Bull in a China Shop

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Brandon had to say, he was actually a bit nervous. He had a lot of experience with the ladies. In almost sixty years he’d had women around the world, but he hadn’t been with anyone for a few years. He was so focused on getting his reputation up and going and helping his sister get her career started and making sure she stayed healthy, that he just didn’t think of himself much. Sure, he’d gotten laid, but that wasn’t what he wanted now. For some reason, he felt that maybe it was time to be more serious. Not too serious; Brandon was never too serious. But maybe he could actually woo a girl, try this relationship for once. He’d have to take baby steps, but he was willing to try. He could start by seeing a pretty little brunette over on Peanut Street.

The past few days on the boat had been exhausting. They’d had a good haul, and while he was pleased with that, his sister had also started seeing someone; someone who she invited to work on his boat. Brandon was trying his damnedest to butt out of it, let Melanie do her own thing, but he couldn’t help worrying that this Kevin would hurt her somehow. It was completely irrational, and he was aware of that. He reluctantly had to admit that Kevin seemed like a nice guy. He’d worked hard the day before on the boat and soaked up everything Brandon said like a sponge. On their off time, Melanie and Kevin had been spotted together, but when there was work to be done, they were both doing it. He was a quiet kid, a little nervous, but nice. Brandon hated that. He hated that he couldn’t hate the guy. Knowing Melanie, she wouldn’t tell him anything that would lead him to dislike him either. Still, it was stressful for Brandon, knowing his little sister was getting involved in something that could get her hurt, and it made him look forward to seeing Jo more.

He’d worked out with Melanie that they would go together to Jo’s store after she got off work on Thursday. She was excited to go and had even guessed why they were going…which of course only made her more excited. She had been egging Brandon to get a girlfriend for years and now he was finally showing interest in a girl that he hadn’t met in a bar. He had called Jo the day before from the captain’s cabin while they were on the water and told her they would be coming by the next day, of course using witty banter to basically warn her that her shop was done for. Melanie was as chipper as he could remember her being, so excited to see the little lady that had caught her big brother’s eye. He just hoped she wouldn’t make a big deal of it in front of Jo.

Now, he was standing outside Jo’s store, the sweet smell of soap and tea pouring out into the street and he hesitated. Damn it. He couldn’t go into that store. His eyes looked around wearily to see if any of his guys were around. Melanie turned and looked back at him from the doorway. “What are you doing?” He gave her an uneasy look. “I’m just…making sure the guys aren’t around,” he grumbled. She sighed and rolled her eyes, grabbing his arm and yanking him into the store. There behind the counter was the little lady whose tea party he had crashed…literally. She was as pretty as he remembered her. Melanie still had a hold on his arm, but he gave Jo a charming smile as the pair made their way to the counter. When they reached it, he held his wrists up to chest height. “So where are the cuffs?” he joked, recalling how he’d told her she should chain him to the counter to keep him from breaking anything. His sister gave him a look and he looked down at her with a big smile. “Inside joke. You wouldn’t get it,” he told her simply, making her roll her eyes at him again. He turned back to Jo with a grin. “Jo, this is my little sister, Melanie. Melanie, this is Jo, the lovely lady whose tea party I wrecked,” he introduced. He had a playful glint in his eye as he smiled at the doe-eyed woman.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie couldn’t have been happier for Brandon. Here she was getting back in the dating game, and he was doing the same! She’d figured out why he suggested bringing her to the store almost immediately after he brought it up. He had reluctantly admitted to liking the woman whose table he’d destroyed at the Pier and he wanted to see her again. Brandon, her playboy brother, was genuinely interested in a woman, aside from what was between her legs. That thought made Melanie cringe, but she was ecstatic he had a crush. Not that he would ever let her call it a crush, though. Crushes were for girls.

After work on Thursday, Melanie had changed into a pair of jeans and a loose button-down shirt before she left the hospital. She and her brother were going to meet over at Sunshine’s Too and she didn’t want to be in her scrubs when she got there. As she drove, she let her mind wander to the types of lotions and soaps and other things she could find in this store. She could smell nice around Kevin, even when they were on the boat! The fact that she was going to see him again on Saturday thrilled her. She had been shocked at how well-behaved Brandon had been the day before, even admitting that he was a nice guy. Everything seemed to be going so well for the Garcias these days.

When she got to the store, Brandon was waiting in his car, beating his hands on the wheel to some rock song. Typical Brandon. She knocked on the window and he got out, but as they made their way up, Brandon stopped. Melanie turned, confused as to why he was stopping all of a sudden. Was he scared? “What are you doing?” she asked as his eyes looked to either side of him wearily. “I’m just…making sure the guys aren’t around.” Brandon was such a macho man and a baby. He should have been secure enough to not care if the guys saw him at the store or not. She sighed and rolled her eyes at his incessant need to be tough, grabbing his arm and pulling him inside. Melanie was anxious to see this lady friend of his!

As soon as they were inside, Melanie was overcome by a hundred different delightful smells. The whole atmosphere of the store was adorable and warm, and there were soaps and lotions and teas everywhere. She loved tea and pretty much anything girly, so she relished in the darling shop. Seeing the woman behind the counter, she gathered from the way she was looking at them that she was the woman Brandon had told her about. Melanie smiled wide and pulled her brother along to the counter. When they reached it, Brandon lifted his hands, drawing her attention. “So where are the cuffs?” Melanie was shocked. He was so rude! Talking about S&M to a woman he just met?! Her face clearly showed her disbelief, but he shook his head at her. “Inside joke. You wouldn’t get it.” She rolled her eyes at him again and then smiled back at the woman behind the counter. “Jo, this is my little sister, Melanie. Melanie, this is Jo, the lovely lady whose tea party I wrecked.” Melanie gave Jo a big smile and reached her hand out to Jo. “It’s nice to meet you, Jo,” she said, beaming. “Your shop is so cute! What an original idea, selling tea and body essentials in one store! It makes so much sense too, but I never would have thought of it!” Brandon hadn’t mentioned Jo’s explanation for why tea, soap and lotion went together, but Melanie figured it out on their own. They were made of similar things, so it only made sense to sell them together. She was excited to talk shop with this businesswoman.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

Jo had been almost surprised when Brandon called to tell her he was coming to the store. She didn't doubt he would, but she didn't expect him to call and tell her either. She had a hard time falling asleep that night wondering if she should look extra nice or not for him, but she also knew she had no idea when he was coming so whatever nice things she put on might not be as nice by the time he came. She decided to stay casual; casual was always better, and beside she didn't want to get her hopes up. He was bringing his sister after all, which she knew was his macho way of covering up for the reason to come since going in her store as a male meant you were more than likely gay. Unless you were Kit who came in just to piss her off, but those days were done and over. She hadn't seen or heard from him since that night he showed up at her place drunk. He'd left as promised and had, for the time being, stayed away. She had a feeling she would likely run into him again, hopefully not with Hadley on his arm or a baby in a carriage. The thought made her ill.

The only thing she made sure of was that she had done her hair nicely. It would likely stay in place, despite the rainy weather outside. She always appreciated her hair for not frizzing so much. It was too dense for that it seemed. Other than that she was wearing a semi short floral dress, a baby blue cardigan and light brown leather boots.

It was a slower day for the most part. Weekdays tended to be slow until lunch time and then she got a rush and then it died again until about 5:30. She always took advantage of the down time by setting things up, data entry, cleaning, stocking or coming up with new product ideas. She was constantly playing with new ways to do things, and new flavors to try. She was like a mad scientist at times!

She felt a familiar feeling down at her feet and looked down at the orange and white tuxedo cat who was nuzzling her. "Hey, baby." She said softly to the store cat, Tyler. She had brought him with her to Scriptor Bay, allowing her employees to adopt a new store cat back at the Vegas location. Tyler had been hers, a present from an old boyfriends new gay lover. The thought still bothered her.

She heard her door jingle indicating a customer had arrived and she was about to pop her head open to greet them when she heard a familiar voice. "So where are the cuffs?” Tyler who was used to people coming and going moved to the end of the counter and peaked out from his spot on the floor as Jo looked up into the sailors handsome face, grinning as she saw the appalled look on the young woman beside him's face. “Inside joke. You wouldn’t get it.”

"Hey Brandon." She greeted sweetly, the smile permanently etched on her face. “Jo, this is my little sister, Melanie. Melanie, this is Jo, the lovely lady whose tea party I wrecked.” The girl reached out her hand as she greeted herself, and Jo did the same, taking and giving a firm little handshake. "Likewise." She said back, genuinely meaning it. “Your shop is so cute! What an original idea, selling tea and body essentials in one store! It makes so much sense too, but I never would have thought of it!”

Her brows raised and she gave an amused, smug look. "Well, thank you. Your brother didn't seem to think so." She teased, her eyes setting back on the sailor. She perched her elbow on the counter and cradled her face in it. "It all stemmed from a lotion and soap making hobby in high school. A friend of mine rented a store front out for me since he had a lot of extra cash hanging around and the rest is sort of history. Soap shop soon became cafe and then I opened this location a couple years ago." She explained.

"So! Did you two come in here to actually shop or hang out with me? Or both." She asked eyeing Brandon more than Melanie. "Should I just tie you to here and show Melanie around?" She asked Brandon in a teasing voice. "Wouldn't want to threaten your masculinity.."

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Brandon didn’t understand women. How was he supposed to know that tea, soap and lotion went together like peas and carrots? And since when did Melanie know this? “Well, thank you. Your brother didn’t seem to think so.” He grinned at Jo’s little smirk and when Melanie looked up at him, he shrugged innocently. “Do you get it now?” “Yeah, Jo explained it. Why are you surprised?” he asked his sister. Melanie just laughed and Jo settled her chin on her elbow. He almost mimicked her to show he was listening attentively, but elected to just listen to how her shop got started. “It all stemmed from a lotion and soap making hobby in high school. A friend of mine rented a store front out for me since he had a lot of extra cash hanging around and the rest is sort of history. Soap shop soon became cafe and then I opened this location a couple years ago." An entrepreneur. He liked it. It was kind of like him with his boat. He made his own contacts, his own sells, and his own money. He had to admit, he was crushing on the girl.

“So! Did you two come in here to actually shop or to hang out with me? Or both.” “Hang out with you,” Brandon replied with a smirk. “Both!” Melanie chimed in at the same time as Brandon. “Should I just tie you to here and show Melanie around? Wouldn’t want to threaten your masculinity…” Brandon looked like he was weighing his options, rubbing the scruff on his chin. “Let’s see, which one is a greater threat to my masculinity? Letting a woman a foot shorter than me tie me to the counter or follow said woman around a store?” Melanie gave a giggle, shaking her head at the two of them. “I think I’ll follow you guys around,” he decided with a nod. Brandon waited for Jo to come out from behind the counter, noticing her legs sprouting from beneath the somewhat short dress. It was distracting until Mel nudged his arm. He looked at her with raised eyebrows, inquiring silently what she wanted. “She’s funny, I like her.” She said it softly, leaned into his shoulder a little and Brandon grinned. He was glad they were of the same opinion.

As they started meandering through the store, he stood behind the women with his arms crossed over his chest. He was semi-listening to their conversation, but also looking at the different scents. What else was he going to do? One marked lemon and ginger caught his eye and he picked up a bar to sniff it. He liked the smell of lemons and the soap smelled nice. It was the kind of scent he would like to smell on Jo’s skin. That thought made him smirk to himself. He extended his hand to put the bar of soap back where he found it, but he knocked it accidentally on the edge of the shelf, sending it out of his hands. It shattered in three pieces on the ground and when he looked up over his arched eyebrows, he saw two sets of brown eyes watching him. “Okay, I’m done touching things,” he promised, putting his hands up defensively. He gave a crooked smile before crouching to pick up the pieces and handing them to Jo. “It smelled nice,” he offered as consolation with a small shrug, trying to fight back his grin. He knew he was going to end up breaking something in that store the moment he walked in.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie couldn’t stop smiling at the witty banter going on between her brother and the petite lady behind the counter. They seemed equally matched in their humor and Melanie had to wonder what kind of couple they would make. She knew Brandon liked feisty women, and Jo definitely seemed to fit the bill. Melanie kept it to herself, but she could see Brandon being happy with a woman like Jo. She was eager to hear how Jo came to own a shop like she did and was impressed by what she learned. This woman had really taken her idea and built it from the ground up! Melanie had always wondered what kind of business she could open up if she ever decided to become an entrepreneur someday. It definitely would be as original as this! Though the café part of the shop was a great add-on and probably quite lucrative. Scriptor Bay didn’t have many cafes, so she must have pulled in a lot of business.

Brandon decided he would follow them around the store, a good choice in her opinion. As Jo made her way out from behind the counter, she could see Brandon was distracted by her. He was so rude and indiscrete. Melanie nudged Brandon to get his attention, and when she did she smiled wide. “She’s funny. I like her,” she told him in a whisper, leaned into his shoulder. Her brother grinned at her, but he didn’t know that she was also thinking Jo could be the one to tame Brandon. It was a wild thought, but she hoped her instincts were correct.

As they began meandering through the shop, Melanie absorbed all the different smells. “So what are the soaps and lotions made out of?” she asked inquisitively, noticing all the different kinds of smells. What would smell good on her? What might Kevin like? That question made her stomach twist in knots, but she smiled a little to herself. She had a feeling that as long as she didn’t smell like garbage or maybe smoke, Kevin wouldn’t mind, but it didn’t help her from wanting to try out a few of the scents. As Jo was explaining, there was a clatter behind them and the women turned to see her brother, feet slightly set apart, looking at a shattered bar of soap on the ground. He looked up at them over his arched eyebrows, his hands up defensively and Melanie bit back a smile. “Okay, I’m done touching things.” Melanie laughed and rolled her eyes. Brandon was picking up the broken pieces before handing them to Jo. “It smelled nice.” “I should really invest in a third eye so I can watch you at all times,” she teased. Brandon grinned, though he was obviously trying to look contrite for having broken something in her store. He was building up a history of destruction with this woman.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“Let’s see, which one is a greater threat to my masculinity? Letting a woman a foot shorter than me tie me to the counter or follow said woman around a store?” She watched him expectantly as he came up to his conclusion, looking amused. “I think I’ll follow you guys around,” He said and Jo shrugged her shoulders as she started out from behind the counter. "If I were you I would have chosen the ropes, but to each their own I suppose." She offered and wink and then smiled at Melanie before nodding towards the store, starting her little tour.

“So what are the soaps and lotions made out of?” It was a good question and she was surprised that Melanie was eager to learn about it, but in a good way. She liked when people took interest in her trade, and she had a lot of people come in and ask similar questions. "All sorts of things. Mostly oils, like essential oils, emulsifying wax, cocoa butter.. if you'd like I can show you the workshop I have set up in the back. It has most of the stuff I use since I do a lot of experimenting here. When I've come up with a good recipe and I want to start mass producing I work with another company that does it all for me. I used to just do it all by hand in the beginning but if I did that now I would never sleep. That's just for the lotions. Soaps I can make easily enough and I just ship it off to the Vegas store. But I use hundreds of base scents to come up with good combinations, and it's not just for women. I have a few men scents that..." She heard something clatter to the ground behind her and she turned, raising a brow at Brandon, who seemed almost skeptical about his misbehavior.

Jo looked down at the mess as he picked up the broken soap and allowed him to place it in her hand as she gave him a playfully stern look. “Okay, I’m done touching things,” he promised, putting his hands up defensively and smiling boyishly. He was so irresistible she had to roll her eyes and grin at him, knowing she couldn't be that mad. Not yet... “It smelled nice,”

“I should really invest in a third eye so I can watch you at all times,” Melanie teased. "And a leash." Jo added with a soft laugh, looking at the soap she was holding. Lemon Ginger. She handed the pieces back to Brandon. "I can't sell it now, you've broken it. Why not hold onto that? There's a lot of lemon in that soap and it might help cover up the smell of fish on your hands after work. You could keep it on your boat, but don't think for a second that I'm going to give you everything you break. I'm gonna start charging you." Her eyes narrowed playfully at him, though her lips curled up slightly at the edges.

"C'mon." She said and grabbed Brandon and pushed him in front of her a little. "You, stay in front where I can keep an eye on you." She teased, biting her lip and not wanting to admit that was exactly what she wanted to do; keep a good, lusty eye on him. But she wouldn't say that in front of his sister! That was just awkward.

"Hey Andie? Keep an eye on the register for me? I'll be back out in a few." She called to one of the girls working in the store and led Brandon and his sister to the back. "That's my office there." She told them, pointing out a little room to the side that had a door. The back room wasn't very large, but there were tall metal shelving units that held countless boxes and baskets all labeled with different tea blends and soaps and lotions. Then there was a little workshop in the back; a gas range with pots and pans, hot plates, bowls and a large industrial sink. There were shelves over the oven with different bottles of scented oils. "And this is where the magic happens." She offered, picking up a poorly shaped bar of soap that was on the table she had setup back there and offered it to them. "This is one of my newest scents, but I'm not sure if I'm going to market it yet. It's for the men's line. I haven't named it yet but it has sandalwood, ceder and a hint of jasmine. It was too woody without the jasmine." She explained, "but I'm not sure jasmine is the right scent to add to that. It's all trial and error, finding the perfect combination of scents and not making them too overpowering." She explained."

[BRANDON GARCIA]

“And a leash.” Brandon grinned at Jo and Melanie. He’d been told more than a few times that he needed to be kept on a leash, mostly by Melanie herself. To his surprise, Jo handed the pieces of the soap to him, which he took with a little confusion in his eyes. “I can’t sell it now, you’ve broken it. Why not hold onto that? There’s a lot of lemon in that soap and it might help cover up the smell of fish on your hands after work. You could keep it on your boat, but don’t think for a second that I’m going to give you everything you break. I’m gonna start charging you.” Brandon snapped his fingers as if he were disappointed, looking at Melanie. “And I here I thought I could get you a more destructive version of a five finger discount,” he told her. She shook her head and rolled her eyes. He gave a boyish smile to Jo as she narrowed her eyes at him and slipped the pieces of the bar of soap into his pocket.

“C’mon.” Brandon was surprised as Jo grabbed him and pushed him in front of them. “You, stay in front where I can keep an eye on you.” “An eye on me, huh?” he teased as he made his way in front of her, giving her a wink. Melanie giggled and he had to admit he was pretty amused. Then he realized he was in front of the ladies in the girly store. “Hey, I don’t know if I like this plan. It’s one thing to follow ladies through a soap and lotion store, it’s another thing to lead,” he said with a raised eyebrow. Still, his feet moved him forward, looking over his shoulder a little to make sure the ladies weren’t going to stop and just leave him wandering around the shop. It was a shame too. He had been enjoying Jo’s legs.

Jo called to one of the young ladies working in the store, asking her to cover the front. Apparently they were going somewhere else, which Brandon wasn’t opposed to. He had to admit, he was curious about how Jo ran her business. When she showed them where her office was, he nodded, noting that. What if he were here late one night? That could be a nice private place to go. The thought made him smirk. He was trying to be on his best behavior, but at least he wasn’t saying these thoughts out loud. They moved into a back room, one that wasn’t terribly big, but there were tall units filled with boxes and baskets, all neatly labeled. He admired her organization. Him, he was a mess. He hardly knew how to clean, nevertheless maintain a clean space. There was also a little workshop back there. “And this is where the magic happens.” There were a lot of bottles and there was a trace of a bunch of different scents coming from the small area, basically mixing to make a big, perfumed cloud. It wasn’t bad, but it was hard to pick out the different smells. All he could make out were the citrusy ones.

The little lady picked up a bar of soap sitting on the counter. “This is one of my newest scents, but I’m not sure if I’m going to market it yet. It’s for the men’s line.” He was amused there was a men’s line, but took the soap in his hand. “I haven’t named it yet but it has sandalwood, cedar and a hint of jasmine. It was too woody without the jasmine.” Brandon bit back a dirty joke, but barely managed to hide the sudden curl in his lips. “But I’m not sure if jasmine is the right scent to add to that. It’s all trial and error, finding the perfect combination of scents and not making them too overpowering.” He brought the car of soap to his nose and sniffed. It smelled…really good. He pulled it away and looked at it quizzically before bringing it back to his nose and sniffed again. It was, as she said, a very woody smell, but he liked that. It was a warm smell and reminded him of the blocks of wood his uncle shaped in his spare time. After admiring the smell for a few minutes, he looked playfully up at the ceiling and went to slip the soap in his pocket. He was getting greedy, but he was pretty sure Jo would get a kick out of it.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie was so interested in Jo’s store. She didn’t realize there were so many oils in soap and lotion! It made sense, though. And she had a Las Vegas store too! She was more impressed by the woman as they talked about her business. Of course, that was until Brandon dropped the soap and broke it. Melanie liked the rapport that Brandon and Jo developed. They were funny, and she was finding it hard not to keep smiling at them. Brandon was a light-hearted trickster to the core, but Jo seemed able to keep up with that. Watching to two of them was like watching a sitcom, in her eyes.

Jo pushed Brandon in front, making him uncomfortable, but Melanie pushed his back gently to keep him moving. “Just go,” she told him in a playfully stern voice, which he did reluctantly. He was a handful and virtually impossible, but she supposed that was part of his charm. It appeared to Melanie that Jo thought so. They their way to the back, which she was excited for. She definitely wanted to see how Jo made these delightful little creations. How many times did she have to mix different smells to make a good one? Had she ever made a bad one? Melanie found it hard to believe that any combination of good smells could make a bad one. Once back there, Melanie took a look around at all of the stuff. She was always interested in seeing the nerve center of a place of business, and this was definitely the nerve for this business. There were all kinds of stuff! And it was more organized than her brother could ever keep his stuff. Melanie often had to rearrange the papers and other materials he needed to run his business.

“And this is where the magic happens.” Melanie smiled at the little workshop. “Wow! Look all the different scents!” she commented. Jo grabbed a bar of soap off the counter and handed it to them, Brandon getting it first. “This is one of my newest scents, but I’m not sure if I’m going to market it yet. It’s for the men’s line. I haven’t named it yet but it has sandalwood, cedar and a hint of jasmine. It was too woody without the jasmine. But I’m not sure if jasmine is the right scent to add to that. It’s all trial and error, finding the perfect combination of scents and not making them too overpowering.” Melanie nodded appreciatively. “I’ll bet. It sounds like a lot of fun, though! I’d love to play the mad scientist with smells and finding the perfect one,” she said with a smile. Brandon caught her eye just as she was saying that and she saw him trying to slip the soap in his pocket. She grabbed his arm with a laugh and snatched the soap out of his hand. “Stop thieving! I thought you didn’t want to be in the girly soap store,” she scolded playfully. Brandon shrugged. “Now that I’m here, I might as well get something out of it.” While he was smiling at Jo with some hidden meaning, Melanie looked between them with an amused smile, bringing the soap to her nose. She pulled it back and studied it. It did smell really nice! She imagined the scent on Kevin and blushed a little. He smelled nice without the soap. “This smells really nice, Jo! I like that combination. But if you think it’s too strong, maybe a touch of vanilla? It would soften it more and make it just right, I think,” she suggested with a bright smile. She handed the soap bar back to Jo, throwing her brother a playful warning look, before turning her eyes back to Jo. “Have you ever made something that actually smelled bad? I can’t imagine any combination of these actually smelling bad,” she said with a soft laugh.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“I’ll bet. It sounds like a lot of fun, though! I’d love to play the mad scientist with smells and finding the perfect one,” Jo beamed at Melanie, really liking her. She had a few people tell her they wanted to make scents, but she didn't always get around to doing it. Then again, she wasn't trying to impress any of those peoples brothers. "We should make plans one day to do that! Maybe we could have the Melanie Bar." Her eyes moved to Brandon as he innocently looked to the ceiling and trying to confiscate her soap. "Hey! I see that!" She called out, mock angry as Melanie piped up with her own reprimand. “Stop thieving! I thought you didn’t want to be in the girly soap store,” "Yeah!" Jo added, trying to stifle her laugh. “Now that I’m here, I might as well get something out of it.” She felt her stomach twist with the way he looked at her, as if there was something hidden in those words, and she knew exactly what. It thrilled her to say the least. Her eyes lingers on his before she pulled them away and looked down, not wanting to get caught up with those excited feelings. "You already got some soap! Don't be greedy." She teased, giving him another wicked smile.

His brattyness didn't even annoy Jo. If anything it made her like him more, simply because she was used to guys acting this way. It was comfortable for her to have to scold overly playful guys. She wondered if she would ever be able to attract a sweet, debonair kind of guy, but if she did would she even really want him? That guy would be boring in comparison to this scruffy sailor who was playfully nicking her soap. She wanted to jump him.

“This smells really nice, Jo! I like that combination. But if you think it’s too strong, maybe a touch of vanilla? It would soften it more and make it just right, I think,” She raised her brow at the suggestion. Vanilla. She had been thinking something more floral or Eastern, but perhaps something as simple as a sweet vanilla would work well with that. "I think you might be on to something.." She said seriously and went to her shelf of smells and reached up, finding vanilla easily towards the end since her oils were sorted alphabetically. "I'll have to give that a shot later. Maybe I'll send you a sample." She gave a wink to Brandon as Melanie continued her series of questions.

“Have you ever made something that actually smelled bad? I can’t imagine any combination of these actually smelling bad,” Melanie laughed and Jo had to think. "Hmm... bad?" She couldn't recall anything really bad before. "Well.. They rarely come out smelling bad anymore. In the beginning when I was experimenting I remember some stuff coming out terrible, but I also didn't have the recipes down and I didn't use the best quality stuff. Now when things come out bad it's usually because it's too strong or too weak, or the scents just don't mingle as well. I usually test the smells first by adding a couple of drops of oil together first to see if the combination works well or not in a small scale. If I like it I'll make a small batch of soap or lotion just to test it out. If it passes the test then I market it, or put it away for a special, like I usually have certain scents out just for holidays or whatever. I once combined several fruit scents to try and make a fruit salad sort of thing but...it came out awful. It was just too intense. I suppose that was my worst." She laughed, blushing. "Sorry to talk so much, this is just...it's what I do. Like... this is all I've done for the last decade. I'm sort of a loser." She laughed hoping Brandon didn't think she was too much of a loser. "But a really good smelling loser." Her eyes lingered on Brandon. If he hung around her enough she would guarantee he would be a good smelling loser, too. The thought amused her.

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Brandon liked seeing Jo and his sister getting along. If nothing else had settled him on taking her on a date, that did. Melanie was pretty much the only person in his life that he truly couldn’t live without. It was why he was so protective of her; if he lost her, he lost everything. Even his best little buddy Gavin couldn’t measure up to Mel. Jo getting along with her (as if that was hard) was definitely the deciding factor for Brandon. By the time he left today, he was asking Jo on a date. This was all running through his head as they talked about soaps and scents and Jo talked about the bad smells she had made in the past. Melanie ate it all up, genuinely fascinated by the look in her eyes. And Jo had even offered for her to come by and make scents with her! He liked the idea of them spending time together, even without him. Melanie could use some more friends, and Jo seemed like an excellent candidate. Not to mention it would mean Brandon got to see more of that cute face.

“Sorry I talk so much, this is just…it’s what I do. Like…this is all I’ve done for the last decade. I’m sort of a loser.” Brandon chuckled and Melanie giggled a little and shook her head in protest. “But a really good smelling loser.” He liked the way her eyes kept coming back to him and now they lingered on him. Brandon just grinned at her and then scratched the back of his head. “I don’t know if I’d say really good smelling…” he said in a playfully hesitant voice. Melanie’s fist hit his chest making him wince instinctively with a laugh. “Be nice!” She had an amused smile on her face as she said it, knowing he was kidding, but she was still glaring at him. “I was going to say really great smelling. Not just good,” he corrected in an innocent voice. Melanie narrowed her eyes at him before looking to Jo. “Well, I would understand if you ban my brother from the store forever, but I would love to come back one weekend and try scents! It would be so interesting to find out how to make soap too. I’ve never seen it made.” His little sister was always cheerful, and now even more so that she was making friends. Brandon glanced to her, but mostly kept his eyes on Jo as they discussed.

To his surprise, Melanie started to make her way towards the door to the backroom. “I’ll let you beat my brother up for a while as I admire the collection out on the shelves. He deserves it for making fun of you.” Brandon grinned more, watching his sister leave. That was one thing he could say for his sister; she knew when to bow out. When Melanie was gone, he turned back to the little lady, putting his hands up defensively. “Please don’t hit me hard. I’m delicate,” he teased. He smiled boyishly down at her, taking a step closer to her. “Before you hit me, though, I have to tell you, you may be a loser, but you’re an adorable one.” He chuckled, putting his hand down as he glanced around the backroom. “Are you sure you want me back here with all this…breakable stuff?” he inquired playfully. There were times when Brandon could be quite graceful, but apparently not around Jo. Around her, he was a destructive force to be contended with, but one that at least tried to minimize damage.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“I don’t know if I’d say really good smelling…” Brandon teased playfully, and Jo's draw dropped as she scoffed her mock disdain for what he said. Yep, she definitely had a type and he was it. Cute, silly, a little cocky... and probably relationship phobic. Wasn't that how it always worked? “Be nice!” Melanie demanded, punching him in the chest and she folded her arms. "Yeah!" She agreed, trying to conceal the smile on her lips. “I was going to say really great smelling. Not just good,” he said in an innocent voice. She narrowed her eyes with Melanie at him, but she was aware it was all in good fun.

“Well, I would understand if you ban my brother from the store forever, but I would love to come back one weekend and try scents! It would be so interesting to find out how to make soap too. I’ve never seen it made.” Jo beamed. "Sunday's are good days because I close early and I get most of my mixing done. Come by any Sunday at about 5:45. We can do some mixing after I clean up." She offered, liking the idea. Plus she could pick Melanie's brain about her brother! Jo watched Melanie backing out, unsure if that was her cue to go back into the store or not, but the girl continued. “I’ll let you beat my brother up for a while as I admire the collection out on the shelves. He deserves it for making fun of you.”

She gave a bashful sort of smirk, blushing as Melanie left her alone with Brandon. She already felt her heart begin to race, looking up at the boy as they spent their first moment together alone. Oh, boy...

“Please don’t hit me hard. I’m delicate,” Jo had to give out a laugh, rolling her eyes dramatically and sticking her hands on her hips as she looked him over. "I bet." She teased. “Before you hit me, though, I have to tell you, you may be a loser, but you’re an adorable one.” Her grin grew considerably, though it was a bashful one. "Oh?" She asked with amusement, liking his little compliment. He was sealing his fate with her. Jo was a sucker for cute jerks, and she knew she should probably run for the hills, but she was stuck there, adoring this smart mouthed sailor, wanting to rip his damn clothes clear off.

“Are you sure you want me back here with all this…breakable stuff?” Her head was tilted down, but her dark eyes looking up into his, demure but sultry. She liked his close proximity. Her shoulders shrugged lightly, "Well, if you break anything you'll have to pay for it however I deem fit." She told him coyly, taking her own little step closer. "I have faith you won't break anything else, though. I might be little, but I'm feisty." Her head tilted up and to the side, watching him again, her teeth nipping at the inside of her bottom lip trying to hide the devilish smirk that threatened to escape. Why was being alone with him so exciting? Why the hell was she getting herself all worked up over something that would probably pan to either nothing or more heartache? Hadn't she learned her lesson over and over with Kit?

Apparently not.

"So, you think I smell really great?" She asked in a playfully sweet voice, her head bowing again as she looked down at his chest, wondering what he looked like beneath that shirt. She was suddenly glad she had worn the shorter dress, hoping it would somehow help her chances. "I wonder if I could make you smell great, too.. sounds like a tough job, but one I think I could take on." She taunted, smirking up at him once more. Why did he need to be so damn cute?!

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Brandon’s eyes came back to Jo and he liked that sultry look in her red-brown eyes. It made him smirk more. “Well, if you break anything you’ll have to pay for it however I deem fit. I have faith you won’t break anything else, though. I might be little, but I’m feisty.” That smirk on his lips turned into a devilish grin. He liked Jo. He liked her a lot. “Oooo, I like the sound of that,” he teased, taking another small step closer. Brandon was trying to behave himself, but he couldn’t help it; he was a flirt. She started the suggestive talk anyway. And from the look on her face, she didn’t mind his flirtatiousness at all. At least he wasn’t being too forward.

“So you think I smell really great, huh?” The way she let her eyes drop excited him for some reason. It was almost like she was suddenly bashful, but all of her other behavior suggested she was anything but bashful. “I wonder if I could make you smell great, too…sounds like a tough job, but one I think I could take on.” Her eyes came back to his and he grinned, amused. He let his eyes looked over her head as he smiled, licking his lips. She was something else. “I feel like you’re trying to take advantage of me,” he said playfully, but softly. His eyes came back down to hers. “Maybe we should have dinner before you try to make me smell pretty.” He had a big, good-humored smile on his face, but his black eyes told how serious he was. How was Brandon supposed to let this cute, feisty flirt get away? “How about tomorrow? Nine o’clock?” he asked. His eyes glanced to her lips, but he brought them right back to her eyes. He wanted to get carried away, but he didn’t know if he should. Even though he was thinking he shouldn’t, he was going to look like he was only out for one thing, he was already bending lower to her face. He was slow, in case she asked him to stop. All he wanted was to fulfill some of his curiosity about her. She got him all kinds of worked up.

The door to the backroom opened then, making Brandon jump back a little. It was one of the women who worked there, and Brandon gave a forced smile though on the inside he was cursing the girl. She ruined his kiss! The girl smiled back shyly, knowing she busted in on something, and quickly got what she needed before hustling back out on the floor. Brandon’s eyes followed her out, and when the door had closed, he looked back to Jo with the same soft smile he had before. “What do you say?” he asked. Maybe it was best that the girl had interrupted. He was now snapped out of his trance and he wouldn’t get so carried away.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“I feel like you’re trying to take advantage of me,” he said playfully, and she gave an innocent sort of close mouthed smile and rolled her shoulders in a light shrug, suggesting that maybe she was, thought her words contradicted her motions. "I would never do such a thing, Brandon.." Her tone was still teetering on timid but her eyes clearly told a different story.

“Maybe we should have dinner before you try to make me smell pretty.” A date? He was asking her on a date? She swallowed the urge to grin like a complete moron and dance the jig around the back room. “How about tomorrow? Nine o’clock?” he asked and she could see his eyes roaming away from hers. She bit her bottom lip, knowing he was looking at it. She didn't bothering to stop him as he slowly moved closer, her heart racing as she realized his intentions. Should she stop him? Wasn't it too soon? She wanted it.. she wanted to see and feel a man being interested in her. It had been far too long.

But fate decided to do what fate often does and fucked up her moment as Jen came into the back room to fetch something. She clearly realized she'd walked in on something she shouldn't have and ducked out quickly, but the damage was done and Brandon had pulled back a little. She knew it was probably for the best. It would make their goodnight kiss that much better tomorrow night.

“What do you say?” She gave an amused little chuckle. "I think dinner sounds great. Nine. Tomorrow." She verified, hugging herself. "Did you want to meet somewhere? You could always pick me up here." She offered, stoked that she now had a date with this hottie!

[BRANDON GARCIA]

“I think dinner sounds great. Nine. Tomorrow.” Brandon probably looked like an idiot the way he was smiling. She said yes! As if he had a reason to doubt that she would, but honestly he thought she might. Sometimes he came on too strong and scared women off. Hell, maybe she would play hard to get, but she didn’t! She said yes! And he had a date tomorrow. Who knew? He was relieved to say the least and excited to be going out with this witty, cute girl. “Did you want to meet somewhere? You could always pick me up here.” He considered for a moment, and decided the chivalrous thing to do would be to pick her up. “I’ll swing by here and get you. Nine. We’ll figure out what to do when I get here. Who knows, maybe we’ll go cheap and go to the beach,” he said with a little shrug. He was just excited he was going on a date! Honestly, he felt like he had just asked his crush to prom and she said yes.

“I guess we should make sure my sister isn’t pilfering all your shit,” he said playfully, grinning. They both knew he was the thief not Melanie. He didn’t really want to go back out there, though. Brandon wanted to stay in back with Jo. God, did he want that kiss. His feet were already carrying him towards the door, feeling her following, but he stopped, grabbing his chin. “Oh, I almost forgot,” he said, turning. He stepped back to her quickly, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her close. His lips came down to hers before she could protest and he held them there for a moment, savoring the warmth and softness of her lips. He felt his blood pumping hard as he pulled her tighter, parting her lips with his own as his mouth meshed with hers. Though he wanted nothing more than to feel her tongue against his, he wouldn’t go that far; his lips just moved against hers fluidly. His hand came up and held the back of her head to keep her there until he managed to pull away.

It felt like eternity that he was kissing her, but in reality it was just over a minute. He pulled back from her, his heart thudding hard as he opened his eyes again and swallowed hard. A smile tugged at his lips before he could stop it and he let out an almost nervous laugh. “Sorry, couldn’t help myself,” he murmured. His hand dropped from her short hair, falling to her tiny waist again. She was so small; it just made him want to hold her tighter. Actually, there were a lot of things he wanted to do to her…but he’d keep himself on a leash. He could behave when he wanted to.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“I’ll swing by here and get you. Nine. We’ll figure out what to do when I get here. Who knows, maybe we’ll go cheap and go to the beach,” Jo was ecstatic! At least about the date part with this sailor. Jo certainly didn't mind cheap dates, but she did want him to try and impress her a little. After the last few guys she had, she felt she deserved a little impressing. Still, she wasn't about to judge this book by his cover, or his less than impressive words. Brandon seemed like the kind of guy to hide a little something up his sleeve and she was hoping she was right on that. She was tired of duds.

“I guess we should make sure my sister isn’t pilfering all your shit,” She scoffed at him and rolled her eyes. "First of all, it's not shit, they're called goods, and second I don't think your sister is the one with the sticky fingers, bucko." She growled at him, but it was with good humor. Why did she always fall so hard for these playful studs? They always hurt her in the end. Please let this one be different, she thought to herself

She walked with him towards the door, keeping a close eye on that tush of his, when he stopped suddenly and she looked up into his face as he rubbed his stubbly chin. She wanted to touch that stubble.. “Oh, I almost forgot,” Jo was about to ask what on earth he could have forgotten when he was on her, taking her by surprise as he looped his arm around her waist and drew her close, guiding her lips against his in a kiss.

Her immediate thought was to want to shove him off, but the intelligent side of her squelched that feeling, and fast. Holy shit, he was kissing her! She let out a soft mew of a whimper in approval as he moved his lips expertly against his. It was too soon for a kiss! But God, was he good at it. Show off.

Jo all but melted when his hand came to the back of her head, making it clear that he had no intention of breaking this kiss until he was good and ready to, which was surprisingly fine with Jo. In all aspects of her life she liked to make the rule, but with men it seemed she was always the less dominant of the two. It had always been that way as much as she tried to change it.

Finally he pulled away leaving Jo standing there, breathless and hungry for more. Chocolate eyes opened to gaze into his and she swallowed hard trying to grasp reality once more. “Sorry, couldn’t help myself,” she echoed his nervous laugh with her own, biting her lower lip and wanting nothing more than to drag him into her office and lock the door behind them. His hand still laid on her waist and she looked down at it before turning her face back up to him, an innocent, yet sultry look in her eyes as she continued to chew on her lip. "Is that right.." She asked softly, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "Well hopefully you can wait until tomorrow night for another." She promised softly, "But don't get ahead of yourself. I'm only promising a kiss." She winked, trying to get her wits about her still. Before he could try and kiss her again she grabbed the hand on her waist and pulled him out of the back room by it.

"So.. I'll see you tomorrow night, then?" She asked, smirking at him in the brighter store front.