She handed it back to him. “This is fine. Has a little sandalwood so it’s a bit more masculine than the others. Go for it.”

“Thanks. I appreciate your help.”

“She’s a lucky woman,” the clerk replied, as he was walking away.

He stopped suddenly, turned, and grinned. “I think I’m the lucky one.”

“Even better. Good luck.” The woman finally smiled.

Gaines bought three large candles and a lighter and headed back to his place. He set one on the dining-room table, one on the fireplace mantel, and one on the bathroom vanity. He decided to light one just to be sure he wouldn’t have another olfactory reaction. He checked his watch again. Three more hours. He didn’t want to start any new projects. The house was in a state of suspended animation, and he didn’t want to open any work files. He couldn’t remember the last time he actually had time on his hands. He sat on the sofa and looked around for the umpteenth time. Not very homey. It is what it is, and that’s why she’s coming. I should be thankful it looks the way it does.

The weekend

Luna must have packed and unpacked her bags three times. Wiley watched her move back and forth from the closet to the weekender suitcase propped on the chair in the corner. She held up a midi dress with long sleeves. “What do you think? Too caj? Too dressy?” Wiley didn’t make a move. “OK. So that will go back on the rack.” Her closet was squished. She dug through more clothes, shoving each garment into the next. “Wow. I never realized I had so much stuff.” She looked at Wiley. He yawned. “And I can’t figure out what to wear or pack.” She threw herself backward on her bed and began to stare at the ceiling. She was nervous. She knew it. Talk about practicing what you preach. She stunk at it. Maybe this was a good time to put her own words to good use. She didn’t have to be on the road for another couple of hours. She had time to decompress and hit the reset button. She got up and dimmed the lights, pulled down the shade, put on some New Age music, and set the timer. She would try to be still for forty minutes, regardless. No thinking allowed. She closed her eyes and began deep yoga breathing, inhaling and exhaling to the rhythms of the ocean waves in the background of the music. She drifted off to the guided meditation taking her to the tranquility of lush, beautiful gardens.

* * *