“Okay,” he said, leaning back too. “I shouldn’t have told you that. Next question.”
“Spur—”
“How long have you been making perfume?” he asked, his dark eyes flashing dangerously now.
“Seven years,” she said.
“What did you do before that?”
“Led tours at horse farms.”
“Favorite color?”
“Yellow.” Olli suddenly hated the game, because Spur was just firing things off now. There was nothing fun or flirty about it, and Olli regretted that she’d taken her teasing too far.
He opened his mouth to shoot something else at her, but she held up her hand and he paused.
“I’m sorry,” she said as sincerely as she could. “I think it’s great you found something to keep your hands busy while you relax in the evening.”
He lowered his chin just two inches, but it was enough to conceal his eyes beneath the brim of that very sexy cowboy hat. How men did that—lowered their heads the exact right amount to hide only what they wanted to hide—she didn’t know. They must practice in front of a mirror every dang day.
“Is Spur your real name?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Olli smiled at the softness in his voice, though he still hadn’t lifted his head again. “Do you like fishing?”
“Not particularly.”
She took a moment to take a breath. “Favorite color?”
“Black. Dark blue.” He looked up then, something powerful and yet vulnerable passing between them. She extended her hand across the table, only intending to go halfway. He met her in the middle and squeezed her hand.
“I am sorry about teasing you about the knitting,” she said.
“It’s fine,” he said. “You did use up some of the bonus points you earned when you called my cowboy casual necktie sexy, though.” His eyes sparkled now, all of their previous darkness gone. “Just so you know.”
Olli blinked at him, burst out laughing, and began bargaining with herself about how far she could take this fake relationship.
Maybe it’s not fake at all, she thought, but she didn’t dare bring that up during the rest of their getting-to-know-you game.
* * *
The next morning,Olli woke with a happiness hangover. She stayed under the covers and kept her eyes closed, reliving one of the best nights of her life. Spur had lightened up after her apology, and they’d had a great evening together.
The man could dance, and Olli wanted to see him again immediately. They’d made no further plans to get together, and she rolled over and picked up her phone, intending to change that.
As she’d stood in Spur’s arms last night, laughing and dancing, she’d caught a whiff of his cologne. The man smelled amazing, and she needed to know what brand of cologne he wore. She also needed him to step into her world for a moment and help her find the best male scents for her new line of men’s products.
She started five different texts, each of them getting erased. She didn’t want to be long-winded, as Spur had said he didn’t have spare time. She seized onto the knitting, a smile forming on her face.
Wondered if you’d like to keep your hands busy at my perfumery tonight? I’d love your help with a line of men’s products I’m developing. My nose is decidedly female, and I need some Y-chromosomal input.
Before she could doubt herself for the sixth time, she sent the hopefully fun, flirty message across the acres between their two houses.
She sat up and stretched, deciding she better get out of bed before she fell back asleep. She had plenty to do at the perfumery that day, especially if tall, dreamy Spur was going to be there that night.
Panic’s grip tightened around her lungs. “Why did you invite him to the perfumery?” She rolled her eyes at herself as she stood. If her house could be called a mess, the perfumery should probably be deemed a natural disaster area. There was no way she could spruce it up before that evening, even if she went straight there now and cleaned all day.