Third Time's a Charm (Holland Springs #3)(31)

“I’m not here,” Skye said, then ducked into the office.

Tristan Reed barged in, his gray eyes glittering. “Skye Holland, get your red head in here and tell me why you drove off another one of my patients.”

Open-mouthed, Rose stared at him. His jet black eyebrows drew together in frustration when he found the store empty.

“Where is she?” he growled, his usually starched shirt rumpled and his hair sticking out all over his head like little ebony spikes. “I saw her run in.”

“Um, well—”

“Tell him I’m not here,” Skye said in a loud stage whisper, and Rose winced.

“She’s not here,” Rose said lamely.

Tristan’s jaw worked. “Has she always been like this?”

“Like what?”

“A pig-headed, stubborn-ass woman.”

Skye gasped and popped out of the office. “Just because you have too much water in your spirit doesn’t mean you can take out your imbalance on me.”

Tristan scrubbed his face. “And just because I’m half Chinese doesn’t mean I believe that superstitious stuff. Or eat sushi and do karaoke.”

“But you took me on a date to Mr. Lee’s All You Can Eat Sushi and Karaoke Bar last week,” Skye pointed out, oblivious to the visible tic forming on Tristan’s forehead. “You ate salmon rolls and sang an old Backstreet Boys song.” She turned to Rose and added, “I think it might have been the sake.”

Tristan’s face grew dark and he spun on his heel, striding to the front of the store. He slammed the door behind him.

“What was that all about?” Rose asked. How in the world had she not known that Skye and Tristan were dating?

“A little misunderstanding, that’s all. He’ll be over it by supper time,” Skye said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

Suddenly giddy as she remembered the email, Rose motioned Skye back to the office and pointed to her computer screen. “Read this.”

“Oh my God,” she squealed, and hugged Rose tight. “This is awesome.”

They danced around the room, taking turns re-reading the email out loud, and laughing until tears were falling from their eyes.

“This is the best day ever,” Rose said, picking up Ivy and kissing her head. “Well, almost.”

“You’ll need to ship out our back supplies and make some more of your cellulite cream and body butter. Shampoo. Conditioner. Bubble bath. Everything,” Skye said with a laugh.

The bells rang again.

Luke Ambrose strode inside. The handsome doctor was back in town, finally finished with his reality series called ‘Dr. LA.’ Even though it was filmed in Miami. According to his sister, Zoe, it was a running joke in their family.

“Hi, Luke. How are—”

“Stop making Lily’s shower stuff for Carson Russell.”

“Carson Russell doesn’t shop here.”

“You sure about that?”

Rose canted her head side to side, mentally searching her customer list. “Unless she orders it online, but I don’t have any local customers who do that.”

Luke pulled out his wallet and placed a black American Express card on the counter. “Give me whatever you have that doesn’t smell good.”

“I’m not sure if I have what you’re looking for.” Rose didn’t think Luke meant to be insulting, but she could never be too cautious.

Skye stayed quiet as she took Ivy out of Rose’s arms.

Luke mussed his hair with his free hand. “Ah, hell, honey. I’m not trying to insult you. I just can’t have her smelling like her on our dates.”

“Smell like who?”

His dark eyes glittered. “Her her.”

Rose took a breath and tried again. “Carson or Lily?”

“Carson. No, Lily.” He grimaced. “Look, I don’t want Carson to smell like Lily,” he said, wandering over to the section of women’s body lotions, gels, and bath salts.

She joined him, picking up a baby blue and green bottle. “Try this: apple blossom with sweat pea. Lily’s is—”

“Gardenia and lavender,” he said, surprising her. The two hadn’t been together for the past five years, yet he remembered what Lily liked.

“Yes, and since she’s been back in town, I—”

“What?” Luke croaked.

Rose suppressed a smile. “Lily’s back in town. She bought Dance to the Beat from Tempe Yoder last month. Didn’t you know?”

His mouth formed a straight line before he spoke. “No.” He plucked the bottle out of her hands, dug his free hand into his pocket, and threw some cash on the counter. “Keep the change.”

“Don’t you want your card?” Skye called out, waving it in the air like a flag, but Luke was already in his fancy sports car and pulling out of his parking spot.

Rose turned to Skye and shook her head in disbelief. “Has the full moon got their testosterone levels all testosterone-y?”

Skye snorted, then her eyes widened. “Don’t look now, but your favorite Englishman is headed this way and looking none too happy.”

Rose leaned to the side and watched as Sasha crossed the street. He looked like the devil was on his heels and was mad as hellfire. “Oh, yay,” she muttered.