Page 47 of Broken Bonds

That makes me smile. I’m sure she has the best of the best within arm’s reach, it’s a great compliment to my handmade soaps.

“I made the soap myself back home in Carrollton,” I reply smiling. “I’m glad you liked it.”

She raises her eyebrows, pleasantly impressed. “Please tell me that you have more here and that you are going to sell me some.”

A light laugh comes out of my mouth. “No, no,” hearing my words, her shoulders drop forward in a clear show of disappointment. “But I can ask my mother to send me some. There must be some at home unless she sold them all.”

I swear that from the chair I can see the gears in her brain starting to turn. The woman is a successful businesswoman, she’s already up to something.

“Can you make them here?”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” I reply. “I guess. I’ll have to go to a farmer’s market and get supplies, even though the honey is not from my hive, but pure organic honey would work. Also, I need to order the molds and the cutter online, which won’t be too hard. I’ve updated my phone with all my supplier’s information.”

She smiles again, this time mischievously.

“Does that mean you’re going to stay?” she asks. “I mean, you’re going to get all of those supplies. You have to be here to receive them and use them.”

I’m not going to give up that easy, so I play a little dirty.

“I don’t know yet, we’ll find out soon enough.”

She looks at me, little hearts and stars shining in her dark eyes. “I’m sure he’ll convince you to stay.” She lets out a sigh. “I love it when those tough alpha guys open their hearts, it’s a sight worth admiring.”

“I suppose you speak from experience,” I mumble.

“That is a story for another day. I will only add that I’ve been his beloved for a long time, and it will continue that way. Well, let me know what you decide because I plan to become your number one customer.”

“Thank you very much, I’m going to think about that.” My mind travels to the plans I made to have my online store, expand my company, and start a new adventure.

“Don’t give it much thought, I’ll be waiting, and patience is not one of my strong suits.”

Someone clears their throat from across the room. Lionel is there, looking at me with intensity.

I think he’s trying to guess what’s going on in my mind.

“Alex, Ethan is waiting for you at the foyer,” he says to her, but his dark eyes are on me.

“You have my number,” she cheers before giving me a kiss on the cheek to say goodbye. “Call me when you have decided what to do.”

“I’ll walk you to the door,” Lionel adds.

“I know the way,” she replies, tapping him lightly on the arm. “You have business to attend to here.”

He gives her a sad smile as she leaves.

We look at each other in silence for what seems like an eternity. It’s he who breaks it, extending a hand to me.

It’s a symbolic gesture, one that I think means a lot. He’s waiting for me to take the first step, respecting the space that I’ve tried to put between us as a defense.

“Come,” he insists. “I have a gift for you.”

“Lionel…”

“Come.” This time he smiles, making him look so gorgeous. My heart beats hard, running into stroke territory.

“I don’t need you to give me anything…”

“A gift is a gift. Come with me.”

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