Page 162 of Perfume Girl

“Raquel,” he said, “please come home.”

IINSISTED ON DRIVINGRAQUEL’SAlfa Romeo to my place in South Beach. She didn’t argue. She’d already driven so far this evening and I wanted her to relax. We had the roof down and the breeze caressing us as we drove along the waterfront with Caine sleeping in the backseat.

This was all I could ever ask for…

To be able to glance over at the woman beside me who threw smiles my way, each one feeling like a gift.

After everything that had happened we had found each other again…after all we’d been through we were still here, together, and I knew this meant we were destined to be.

For the first time since we had been parted I didn’t dread walking into my house. With her hand in mine, I led her into what I hoped would one day become her home, too.

I tapped my leg. “C’mon, Caine.” Opening the sliding door to the garden, I let him out to play.

“I’ll never get tired of the view.”

With a lingering look at Raquel, I said, “Neither will I.”

She blushed.

“Let me fix you a drink,” I said, inviting her into the kitchen.

I wanted to tear her clothes off and ravish her in the hallway, but after the tumultuous evening we’d both had I wanted her feeling safe. As I uncorked the bottle of wine, she walked over to the dining room table and examined the ten glass bottles that marketing and I had developed for our new cologne—the same one born from Raquel’s genius mind.

“Have you come up with a name yet?” She turned one of the glass bottles in her hand.

“You like that one?”

She gave a nod. “It’s gorgeous.”

“Then that’s the bottle.” I smiled at the design she was holding.

It was square and had a masculine edge, its stopper adding the style and class we’d talked about.

“Don’t let me influence you.”

“Raquel, you influence me in all I do.” Every inhalation, from the one I took right now back to the day I had first met her. “We have to work on our marketing strategy. I need your input.”

“So you’re not calling itFuck-Boycologne, then?”

“Maybe I will.” I grinned.

She stared at the bottle in her hand. “I’m thinking something like this for the campaign: A cologne that provides a glimpse into the world of our beloved alphas—the men we adore who play hard but also love hard. The kind of man who isn’t afraid to explore new territories. The professional who passionately leads in their chosen field. The scent that attracts The One.”

“Impressive.”

“Your secret’s out, Astor.”

I poured the wine into two tall-stemmed glasses. “You’ve always seen me, Raquel.Me.”

“And I love all I see.”

“Do you have it?” I glanced at her handbag.

“Mine?” Raquel reached into her bag and removed a small glass bottle, then handed it over to me. “Here.”

I took it from her and uncorked the bottle to breathe in the delicate scent. “You added wild roses.”

She looked impressed. “From Cornwall. What do you think?”