Page 164 of Perfume Girl

I adored the décor…the prints on the walls, the glass-fronted display cabinet filled with even more bottles and the red chaise lounge providing a cozy seat for customers as they savored the tranquility around them, listening to classical music playing as a backdrop to a luxurious moment of self-care.

This is what Perfume Girlmeant to me—a safe refuge where women brought their girlfriends, their mothers or sisters, or a place they visited alone where they could steal a few moments for themselves.

I turned to look up at the words elegantly painted along the back wall:

Every romance has a scent.

At the end of this blissful business day I marveled at how busy we had been and thanked my lucky stars for this incredible real estate on Espanola Way in South Beach, with its generous foot traffic and endless stream of tourists who enjoyed spoiling themselves in my store.

All this was thanks to one man—the handsome gentleman who was peering through my glass window wearing a generous grin.

Astor mouthed. “I have it!”

Bursting with excitement, I rounded the display cabinet and hurried to the door, meeting him halfway. He stepped inside the store and lifted me up, spinning me around in a hug as I laughed with joy.

“I missed you.” He nuzzled my neck.

“Missed you, too.” We’d parted at breakfast and though I loved every second of being here I had also counted down the minutes until I saw him again.

He looked around and smiled. “How was today?”

“Busier than I ever was in Dunedin.”

“That’s great. How’s the new staff working out?”

“Fine. Emma’s just left. She’s a great fit.”

“Allow me.” He spun the sign on the door to CLOSED and with a click of the lock he sealed us in.

Astor walked me backward until my body hit the countertop and then lifted me onto it, easing between my legs.

“People will see.” I pointed to the window.

“Let them watch me worshipping my fiancée.”

Resting my head on his shoulder, I brought up my hand and admired my sapphire engagement ring, which brought back happy memories of us in Havana a few months ago. We had danced all night and then he’d gotten down on one knee and proposed with this exquisite stone encased in a gold band.

Sayingyeshad been easy.

All I had gone through, all the loss and all the pain had led me to him. And now, as I looked back, I had no regrets…only gratitude that I had kept my faith in myself and the world, believing everything would work out fine.

This was more than fine. These were my dreams coming true, too wonderful to believe at times. I’d been blessed with a devastatingly charming, funny, kind fiancé whose constant romantic texts throughout the day brought me happiness.

He laughed as he reached into his pocket. “I almost forgot.”

He placed the luminous crystal bottle with its clear liquid on the counter and his gaze rose to study me. “What do you think?”

I reached for the cut glass bottle and examined it, blinking in amazement at its shape, the silver base and the way the light caught the perfume within. “It’s….”

“You like it?”

“Astor, it’s incredible. It’s more than I could ever have imagined.”

“We need something special for this one,” he said. “I brought in a glass designer and he emphasized the way the formula attracts and then deflects light.”

Contentment flushed my cheeks.

“It suits it so well.” He reached for the bottle and held it up. “I love the name.”