Chapter Eight
In just a couple of hours since they’d brought the elevated bed back from the store, Raider clearly loved it.
He’d actually gotten off it with more ease than Josh had expected, or anyone else for that matter.
Raider had gotten a sip of water from the new bowls and then lifted his nose to sniff the air, his gaze settling on Josh.
He’d have sworn the dog was telling him thank you before he turned and stepped back onto the bed.
“Looks like a happy boy now.” Katie stood in the doorway, watching the now sleeping dog.
Josh stood slowly and smiled. Not till recently did he realize how often he’d nodded. Something he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to do again. “He appears to be less stiff. Not sure if it’s the bed or if he’s just healing that quickly.”
“Maybe a little of both.” She shrugged. “Rachel just blew into the kitchen.”
Josh couldn’t hold back the burst of laughter at the comment. From what he knew of Rachel, that girl buzzed in and out of a lot of situations and then sped away with the agility of a formula one race car driver.
“Apparently, Jillian needs something and we’ve all been summoned.”
With a shrug, he waved one hand toward the door. “Lead the way.”
In the kitchen, several family members were seated around the table while Alice walked about filling glasses with iced tea.
“So what’s going on?” Kade asked.
His brows buckled and his gaze narrowed, Garret tipped his head slightly. “Is Jillian all right? Did something happen at the sale today?”
That last line had everyone sitting taller in their seats, their casual smiles slipping.
“Relax.” Rachel held up her hands. “You know how Jillian has decided to do evening classes on candle making?”
Jackie nodded. “She said it would be easier without customers coming and going.”
“She’s been leaving flyers all over town,” Cassie added. “Thought the crowds from the sidewalk sale would be good timing.”
“Makes sense.” Preston nodded.
“So what’s this all about?” Leave it to Kade to get right to the point.
“She’s only had two people sign up. A couple staying at the new B&B.”
“Hm.” Carson grunted softly. “Even for me, that math doesn’t add up.”
“Nope.” Rachel shook her head from left to right once. “If she wants this to catch on like that painting and wine event that folks are always doing, she’ll need more people and more making merry along with the candles.”
And the reason for the meeting became clear to Josh at about the same time it hit everyone else and several heads either nodded or turned side to side.
“I love my sister,” Carson spoke, “you know I do, but tonight is Mason’s last parent night at school.”
Jackie looked at Garret. Their eyes met. And Josh wondered how the heck did these people do that? He could see the entire conversation taking place without a word, then Jackie turned to Rachel. “We’re in.”
A smile took over Rachel’s face. “Who else?”
One by one hands went up. Before he knew it Cassie was nodding and Kade was elbowing him. “Come on, hot shot. Afraid a little candle making will tarnish your reputation with the ladies?”
Hot shot? That was a first. He’d let the ladies comment ride—for now. On the other hand… “No more afraid of word getting back to the men on base than you are.”
Kade winced and Josh understood his pain. If word spread that the two of them were spending a Saturday night making candles, they’d never hear the end of it for the next ten or twenty years.
“So,” Josh looked to Kade, “is there a dress code for this little party?”
And just like that, voices spoke over each other, laughter floated around and then, beaming like the Cheshire cat, Alice placed the handset to the landline back in place and spun about.
“Aunts Liz and Vicki are going to come too. They were going to watch the competitions at the park, but agreed this is more important.” The woman slapped her hands together and rubbed.
Still grinning madly, she actually squealed before spinning around. “This is going to be so much fun!”
He sure hoped Alice Sweet knew of what she spoke.
“Hey,” Cassie grabbed her husband’s hand, “don’t look so grim. This will be a great date night. Certainly better than sitting in a dark theater watching a dumb movie.”
Wise man that he was, Kade merely smiled at his wife and nodded.
Something deep inside Josh seemed to almost tug at him to turn and face Katie, surprised to find her hands cradling her glass, her gaze focusing on the liquid within.
Not till he spotted the hint of pink warming her cheeks, did he realize what had made her so quiet.
The same words that had struck him—Date night.
Great, so the woman was not only smart and perceptive, she was also cute as a button when she blushed.
Maybe a date night wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
If there was one thing Katie had learned during her short visits at the Sweet ranch, it was when this family mobilized, it was like watching a well-oiled machine.
Within half an hour, everyone was changed, freshened up, loaded with bottles of wine, and good humor.
Shortly after leaving the ranch, the siblings, spouses and friends piled out of various vehicles in front of Jillian’s candle shop as if it were the hottest ticket in town.
Katie carried a massive bottle of red wine that Jackie had pressed into her hands with the fierce conviction of a woman about to commit mischief.
Heaven Scent had been transformed. The overhead lights had been dimmed in favor of string lights that gave the whole place a cozy, almost magical glow.
Near the rear of the shop six workstations had been set up, each equipped with a hot plate, a double boiler setup, measuring cups, wooden stir sticks, and an array of small glass jars. And wine—lots of wine.
Katie took it all in, handing Jillian the bottle of wine that had been clutched to her chest. Not that from the look of the table set up for refreshments did it seem that Jillian needed more. “This is adorable.”
“Right?” Jillian beamed. “I was panicking when only two people signed up, but now—” she gestured to the growing crowd, “—now it’s a party.”
Josh followed behind her, moving a little slower but his broad smile had his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Looking around a minute, he stepped around her and reached for two aprons from the counter, his other hand brushing along the small of her back.
The unexpected contact had her sucking in a long breath.
Turning, he offered her a colorful apron with the candle shop logo. “Here you go.”
“Thanks,” she managed, slipping it over her head.
Behind them, two women who Katie remembered from the wedding as being Garret’s Aunts Liz and Vicki came through the front door, both smiling and giddy as schoolgirls going to their first dance.
Within minutes, wine glasses in hand, they settled at a table, whispering and laughing and reminding Katie, in the words of Auntie Mame, that life was a banquet and most poor suckers were starving to death.
All the couples claimed a table leaving Josh and Katie at the same table.
Her thoughts drifted back to Cassie’s comment about a fun date night and Katie felt heat flush again to her cheeks.
Silly of her. Just because Cassie had said that about her and her husband didn’t mean that Josh thought she considered this a date.
He probably hadn’t even noticed what Cassie had said.
“All right!” Jillian clapped for attention then launched into a cheerful explanation of candle wax temperatures, fragrance ratios, and wick sizing. The aunts were already two steps ahead, sniffing every fragrance bottle on the table.
“This one smells like a handsome cowboy.” Aunt Liz rolled her eyes and one shoulder.
Elbowing her sister, Vicki sniffed at a fragrance. “Ooh, this one smells like a handsome cowboy after a shower.”
“Okay, ladies,” hiding a giggle of her own, Jillian gently removed a bottle from Aunt Liz’s hand, “let’s stay family friendly.”
The two women continued to tease and banter over different fragrances, looking for something that resembled bling.
Katie bit back a grin and focused on stirring their melting wax. The heat from the burner warmed her face, or maybe that was just the proximity to Josh. He’d rolled up his sleeves, revealing forearms that were—well, distracting.
“Okay!” Jillian’s voice rang out again. “While your wax is melting, it’s time to pick your fragrance. I’ve got about twenty options here. You can mix and match, but I’d recommend starting simple.”
Katie moved to the fragrance station, studying the labels. Vanilla. Lavender. Pine. Cinnamon.
Josh appeared beside her, close enough that their arms brushed. “What do you think?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged, keeping her eyes on the fragrances. What was it about having this man close that had her forgetting her own name? “What do you like?”
“I’m not picky.”
“That’s not helpful.” She chuckled.
Smiling at her, he picked up a bottle labeled “Fresh Linen” sniffed, winced and shaking his head, muttered, “Definitely not that.”
She laughed, reaching for another option. “How about this? Cedar and sage.”
He leaned in to smell it, close enough that she could feel his breath on her hand. “Yeah. That’s good.”
Heat once again rose to her cheeks. She was going to have to stop doing that before people started to think she had caught something like scarlet fever.
They returned to their station with the fragrance oil, and Jillian demonstrated how to test the wax temperature with a thermometer. Katie held the thermometer while Josh stirred, their heads bent close together over the pot.
“You’re doing great,” he murmured.
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
“You picked a good scent. That counts.”
She glanced up at him, finding his eyes already on her. The moment stretched, and for just a second she wondered what it might be like to live in a place like Honeysuckle with street fairs, friendly neighbors, goofy aunts, and men like Josh.
Across the table, the aunts discovered Jillian’s glitter.
“Oh dear Lord,” Jillian gasped. “Glitter doesn’t melt into wax.”
“Then why do you have it?” Aunt Vicki glared at her niece.
“For decorating, not pouring.” Jill tried to retrieve the glitter from the two older women, but it was a lost cause. Glitter swirled through their melted wax like a snow globe.
Rachel cackled. “I think y’all are going to be the proud parents of the first West Texas disco-ball candle.”
Biting back a grin, Josh leaned into her and murmured, “I kind of want one.”
Katie giggled. She kind of wanted one too. This whole little adventure was proving to be more entertaining than she’d expected. And the company was pretty nice too. She actually wished it were a real date. Then she’d have something to look forward to when the candle making was over.
Just then, the door opened, the wind chimes jingled, and Katie glanced up in time to see two women standing transfixed at the sight of glitter-covered aunts, endless laughter, men in aprons, and slap happy adults holding mason jars like they were trophies.
“Oh wow,” one woman uttered. “This looks really… fun.”
Jillian turned, beaming like she’d been waiting for this moment her entire life. “Would you like to join us?”
They nodded eagerly. Within minutes, two more wandered in, drawn by the noise and lights. From the way Jillian and the aunts interacted, the new attendees did not appear to be locals. Just what everyone hoped for.
The newcomers settled in, more wine was poured, and while their candles set, they worked on another scent.
Stirring the wax once again, Josh glanced up at her. “Having fun?”
Katie really loved how a lazy smile often played at his lips. “Yeah. I really am.”
Still watching her more than the wax, his grin widened. “Me too.”
Now all she had to figure out was what the heck was she supposed to do now?