lines aren’t completely random.”

“And yet you’re still not telling me what you’re seeing. What awaits me?”

“We’re not fortune tellers, darling," Celine said quietly.

"Oh." I was a bit disappointed because I'd gotten hyped up about knowing what my future held. Then again, I was always one for anticipating what life had in store.

"But certain lines are linked to certain traits, much like a horoscope. And it helps us pair you up with fragrances you might like. Let's see if we’re correct," Celine added.

As the two moved about, mixing their concoctions, I thought about my move to New Orleans and how fortunate I’d been—both with my job and with Chad. I was terrified of things going wrong, but at the same time, I couldn’t deny how much I wanted him to be part of my life.

They exchanged a glance. "We can give her our secret ingredient too."

Isabeau waved her hand. "She might not even like it."

"What's the secret ingredient?" I asked eagerly.

"Let’s see if she likes it first,” Isabeau told Celine as if I hadn’t said anything at all.

"It works even if she doesn't like it," Celine replied.

"Celine," Isabeau chastised.

What was going on?

Celine bent down and disappeared under the counter for a split second. Then she straightened up, holding a tiny violet bottle. Taking off the cap, she held it for me.

I took a sniff. "Oh my God, this is amazing. So fresh but also deep. What is it?"

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