Page 124 of Perfume Girl

I broke her gaze, unwilling to bring all that poison into this special moment. “Just tell me there’s a chance for us. If you say there isn’t then I promise to never mention it again. I will leave here after the storm and you won’t hear from me again.”

“Promise you’ll have an open mind.”

“With you?”

“With how we began.”

“I’m more interested in what we can become.”

She looked conflicted, but then gazed up at me with hope in her eyes.

“I’m here to chase away your fears. I’m particularly good in storms.” I gave her a comforting smile. “I’ll keep you safe.” I hugged her.

Being under siege from the weather would be the cruelest strike of all if I wasn’t going to be able to touch her. Realizing I was probably overwhelming her, I let her go and stepped back. “Do you want me to leave?’”

“It’s not safe for you to go.”

“And if it was? If there was no storm?”

She gave a resigned nod. “Stay.”

“Let me help with your formula?”

“No.”

“Okay, I’ll find something else to do. Show me the supplies.” I needed to get my hands on a flashlight in case the lights went out.

“They’re downstairs.” She picked up my wet clothes again and walked into a closet, dropping them into a washing machine. She added detergent and started the cycle. I just hoped we’d not have a power outage before she’d dried my clothing or I was destined to wear this silly robe for the duration of my time here.

She shut the closet door.

“Go on then. Work on your perfume. I’ll make dinner.” I strolled over to the fridge and opened it. “I can’t get over how small this thing is.”

“It’s meant to be temporary.” She crossed her arms.

“As far as I’m concerned it is.” And being here was going to provide the time we needed to talk.

“Astor, thank you for understanding.”

I turned to face her. “I’d do anything for you.”

Her expression softened. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“So am I,” I said, walking back over to her. “Let me prepare the emergency supplies in case we need to bolt.” If the storm turned we’d need to evacuate and fast. “We’ll keep the Weather Channel on.”

“Let’s avoid the channel with you know who on it.”

“I don’t know, seeing Embry battered by a merciless storm might be entertaining.”

She gave my arm a playful punch. “The good news is I have enough supplies to last for days.”

I winked at her. “I always loved hurricanes.”

IFASTOR WAS HERE TOlook for my ledger, he was never going to find it. Yet he seemed sincere. The fact that he’d driven all this way meant everything.

I watched as he knelt in the corner rummaging through the emergency supplies. He found two flashlights and set them aside.

I handed him a mug of tea. “There you are.”