Page 105 of Wilde Flame

“She’s worried I’m going to lose my—” Her words cut off.

“Lose your what?”

Waving it off, she said, “Nothing. I’m so sorry. I’ll call her now and tell her not to bother you like that again.”

“It wasn’t a bother.”

She looked at me. “When she starts calling you five, six times a day to ask about me, will it be a bother then?”

I screwed up my face. “Yeah, that might get old really fast.”

Lilibeth chuckled. “I know they mean well, and they’re upset with me for moving in with you. They still don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Because we’re not a couple?”

“That’s about right. Anyway, I’ll take care of it.”

“I’ve got some chili heating up on the stove that my grandmother gave me earlier. You hungry?”

She nodded. “I am. Let me get this last bit taken care of, and I’ll come down and help.”

“Take your time. Chili isn’t going anywhere.”

I headed toward the door to leave when Lilibeth called out my name.

“Caden?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for the help today in getting my stuff moved.”

I smiled. “It was nothing. Get settled in and come down whenever you’re ready.”

She looked like she wanted to say something else, but instead, she pressed her lips together tightly and nodded.

Stepping out of the room, I softly shut the door and stood there a moment as reality slowly settled in.

Lilibeth was living in my house. Under the same roof as me. I closed my eyes and ran my hand down my face before I headed for the steps.

“Lord, I have a feeling I’m gonna be asking for your help a lot these next few months.”

Lilibeth

Week 15

It had been a month since I’d moved in with Caden, and things were better than I thought they’d be. He was usually up and gone by the time I woke, and by the time we both got home, we were exhausted, and one, or both of us, would head to bed early. I’d hardly even seen him the last three weeks. It was both a blessing and a curse. There were days when I longed to see him, but we could only exchange a quick hello and goodbye.

Today was one of those days when I didn’t get to see Caden. He’d gotten up early and left before I was out of bed. I was beginning to think he was afraid to see me. Rather than sit around an empty house, I’d decided to head into the store a bit earlier than normal. After a quick stop at the bakery for a very unhealthy breakfast and a cup of chai, I made my way to the shop.

A light snow was falling, giving the outside a very romantic, yet chilly feel. In fact, early March in River Falls, Colorado, brought more snow than I’d seen all winter. Or at least, it felt that way. I was over winter and beginning to wish I lived in the deep south, where it was seventy degrees today and not thirty-one.

The bell above the door rang as I stepped into Wonderland Whimsy.

“Morning, Moreen!” I called out, as I headed toward the back to my office. The store was due to open in about thirty minutes, and I had someone booked first thing for the perfumery. So I wanted to dive into my cherry danish and orange cinnamon roll before the day started.

Moreen appeared in front of me, a stricken look on her face.

“What’s wrong?” I immediately asked. A million things raced through my head that could be wrong with the store, making Moreen look the way she did. “Is everything okay with the store?” I asked, spinning in a circle. I was still wearing my hat, scarf, and gloves, and it was apparent in that moment that the heat was working, at least.