Page 63 of Reluctant Chemistry

Visceral Reaction

The following Monday, CeCe bounded down the stairs and out through the packing shed door. Her sister Liz had emailed through samples of Botanical Ce’s graphics the night before, and CeCe looked forward to spending the day alone, figuring out what she liked and what she didn’t. She planned to do a soft launch of most of her product at the farm gate store, plus online through the awesome website Liz had created. There was no point in throwing heaps of money at her new venture if nobody liked the product. Liz had suggested she let it grow organically, which made perfect sense to CeCe. And with the restoration of the ‘money tin’—her father’s pet name for the Kombi—taking all her spare cash, she had to watch her budget.

Deep in thought as she strode across the driveway, she didn’t notice Mitch and the orchard’s foreman, Ned, talking to Luka until she almost walked into them.

Luka’s gaze settled on her and remained there without an ounce of unease, but Ned spoke first.

“Morning, CeCe.” He flashed her a broad smile filled with false teeth. Now in his eighties, Ned had worked at Lime Tree Hill ever since Mitch’s grandfather owned the place, and CeCe loved his infectious grin. “Day off, is it?”

“Not today. I’m working in the lab.” She looked at Mitch and Luka. “Morning, guys.”

“CeCe,” Luka said, his expression so very readable, but his tone one of indifference.

“Hey, Nick was here looking for you earlier,” Mitch, the stirrer, said with a straight face. “Wants to catch up for lunch, said he’d call back later.”

That was all she needed when she had a full day planned. An aloof Luka staring at her like she was a lost opportunity and Nick with his plans for a cozy lunch. “Oh, okay. Thanks. Have a great day, guys.”

The hairs on her nape lifted as she walked away. Did the man still have his eyes on her? Because right at that moment, her entire body was experiencing a visceral reaction she couldn’t control.

Damn Luka and their pesky chemistry.

Or perhaps it was merely her vivid imagination playing tricks on her. She carried on across the driveway without looking back, but as she unlocked the door and stepped inside, Luka’s expression stayed in her head.

She was just making a coffee when Mitch knocked on the open door, a pail of something in his hands. “How’s it going?”

“Yeah, good.” CeCe rubbed her temples. She’d been in the lab for less than fifteen minutes and was already tense. “Here.” She picked up a jar from the counter. “Try this.”

Mitch set down the pail and took the offered spatula. He smeared a dollop of the cream on the back of his hand and massaged it in with his fingertips. “Feels a little greasy.”

“Yeah, it does, doesn’t it?” She sighed. “Stability’s my biggest concern. I don’t want the creams splitting in the jar after a couple of months and the oil floating to the top.”

“Ah, the old ‘peanut butter’ conundrum. Have you considered asking Luka for his opinion?”

“No, I have not, and why would I? Oh…” She flashed him a smile. “You are such a stirrer.”

He grinned back in that cheeky way of his. “I just thought, with him having been a chemistry teacher and all, he might have some ideas.”

“There’s a vast difference between a chemist and a teacher. I hardly know what I’m doing, so I don’t think Luka would have a clue. Besides, he’s not someone I should spend time with.”

“Really? Why not?”

CeCe shrugged.

Mitch laughed. Although her brother had a serious side, CeCe seldom saw it. He’d teased her since she was a little girl, and he loved teasing her even now. “So, you’re still pissed at him? After all this time?”

Yes…maybe…kind of.She pointed to the open door. “Don’t you have work to do?”

Mitch lifted the obviously heavy pail. “You don’t want this then?”

“What is it?”

“A gift. From your annoying ex. Organic Manuka honey from his parents’ hives.”

CeCe frowned. “Are you serious? They have beehives?”

“That’s why he called in this morning—to drop it off.”

“But a pail of Manuka honey that size is worth a small fortune, and why didn’t Luka deliver it to me himself?”

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