When I Needed You by Tina Martin

Author:Tina Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romantic suspense, african american, love story, small town, homeless, alpha hero, sweet heroine
Publisher: Tina Martin

CHAPTER EIGHT

Ahmalee

Monday, we’re on the way to the office. This is the first time Cain’s been in my car. I don’t know why that makes me nervous – not a scared kind of nervous, but the exciting kind that comes with butterflies. He’s dressed casually today. Said he wanted to go check out some job leads after helping me at the shop.

We arrive at Ivy and Eden around nine-thirty.

“It feels weird to be back here,” he says.

“Does it?”

“Yeah. I was so lost. In many ways, I still am.”

I reach over and squeeze his forearm and say reassuringly, “I’ll help you.”

“I know. You’ve been helping me. I appreciate everything you do for me, Ahmalee.”

I glance over at him – catch him licking his lips while looking at mine. I release his arm and proceed to open the door.

We go inside. Soon after, my supplies are delivered. Cain brings in box after box to the lab. He lowers a twenty-four pack of two-ounce jars to the table and unpacks them. I’m making more candles this morning – small candles that smell like red wine. I’ve been anxious to make those.

“This place is a candle paradise,” Cain says looking around at all the fragrance oil bottles on the shelf and the inventory of candles that are curing on the racks.

“Yep. This is where all the magic happens.”

“Are you making more today?”

“Yes. I’m experimenting with the smaller ones. I bought a new fragrance oil that smells like red wine. I want to see how well it performs when it sets in with the wax.”

“I see.”

“I also have to bottle up some more soap and massage oil.”

“Sounds like a full day.”

“Yeah. It will be. Oh, and if you want to take my car to go job hunting, that’s fine. Just pick me up later.”

“No, I’m not taking your car. All the places I need to go to are within walking distance.”

“But—”

“I’m not taking your car, Ahmalee.”

“Okay, fine,” I say putting my hands up. “Can’t say I didn’t offer.”

I hear the doorbell chime.

“Good morning, Ahmalee,” Sonji sings loudly so I’ll hear her from the lab. “Jamie just pulled up, too. I didn’t realize you scheduled us both—”

Her voice falls off when I emerge from the back with Cain in tow. She frowns, darts her head back and asks, “Is this—?”

Before she can say that homeless dude, I say, “Sonji, this is Cain. Cain, this is Sonji.”

She stares up at him like she’s in awe. No, not awe, more like shock mixed with a little fear. She didn’t think I was serious when I told her he’d been helping me, but she has proof now.

Jamie walks in and says, “Mornin’, y’all. I—”

When she notices Cain, her voice falls down the same cliff as Sonji’s. She says. “Is this Cain?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Cain says. He steps forward and extends his hand to shake hers.

Jamie cringes. She doesn’t try to hide it, either, and she doesn’t reach for his hand. Instead, she says, “Oh, I’m good. No offense, hun, but I don’t shake the hands of folks I do know.

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