“I am."
She ducked her head, and I could tell she was embarrassed. "Hey, you're beautiful."
She smiled at me. "Thank you."
“You're welcome. Now eat. You have to keep your strength up. I calculated, we have four hours before I have to report back, and I want to use that wisely. We have a lot to talk about."
She shoved a piece of waffle into her mouth and mumbled, "Like what?"
"Well, for starters, that perfume. What is it? I need to spray it all over my sheets or something, because it's like the only way I can sleep now."
She shook her head then, her eyes going sad when she spoke. “I can't find it."
"What do you mean? Has it been discontinued?"
"No, Mum used to have it made. On her first trip to Paris, she went to a perfumery and they crafted it just for her, based on her body chemistry. I’ve got a few drops left, but that's basically it."
No fucking way. "Are you kidding me?"
"No, I wish I was." She touched the chain at the base of her throat. “I used an atomizer to get some of it in here, and it's basically all that's left. I've got maybe three sprays left in the big bottle, and that's it. I used to have this diary of hers too, and I thought maybe I’d look in there for a clue as to where it was made, but I think that diary got sold along with a whole bunch of other used books after she died. So this is all I have left."
"Shit, I’m sorry, Saff."
She nodded her thanks. "Me too. I've gone and tried perfumeries, but none of them can quite get it right. They’ve tried to make me replicas, but it never works."
"There has to be a way."
“Trust me. If there was a way, I would have found out by now."
"Of course, leave it to you to be extra. A very special perfume for a very special lady."
She grinned. "She would have liked you. My father would have hated you."
I laughed. "Let me guess, Gabe takes after him. "
"Oh yes, a hundred percent overprotective."
“I keep trying to remind myself that he loves you."
“Yeah well, he has a very specific way of doing things."
"Was he closer to your dad?" I asked.
“Yeah. He wanted to be just like him. You should have seen Gabe following after him with a clipboard, taking notes on how to be the perfect agent. I just liked the combat training. I loved hand-to-hand. I think I’m like my mum. She was known for being somewhat impulsive, but she was great in the field."
"That's a hell of a legacy, Saff."
“I know. And I just hope that I can make them proud."
“You already have,” I assured her.
“You seem so sure of that."
"Well, I’ve been in the field with you. I know how good you are. Sooner or later, Gabe is going to have to realize it too."
“I hope so, because I’m exhausted trying to pretend like it doesn't hurt every time I submit for field op and get declined."
"Are you going to be mad at me if I say I understand where he's coming from?"