Page 44 of Love in Bloom

“On who? Your sister? Your cousin?”

“I never test anything on anyone unless I’ve tested it on myself first.”

“That’s brave.”

“Or stupid. I determined it was cowardly to ask something of others that I wouldn’t do myself.”

“Do you still hold the same philosophy even now?”

“Yes. Nothing leaves the lab unless my research team and I have tested it on ourselves.”

“Any allergies?”

“So far only cow parsley and ramsons. But as the latter has a distinctly garlic odor, it wasn’t in the running very long as a makeup product. Who wants their lipstick to smell like garlic?”

“Perhaps it would make a killing in the Romanian market where Dracula’s castle is supposed to be. You know, to keep the vampires away.” He winked at her.

“A niche market to be sure.”

They wandered through the trees.

“I wonder which of these I could use at Lakr.”

“You’ve never explained how your company got its name.”

“Oh, I wanted something luxurious but publicly accessible. Connor and I made a list, but most of them were taken. I searched the word lush, and lakr is the Norse word for it. Thankfully it was available. I licensed the copyright, and here we are.”

“An English woman entrepreneur working under a Norse company name.” He chuckled.

“I imagine there’s Norse blood somewhere in my family tree.” She shrugged. “We all come from somewhere. Tell me something about your family.”

Tristan’s expression closed off, and he frowned. After several minutes of silence he said, “My mum’s a saint, my dad’s the best of men, and my brother was my best friend. I haven’t spoken to my family in a few years.” He shifted his shoulders.

“Why?”

“I’m ashamed of my actions in Singapore. They raised me better than that. I can’t bear the idea of facing them and telling them what a twat I was.”

She stopped them and turned him to face her “Tristan, how long are you going to carry this burden, this guilt with you?”

“Until I die, I suppose.”

Camille shook her head. “That’s not healthy. I know I’m not an authority on a healthy lifestyle, but even I know we eventually have to forgive ourselves for our mistakes so we can move forward and embrace all the good life has to offer us. How long are you planning to deny yourself the good things in your life, in your heart?” She rested a hand over his chest and felt the rapid thump of the organ underneath.

“It’s not that easy.” His voice was husky and coated in sorrow.

“It can be. You can let it be.” She raised her eyes to his, counting the chocolate flecks against their caramel-colored backdrop. One eye, then the other. Her breath kept time with her numbers.

He brought his head to rest against hers, and his eyes blended into one. His hands clasped behind her waist, pulling them together from head to toe.

She closed her eyes and inhaled his scent. In and out, in and out. Their breath became one. Her heartbeat matched time with his.

The moment stretched, and Camille wished it would linger for always. Them in the garden of a palace as one. No words were needed. The connection between them went deeper than words, more than kisses. She found the desire to sample his lips again was sated by their connection. She felt complete with her complementary other half holding her in his arms and he finding nothing wanting in her character. A peace settled over her. She listened to their breath, the songs and chirps of the birds, and the rustle of a light breeze through the leaves of the trees combined to make a symphony that was solely hers and Tristan’s.

♥ ♥ ♥

They entered the hotel room, and Camille breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m so excited not to have to change rooms and hotels for the next few nights. It’s wonderful that the tour ends with day trips from Paris so you don’t have to keep packing and unpacking your suitcase. We can just relax a bit.” She set her bag down and then flopped on the bed.

Tristan rolled his suitcase around to the far side of the room.

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