Page 105 of The Rebel

DAISY

I was still swooningby the time Anthony and I headed to Fragrant Delights. I had yet to say the L-word. I wanted to tell him I loved him, but somehow saying so on the streets of New Orleans took away the romance. I needed to tell him when we were alone.

“I’m stuffed,” I exclaimed. I swear, I was waddling a little. “How is all the food in this city so damn delicious?”

“I took you to the very best,” Anthony said. “It’s not like that everywhere.”

I still couldn’t believe this sexy man had said all those wonderful things to me. That inexplicable joy I felt in my chest just kept expanding.

When we arrived in front of Fragrant Delights, I gasped. Anthony whistled. There was a crowd in front. The shop was completely full. Celine and Isabeau were at the counter.

“I didn’t expect this,” Anthony said.

“By the looks on your grandmothers’ faces, neither did they. Are they giving something away for free?”

“Let’s find out.”

We squeezed our way inside the shop. Everyone was glaringat us, but Anthony just said, “We’re family,” as if that would explain why we were practically jumping the line.

“Celine, Isabeau,” Anthony called once we were closer.

They immediately glanced at him. A split second later, they noticed me, and they both grinned.

“Hi, Daisy. Nice to see you again,” Celine said.

Anthony laughed. “And I’m invisible or what?”

Isabeau shook her head. “Don’t play games with us, Anthony. Everyone else is in the back.”

On one side of the counter, there were glasses with drinks. A guy kept filling new glasses.

“Do you need help?” I asked.

“No! No one can do what we do,” Celine replied.

“That’s their motto,” Anthony whispered in my ear, but loud enough for them to hear. “They were like that as chefs too.”

“Anthony!” Isabeau exclaimed, bristling.

“Don’t get on Isabeau’s bad side tonight,” Celine replied with a laugh.

Anthony chuckled, taking my hand and pulling me away to the back of the shop, leading me through a secret door next to the soaps. I’d imagined the back to be a warehouse, but it was the complete opposite. It resembled a cozy reading area with fancy velvet couches—and even more shelves with perfumes.

By the looks of it, the entire familywashere. I instantly felt a little self-conscious. Why didn’t I bother to check my appearance after we left the last snack bar? I should’ve made sure I didn’t have anything in my teeth. Oh God, what if I did?

“Hello, everyone,” Anthony greeted. I felt at least six pairs of eyes on us.

Beckett whistled. “Well, well, someone is brave.”

“Mom, Dad,” Anthony said, ignoring him, “you met Daisy at LeBlanc-Broussard.”

“Yes. We’re so happy to see you tonight. I didn’t get to introduce myself last time. I’m Adele,” his mom replied.

His dad grinned next to her. “And I’m Remy.”

“So pleased to be here,” I replied.

Remy glanced at Anthony. “Way to surprise us, son.”